LSU holds a press conference this afternoon where it’s expected they’ll announce that juniors Vadal Alexander, Jerald Hawkins and safety Jalen Mills will return for their senior seasons.
Former LSU Tiger Brandon Lafell is getting ready for the A-F-C Championship game as the New England Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts. Lafell caught the winning TD pass last week, but he expects the Patriots will run the ball more this week after only just a handful of rushes in the win over the Ravens…
cut 17 (15) “…..everything else”
U-L Lafayette announces the addition of four mid-year signees to their 2015 roster. Out of that group is quarterback Dion Ray, who played at Helen Cox High School in New Orleans. Ray was a four-time all district selection.
Louisiana Tech improved to 4-and-0 in Conference USA play with a thrilling 74-71 win over UAB last night. The Bulldogs sunk nine three-pointers, four of them were from Erik McCree, who finished with 26 points. Alex Hamilton had 20 points, as he was 6 of seven from field and five of six from the free throw line.
There’s now a three-way tie for first place in the Sun Belt. The Ragin Cajuns suffered its first league loss of the season last night as they lost to Georgia Southern 78-70. U-L Lafayette got off to a slow start, just 14 points in the first 15 minutes.
ULM is part of that three-way tie for first place after beating Troy 63-54. That’s four wins in a row for the Warhawks, who are undefeated at home. Tylor Ongwae had 15 points and ten rebounds.
Tonight in the NBA…the Pelicans are at the 76ers. Anthony Davis is questionable with a toe injury.

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.

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.