The legal back and forth continues between Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson and his children and grandchildren. In a court filing, Benson explains further his decision to put his wife, Gayle, in control of the professional franchises after his death, because Renee Benson, along with Rita Leblanc and Ryan Leblanc never rose to the occassion. Meanwhile, lawyers for the estranged heirs filed court documents pushing for Mr Benson to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s annual convention is underway and the top agenda item is the controversial split of the football playoffs. New LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says he wants more time to dive into issues which created the split and work with schools on a plan that will make it more equitable for teams to win a championship…:
CUT 15 (05) “trial on”
Votes on various proposals are scheduled for Friday.

After winning two games on the road last week, the LSU men’s basketball team hosts South Carolina tonight, looking for their third consecutive win. Sophomore forward Jarell Martin is looking forward to playing in front of the home folks…
cut 30 (10) “….want to see”
Tip-off is at six o’ clock.

At seven o’ clock in the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans, who have won four in a row, host Denver, who has lost seven straight.

The Ragin Cajuns have been picked to repeat as Sun Belt champs. Junior shortstop Blake Trahan was named as the league’s preseason player of the year. U-L-M is picked to finish ninth.

Sam Houston State has been picked to win the Southland by the league coaches. Southeastern, Northwestern, Nicholls and McNeese projected to finish in third through sixth place.

And Louisiana Tech has been picked to finish in last play in Conference USA.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s annual convention is underway and the main agenda item is the current split of the football playoffs. LHSAA Executive Director, Eddie Bonine, believes since he’s new on the job, the best course of action is to stay with the split football playoffs for another year, to give him more time to work on a better solution…
cut 14 (09) “thing right”
The LHSAA voted in 2013 to split the football playoffs, because of concerns private schools had certain advantages over public schools.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson has responded to a lawsuit filed by his daughter and two grandchildren. In a court filing, Benson says for years he attempted to groom Renee Benson and his two grandchildren to take over the professional franchises once he dies, but they never rose to the task. He adds the decision for his wife to take control of the teams following his death was a deliberate and reasoned decision.

After picking up two wins on the road last week, LSU is home tonight to take on South Carolina at six P-M. The Tigers are 4-and-2 in the league and a win tonight, puts them in a four-way tie for second place. The Gamecocks are one and five in the SEC.

The Pelicans are seeking their fifth straight win of the season tonight when they host the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, Denver is trying to avoid it’s eighth straight defeat. Tip-off from the Smoothie King Center is at 7 PM.

McNeese State released its 2015 football schedule today. The Cowboys will kick-off the season at LSU on September fifth and return home the next week to play against Incarnate Word. The Pokes will play five home games, including a match-ups with Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State in October.

Louisiana Tech has been picked to finish in last place in Conference USA by the league’s baseball coaches.

U-L Lafayette has been picked to repeat as softball champions in the Sun Belt.

Split high school football playoffs will be the main topic for discussion as the Louisiana High School Athletic Association begins its annual convention today. There is a proposal to expand the postseason split of public and private schools to other sports. But new LHSAA executive director, Eddie Bonine, is asking schools to give him a year to come up with a proposal that a bulk of schools are pleased with….
cut 13 (07) “….state again”
Bonine, who was hired in December, has spent the last couple of weeks talking with schools and getting their input. High school principals will vote on Friday on a variety of proposals.

Tom Benson fires back at his daughter and two grandchildren who are attempting to get a judge to declare the Saints and Pelicans owners is not competent to make sound business decisions. In a court filing, Benson says he tried to groom Renee Benson and Rita and Ryan Leblanc, but they never rose to the task.

After winning two games on the road last week, the LSU men’s basketball team is back home tonight to host South Carolina. The Tigers are 4-and-2 in league play, while the Gamecocks are 1-and-5 and have lost three in a row.

In action last night…Tulsa topped Tulane 62-55.

Tonight at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans go after their fifth win in a row as they host the Denver Nuggets. The last time these two teams played each other, the Nuggets won by 20 points over New Orleans. But Denver has lost its last seven, coming into tonight’s game.

Former LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo has been traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Texas Rangers. Ranaudo was 4-and-3 with a 4.81 ERA in seven starts with the Red Sox last season. Boston receives left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross in the deal.

LSU defensive back Jalen Mills’ trial for misdemeanor simple assault will take place April eighth, which is about ten days before the spring game. Mills is accused of punching a woman in the mouth.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson, through his attorney, has filed a response to the lawsuit filed by his daughter and two grandchildren. In the filing, Benson says for years he attempted to groom Renee Benson and his two grandchildren to take over the professional franchises once he dies, but they never rose to the task. He adds the decision for his wife to take control of the team following his death was a deliberate and reasoned decision.

LSU defensive back Jalen Mills’ trial for misdemeanor simple assault will take place April eighth, which is about ten days before the spring game. Mills is accused of punching a woman in the mouth, which allegedly occurred last June. Mills has entered a plea of not guilty and his attorney claims it was actually Mills’ girlfriend who hit the woman.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a two-year, two-million dollar contract for new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele when the board meets Friday in Shreveport.

In the NBA, the Pelicans are off tonight. They won their fourth in a row last night, beating the lowly 76ers 99-74. Tomorrow, New Orleans will host Denver, who is 18-and-27 season on the season. The Pels are a game and a half back of Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

In college basketball…Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State and McNeese State all continue to fall towards the bottom of the Southland standings as they all lost last night. The Colonels were blown out by Northwestern State 80-51. The Demons are 5-and-3 in the league and they are at Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.

In recruiting news…Neville standout Kavonte Turpin has decided he’ll play his college football at TCU. The Ragin Cajuns 2016 baseball recruiting class has been rated as the best in the Sun Belt Conference, according to Perfect Game. Two of the top players in that class are from Louisiana, including Hogan Harris, a left-handed pitcher at St. Thomas More.

The Pelicans are on a season-high four game winning streak after beating the Philadelphia 76ers 99 to 74 last night. Anthony Davis had several big-time dunks and finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five block shots. The Pels go for five in a row on Wednesday against the Nuggets.

In college hoops last night…Northwestern State easily defeated Nichollls State 80 to 51. Ta’Jon Welcome had 18 points and career-high seven rebounds to go along with three steals.

Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi defeated Southeastern Louisiana 70 to 61, Incarnate Word rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat McNeese State 86 to 84 and Southern lost to Alabama State 63 to 59 in overtime.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a two-year, two-million dollar contract for new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele when the board meets Friday in Shreveport. The deal is 300-thousand dollars less than what John Chavis made in his final season with LSU.

And in a college football scheduling note….F-B schedules-dot-com reports that the Ragin Cajuns will host Northwestern State on September 12th. An official announcement is expected this week. And LSU has announced that spring practice will begin March 7th and the Spring game is set for April 18th.

In recruiting news…Neville standout Kavonte Turpin has decided he’ll play his college football at TCU. Plaquemine tight end Joe Keller has reportedly given a verbal pledge to Nicholls State.

In college baseball news…the Ragin Cajuns 2016 recruiting class has been rated as the best in the Sun Belt Conference, according to Perfect Game. Two of the top players in that class are from Louisiana…Nick Lee from Longville and Hogan Harris, a left-handed pitcher at St. Thomas More.

Anthony Davis’ 32 points lead the Pelicans to a 99-74 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night at the Smoothie King Center. Eric Gordon added 13 and Omer Asik pumped in 10 as the Pels have won their fourth in a row. The Pelicans welcome the Denver Nuggets tomorrow night. The Pels four game winning streak is their longest of the season.

In college basketball, it was a busy night in the Southland – Northwestern State beat up on Nicholls State 80-51. UNO downed a winless Central Arkansas squad 87-67. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi continue their winning ways with a 70-61 win over Southeastern Louisiana. And McNeese State blew a 12 point halftime lead to lose to Incarnate Word 86-84.

In the SWAC last night, Alabama State upended Southern 63-59. The loss drops the Jaguars to third place in the conference.

Baseball America’s preseason rankings have the LSU Tigers ranked second. That is a high ranking for a squad that has a long way to go before determining who will be in its weekend rotation. Jared Poche was a weekend starter last season and a Freshman All-American. The former Lutcher standout is one of eight returning pitchers and he likes what he sees from the young arms that have joined the team…

cut 18 (13) “….to college”

Coach Paul Maineri says Poche will get the start in the Tigers season opener against Kansas on February 13. LSU is one of three SEC teams in the Baseball America preseason top 10. Vanderbilt is number one and Florida is ranked sixth.

LSU announced that spring football for the Tigers will begin on March seventh and the spring game will occur on April 18th. Also, new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s contract is two years at one-million dollars annually. The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to sign off on the deal at their board meeting Thursday.

Baseball America’s preseason ranking came out today and the LSU Tigers are ranked second. That’s a lofty ranking for a squad that has a long way to go before determining who will be in there weekend rotation. Jared Poche was a weekend starter last season and a Freshman All-American. The former Lutcher standout is one of eight returning pitchers and he likes what he sees from the young arms that have joined the team…
cut 18 (13) “….to college”
LSU is one of three SEC teams in the Baseball America preseason top 10. Vanderbilt is number one and Florida is ranked sixth.

The Pelicans seek their fourth win a row tonight against the 76ers. Philadelphia is 8-and-36 on the year, but beat the Pels by double digits over a week ago. 76ers point guard Michael Carter Williams will not play because of an illness.

LSU announced today that spring football for the Tigers will begin on March seventh and the spring game will occur on April 18th. Also, new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s contract is two years at one-million dollars annually. The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to sign off on the deal this Thursday at their board meeting.

ESPN is pushing college football playoff officials to move next season’s semi-final games to January second, which would be a Saturday. Right now they are scheduled to be played on New Year’s Eve, which is a Thursday. So far, the C-F-P is unwilling to move the games. The Orange Bowl in Miami and Cotton Bowl in Dallas are hosting the semi-finals.

In college basketball…LSU’s Jordan Mickey has been named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week. The sophomore from Dallas had 25 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday’s overtime win over Vanderbilt. The Tigers host South Carolina on Wednesday.

The LSU Tigers are on a two-game winning streak after beating Vanderbilt in overtime on Saturday. The Bayou Bengals host South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball rebounded from its first loss in Conference USA action by beating rice on Saturday 58-45. The Bulldogs are six and one in the league and they’ll host Western Kentucky on Thursday night, who is a perfect 7-and-0 in league play.

U-L-M, who once won six in a row, has now lost two straight. The Warhawks are at Troy this Thursday.

In the NBA…the Pelicans have won three straight as they defeated Dallas 109-to-106 last night. Anthony Davis had 28 points and 10 reobunds. The Pels will go for their fourth win in a row tonight as they host the 76ers.

In the NFL Pro Bowl last night…Saints tight end Jimmy Graham had two touchdown grabs as Team Michael Irvin beat Chris Carter’s team 32-28.

The LSU Tigers found out today that they are ranked second in the Baseball America preseason poll. Vanderbilt, who is the defending national champs, are ranked number one. Houston is number three. It was the Cougars who defeated the Tigers in last year’s regional.

When it comes to 2015, LSU will have several young pitchers on the mound, but Coach Paul Mainieri says he has confidence he’ll have a strong staff by the end of the season, because of pitching coach Alan Dunn…
cut 17 (20) “….special”
Jake Godfrey, Jake Latz, Doug Norman and Alex Lange are some of the freshmen pitchers who are competing to be in the weekend rotation.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson says he feels great, just like a 50-year-old. Benson made those comments to a television reporter who was standing outside of the Saints facility waiting for him to arrive yesterday. His daughter, Renee Benson, and two of his granddaugthers have filed a lawsuit against him in an attempt to stop a succession plan that will give control of the two teams to his wife Gayle.

Benson’s New Orleans Pelicans got a road win against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night 92 to 84. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon combined for 37 points; and Anthony Davis had 21 in the win. The Pels are now a game above .500 at 22 and 21

In college hoops today…the LSU Tigers are seeking their second straight win as they visit Vanderbilt at 5 PM. Louisiana Tech is at Rice, U-L-M hosts Georgia Southern, the Cajuns are at Georgia State and Northwestern State hosts McNeese.
—————————–
College baseball teams have begun full squad practices as they get ready for the 2015 season. This year the NCAA will use a new baseball that has lower seems, in the hopes it leads to more home runs. Coach Paul Mainieri says it does appear that these new baseballs will go farther…
cut 30 (10) “…same hitters”
LSU goes into the season seeking its 17th trip to the College World Series.

In college football…LSU’s new defensive line coach Ed Orgeron’s has a contract for two years, with an annual salary of 450-thousand dollars. The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve it at their next meeting.

Sunday is the N-F-L Pro bowl. Saints tight end Jimmy Graham says if he catches a touchdown, he’ll bring back his post-TD celebration by dunking the football through the goal posts.