The Saints are not involved in championship Sunday, but the N-F-C and A-F-C title games will feature several players from LSU and Louisiana. Former Dutchtown star Eddie Lacy, who rushed for 101 yards in Green Bay’s win over Dallas last week, says he’s looking forward to playing in his first championship game…

cut 16 (13) “football team”

The Packers face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. Former LSU standout Brandon Lafell will also play Sunday as his New England Patriots host the Indianapois Colts in the AFC title constest.

Louisiana Tech defensive end Houston Bates has been selected to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase All-Star Game on January 31. The Covington native ended his Bulldog career with 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. The College Gridiron Showcase All-Star Game takes place in Arlington, TX.

In college basketball, UL-Lafayette dropped their first Sun Belt game of the season to Georgia Southern, 78-71. The Cajuns were lead by Shawn Long’s 18 points. Hayward Register comes off the bench to add 12 points and Brian Williams scored 10. UL-L falls to 4-1 in conference play, while Georgia Southern improves to 4-1.

ULM also has a 4-1 conference record after handling Troy 63-54. Majok Deng lead all scorers with 16 and Tylor Ongwae added a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds, as the Warhawks won their seventh straight at home.

There is a logjam at the top of the Sun Belt standings. Georgia Southern, UL-L, and ULM sit atop the conference with 4-1 records. Two other teams, Texas State and Georgia State, are a half game behind with 4-2 records.

Louisiana Tech remains perfect in Conference USA as they downed UAB 74-71 in front of a home crowd in Ruston. Erik McCree lead the way for the Bulldogs with 26 points, including four 3-pointers. Alex Hamilton added another 20 and Raheem Appleby finished with 11. Tech is 4-0 in league play.

Some are calling the new look LSU coaching staff the “Dream Team” of recruiters. New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and new defensive line coach Ed Orgeron join Tigers recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson as some of the best recruiters in college football. Orgeron has been named recruiter of the year multiple times. But the South LaFourche grad says recruiting is only half the battle when it comes to putting together a great defense…
cut 18 (21) “…great players”
National Signing Day is February fourth and the Tigers have 16 commitments, but only one of them is a defensive lineman.

The LSU men’s basketball team was able to boost its NCAA Tournament resume with a 75-71 win over Ole Miss in Oxford last night. Six-foot-four junior Keith Hornsby led the way with 23 points, 20 of them were in the second half.

Louisiana Tech, who is currently a 13-seed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi NCAA Tournament bracket, hosts U-A-B tonight. Both teams are 3-and-0 in Conference USA action. Tip-off is at seven o’ clock and C-S-T will broadcast the game throughout the state.

U-L Lafayette is a 15-seed in Lunardi’s bracket. The Ragin Cajuns are at Sun Belt-newcomer Georgia Southern tonight. The Eagles are 10-and-3 overall, 3-and-1 in the league.

U-L-M is also 3-and-1 in the Sun Belt and they host Troy, who is 1-and-3. Warhawks Coach Keith Richard…
cut 30 (12) “…easily won”
Tip-off tonight is at 7 PM.

Louisiana native Ed Orgeron finally has the opportunity to coach for the Purple and gold. Orgeron has had several coaching stops since he graduated from Northwestern State University in 1984. Coach “O” says he didn’t need much convincinging when Les Miles called him late Tuesday afternoon and asked him if he wanted to be the Tigers defensive line coach….
cut 17 (16) “….get here”
Meanwhile, LSU says they are cooperating with the authorities in a case where a man has been arrested for selling game worn shoes and gloves on E-bay. The individual arrested by LSU police, 25-year-old Fletcher Sanders, is not telling cops how he got the LSU gear.

The Pelicans are back at the .500 mark for the season after beating Detroit 105-94 last night. Anthony Davis had 27 points and ten rebounds, Ryan Anderson added 17 points.

The LSU men’s basketball team picked up a nice road win in Oxford last night as the Tigers topped Ole Miss 75-71. Keith Hornsby led the way with 23 points, 20 of them came in the second half. He also hit five three-pointers. Jarell Martin also had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Tulane lost in triple overtime last night as they fell to Central Florida 103 to 100.

Tonight, the Ragin Cajuns are at Georgia Southern. U-L Lafayette is 4-and-0 in the Sun Belt and they’ve won seven of their last eight overall. ULM is off to a 3-and-1 start in league play and the Warhawks will host Troy tonight at seven P-M. U-L-M has won three in a row. Louisiana Tech is also at home. The Bulldogs will host U-A-B. Both teams are undefeated in league play.

New LSU football coaches are fired up for their opportunities to coach the Tigers back to an SEC championship. New LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will have the difficult assignment of developing schemes to slow down the spread offenses in the league. Steele will have some points of emphasis once he begins to game plan…

cut 16 (17) “big play”

Joining Steele is a Louisiana native Ed Orgeron, who will coach the defensive line.

Former Haughton high star and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has announced that he will return for his senior season. Prescott finished eighth in the Heisman balloting this past season, throwing for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. LSU begins conference play in Starkville against Prescott and the Bulldogs on September 12th.

The Pelicans jumped back in the win column last night as they picked up a road win over Detroit 105-94. Anthony Davis lead all scorers with 27 and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Tyreke Evans threw in 18 and Ryan Anderson added 17 as the Pels climb back to .500 on the season at 19-19. The Pelicans road trip continues as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night.

In college basketball, LSU scored an SEC road win last night as they defeated Ole Miss 75-71. Keith Hornsby scored 23, including 5 three pointers, as the Tigers mark their second straight conference win. Jarell Martin added 18 and Jordan Mickey scored 11 as LSU improves to 2-1 in league play. The Bayou Bengals host Texas A&M this Saturday morning.

It took an extra 15 minutes before the University of Central Florida outlasted Tulane 103-100 in triple overtime. The loss drops the Green Wave to 3-2 in American conference play. Tulane was lead by Louis Dabney’s 26 points followed by Jay Hook’s 25. The Green Wave road trip continues as they take on Houston Saturday.

LSU has added one of the top recruiters in the country to its football staff. Louisiana native Ed Orgeron was named the Tigers new defensive line coach today and he replaces Brick Haley, who is being reassigned within the LSU athletic department. Orgeron’s last coaching stop was at U-S-C, where he was the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for the Trojans for four years.

Football analyst Mike Detillier says not only will Orgeron be asked to recruit, but he’ll also need to do a better job of developing an under performing defensive line…
cut 18 (15) “…defensive lineman”
LSU introduced Orgeron and new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele during a four P-M press conference.

Former Haughton high star and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has announced that he will return for his senior season. Prescott finished eighth in the Heisman balloting this past season, throwing for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. LSU begins conference play in Starkville against Prescott and the Bulldogs on September 12th.

In college baseball news…Ragin Cajuns third baseman-slash-designated hitter Tyler Girouard has decided to return for his senior season. Girouard started at third base in 2013 and hit a career-high .360. He was used as a D-H last year, because of a stress fracture and persistent knee pain and hit .324. At one time, injuries were thought to keep him from playing this year, but Girouard says he’s healthy enough to give it go this year.

In basketball….LSU is at Ole Miss tonight for a six P-M tip. Both teams are one-and-one in league play. Tulane travels to Central Florida. The Pelicans will battle the Pistons. Detroit has won nine of its last ten, while New Orleans will be without Jrue Holiday, who is out with an ankle injury. Tip-off is at 6:30.

One day after hiring former Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele as their new defensive coordinator, LSU announced today that Louisiana native Ed Oregeron will be the Tigers new defensive line coach. Brick Haley, who has been LSU’s defensive line coach since 2009, is expected to be re-assigned within the department.

Football analyst Mike Detillier says the defensive philosphy of Steele will be different from what former D-C John Chavis brought to the field…
cut 17 (18) “….a quarterback”
In a statement, Coach Les Miles says Steele has been a very successful coach, with a great defensive mind and he’s also an outstanding recruiter.

In college hoops action tonight…LSU visits Ole Miss. The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight meetings with the Rebels. The tip-off is set for 6 PM.

Tulane begins a two-game road trip tonight at Central Florida. The Green Wave are off to a three and one start in the American Athletic Conference, while the Knights are one and three in league play.

Last night…a hot shooting Abilene Christian team beat Northwestern State 95-81. The loss prevented Demons Coach Mike McConathy from collecting his 600th coaching victory.

Nicholls State earned its first Southland win of the season last night as the Colonels rallied to beat Houston Baptist 61-57. Freshman guard Quinton Thomas had a breakout game as he scored a career-high 18 points and also had a career-high three blocked shots.

In the NBA…the Pelicans will visit the Detroit Pistons. It will be the first game in a New Orleans Pelican uniform for Quincy Pondexter, who was acquired earlier this week.

Kevin Steele is the new defensive coordinator at LSU. He comes from Alabama where he was the Crimson Tide’s linebackers coach. He’s also been a defensive coordinator at Clemson, a linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers and a former head coach at Baylor. Football analyst Mike Detillier gave his thoughts on the hire during last night’s Tiger Rag Radio show…
cut 16 (19) “…ass off”
It’s expected LSU will hold a press conference today to introduce Steele to the media.

Louisiana Tech has a new defensive coordinator as well. Several media outlets are reporting that head coach Skip Holtz has promoted safeties coach Blake Baker to replace Manny Diaz. Baker is considered a tireless worker, who has also been an assisstant at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year start at Tulane.

Northwestern State Coach Mike McConathy was denied his 600th coaching win last night as the Demons lost to Abilene Christian 95-81. The Wildcats shot 58-percent from the field, 59-percent from three-point territory and 92-percent from the free throw line. Northwestern’s Jalan West had 30 points in a losing effort.

Nicholls State earned its first Southland win of the season last night as the Colonels rallied to beat Houston Baptist 61-57. Freshman Quinton Thomas led the way with 18 points off the bench. Houston Baptist did not hit a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game.

Tonight…LSU visits Ole Miss in a contest that gets underway at 6 PM at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford. Jarell Martin leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 17 points a game, but has yet to score in double figures in two sec games this year.

And in the NBA, the Pelicans continue their five-game road trip in Detroit tonight.

The final A-P football Top 25 poll came out today and LSU is no where to be found for the first time since 2008. It’s the second time in the Les Miles era that the Tigers did not finish the season ranked in the Top 25.

Meanwhile, Miles continues to search for a new defensive coordinator to replace John Chavis. The search is entering its third week, Charles Hanagriff, of 104-5 ESPN Baton rouge, says fans shouldn’t be concerned that LSU has yet to find a D-C…
cut 18 (15) “….every option”
Meanwhile, nola-dot-com reports LSU has stepped up its pursuit of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who maybe looking to run a defense, without Nick Saban’s involvement.

Several media outlets are reporting that Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz will promote safeties coach Blake Baker to defensive coordinator. Baker was hired in February after coaching at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year starter at Tulane in the early 2000s.

Northwestern State’s Mike McConathy has the chance to win the 600th game of his coaching career tonight when his Demons host Abilene Christian. McConathy says 600 wins are great, but he’s more worried about improving to 3-and-1 in the Southland. Tip-off tonight is at 6:30 at Prather Coliseum.

Nicholls State is also home tonight. The Colonels are searching for their first win in the Southland, and they’ll host Houston Baptist. Nicholls is 3-and-9 on the year, while the Huskies are six and seven.

Tomorrow night it’s LSU at Ole Miss. Both teams are 1-and-1 in league play. But the Rebels have owned this series of late, winning seven of their last eight.

ULM Athletic director, Doctor Brian Wickstrom, has been named one of the top-10 fundraising ADS in college atheltics by College A-D, which is a news and resource service for college athletic programs. According to a news release from ULM, Wickstorm has led Warhawk athletics to one of its most successful fundraising periods since arriving.

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.

An interesting candidate has emerged for LSU’s vacant defensive coordinator position. Charles Hanagriff, of 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, reports LSU officials have spoken to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Smart could be looking for a change of scenery to help build his resume for a potential head coaching job down the road

cut 16 (12) “with him”

The 39-year-old Smart has been Alabama’s defensive coordinator the last seven seasons.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the national college football champions after pounding Oregon 42-20 last night in Dallas. The Buckeyes rushed for 296 yards and 5 touchdowns leading the school to their first national championship since 2002. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer becomes only the second coach to win a national championship at multiple schools. The Buckeyes end their season with a 14-1 record.

The Pelicans did not begin their 5-game road trip the way they wanted as they fell to the Boston Celtics 108-100 last night. Anthony Davis poured in 34 for the Pels, followed by Eric Gordon with 21 and Tyreke Evans’ 19. The Celtics had six players score in double digits. New Orleans falls to 18-19 and travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons tomorrow night.

A pretty rough night for state colleges on the hardwood…

In the Southland Conference, Southeastern Louisiana lost to Sam Houston 59-72. Zay Jackson scored 18 and Joshua Filmore added 17 as the Lions fall to 4-12, 1-2 in the Southland.

UNO was crushed by Incarnate Word 97-66. The Privateers are 1-2 in league play and 5-7 overall.

In the SWAC, Alcorn State outlasted Grambling 72-70 last night. And Southern was able to pull out a win over Jackson State, 60-52.

In Nachitoches tonight, Northwestern State head basketball coach Mike McConathy goes for his 600th career win as the Demons face Abilene Christian in Prather Coliseum.