Several new names are popping up in LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator. One of those names is Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who made one-point-three million dollars last season. But Charles Hanagriff, sports director of 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, says Smart looks at the LSU job as an opportunity to show he can coach, without Nick Saban looking over his shoulder…
cut 17 (09) “…bit faster”
Jeremy Flower of ESPN is also reporting that LSU has shown interest in Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke. And coaching-search-dot-com, says Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus is a name to an eye on. Eberfus was the defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08.

And Johnathan Ford with Bleed Tech Blue is reporting that Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz will promote safeties coach Blake Baker to defensive coordinator. Baker was a three-year starter at Tulane in the early 2000s.

Pelicans star Anthony Davis scored 34 points last night, but that wasn’t enough as New Orleans fell to Boston 108-100. The Pels gave up 36 points in the 4th quarter to a Celtics team has only 13 wins on the year. New Orleans is now 18-and-19 overall, 6-and-14 on the road as they head to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday night.

In college hoops…Southern improved to 3-and-1 in the SWAC with a 60-52 win over Jackson State. Grambling fell to 0-and-4 in the league as the Tigers lost to Alcorn State 72-70. Southeastern Louisiana was also a loser last night as Sam Houston State dribbled past the Lions 72-59.

Tonight…Northwestern State hosts Abilene Christian. Demons Coach Mike McConathy is going after win number 600 in his career. A win for Northwestern will also push its conference record to three and one. Nicholls State who seeks its first win in Southland conference play, hosts Houston Baptist tonight at six-thirty.