4:45 LRN Sportscast March 17

The entire Who Dat Nation remains on pins and needles as they await word on whether or not the Saints have acquired Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Social media has been buzzing with speculation and rumors since Watson completed his visits with his prospective new teams. Nick Underhill of New Orleans-dot-Football says Saints officials and owner Gayle Benson made a final pitch in Atlanta on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, free-agent running back Ty Montgomery is signing with the New England Patriots after spending the last two seasons in New Orleans.

LSU women’s basketball guard Khayla Pointer continues to add to her trophy collection. The fifth-year senior has been selected as a second-team All-American after averaging 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, and just over five assists per game so far this season, setting career-highs in each category. Pointer was named first-team All-SEC last week and earlier this year became the first player in LSU men’s or women’s basketball history to total at least 15-hundred points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds in a career. Next, she’ll lead the Tigers into their opening-round matchup with Jackson State, Saturday at 4 pm in the P-MAC.

This year’s NCAA tournament appearance for LSU’s men will be the sixth straight with a different head coach. Four of the previous five won at least one game in the tournament before bowing out. The Tigers’ last interim coach, Tony Benford, famously led LSU to the Sweet 16 in 2019 when Will Wade was suspended. That team had a bit more experience than this one, but Kevin Nickleberry says being young won’t stop the Tigers from being ready to play.

Cut 21 (19) “…will perform.”

The women’s National Invitational Tournament, better known as the NIT, tips-off tonight as well. The Tulane Green Wave host Jacksonville State. The Wave’s 20 wins so far this season are the most for the program since 2015-16. In Ruston, Louisiana Tech hosts Houston…The Lady Techsters are playing in their first postseason tournament in four years.