Today is the first day of the early signing period for college football recruits. Recruiting analyst Shea Dixon with on3-dot-com says the Tigers head into today with the seventh best recruiting class…
cut 18 (17) “….up well”
The class features one five-star prospect, Neville offensive tackle Zalance Heard.

LSU is also busy in the transfer portal as three defensive linemen have announced their commitment to the Tigers. Arizona defensive end Paris Shand, Oregon edge rusher Bradyn Swinson and Florida nose tackle Jalen Lee, who is from Live Oak High School in Livingston Parish.

Meanwhile, LSU defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy announces his intentions to enter the NFL draft after recording a career-high 49 tackles this season.

The LSU men’s basketball team hosts East Tennessee State in its final game before taking few days off for Christmas Break. Coach Matt McMahon’s team is 10-and-1 and he’s looking for his guys to be mentally locked in tonight…
Cut 19 (27) “…take of business”
The Buccaneers are four and eight. Tip off is at 7 PM.

In other action, Jacksonville defeated ULM 66-55. Northwestern State lost to 12th ranked Baylor 58-48.

LSU baseball is ranked number one in Collegiate Baseball’s Preseason poll and the Saints place guard Cesar Ruiz on injured reserve.

Weather will be a factor in the Saints-Browns game in Cleveland on Saturday. Not much snow, maybe less than an inch, but the forecast calls winds at 30-miles per hour and a high temperature around 13-degrees. Coach Dennis Allen says both teams have to play in it….
cut 28 (28) “…about the elements”
Kick-off is at noon.

The man who shot & killed former NFL player Joe McKnight during a 2016 road rage incident in Jefferson Parish changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter today and received a ten-year prison sentence. 61-year-old Ronald Gasser was awaiting a retrial after his 2018 conviction was tossed out because it was a non-unanimous jury verdict.

The 10-and-1 LSU Tigers will host East Tennessee State tomorrow in their final game before a Christmas Break. Coach Matt McMahon talked today about how his team has improved….
cut 29 (35) “….defensive glass”
Tip off tomorrow is at 7 PM.

In college hoops today, ULM lost to Jacksonville 66-55 after scoring just 17 points in the first half. Tonight Northwestern State is at 12th ranked Baylor. NBA, the Pelicans lost their fourth straight last night as they fell to Milwaukee 128 to 119.

The Pelicans lost their fourth straight last night as the Milwaukee Bucks dribbled past New Orleans 128 to 119. Center Jonas Valanciunas had a season-high 37 points, but Giannis Antetokounmpo had 42 points to lead the way for Milwaukee. Valanciunas on trying to defend the two-time MVP….
cut 29 (29) “…back on track”
The Pels return to action Thursday night when they host San Antonio.

Today in college hoops…ULM hosts Jacksonville, while Northwestern State is at 12th ranked Baylor.

Weather will be a factor in Saturday’s Saints-Browns game. About an inch of snow is expected to fall in northeastern Ohio that day and winds will be about 30-miles per hour out of the southwest. Winds could actually gust over 50 miles per hour. Coach Dennis Allen says kicking and passing games will be effected…
cut 16 (16) “….pay attention too”
Kick-off is at noon on Christmas Eve.

The Ragin Cajuns and the Houston Cougars are in Shreveport preparing for Friday’s Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Kick-off is at 2 PM and temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 20s, with a cold wind out of the northwest at ten to 20 miles per hour.

Former Louisiana Tech tackling machine Tyler Grubbs has announced he’s transferring to Tulane. Grubbs played at Holy Cross High School.

The Pelicans lost their fourth straight last night as the Milwaukee Bucks dribbled past New Orleans 128 to 119. Center Jonas Valanciunas had a season-high 37 points, but two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 42 points and Bucks Center Brooke Lopez added another 30 points. The four-game losing streak is the longest one of the season, but Coach Willie Green says his team will be fine…
cut 28 (28) “…back on track”
The Pels host San Antonio on Thursday night and then travel to Oklahoma City before taking a couple of days off for Christmas.

With three games left in the regular season, the four teams in the N-F-C South are within one game of each other. Tampa Bay leads the division at 6-and-8, while New Orleans, Carolina, and Atlanta are all 5-and-9. The Black and Gold could be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to Cleveland on Sunday and the Buccaneers beat Arizona on Sunday night.

In college football news, former Louisiana Tech tackling machine Tyler Grubbs has committed to Tulane. Former Bulldogs coach Sonny Dykes has been named A-P Coach of the Year after leading T-C-U to the College Football Playoffs.

LSU women’s basketball player Angel Reese has been named ESPN”s National Player of the Week after recording three more double-doubles last week. Reese had 25 points and 20 rebounds in a blowout win over Oregon State in Hawaii on Sunday night.

Tonight, Northwestern State looks to upset 12th ranked Baylor in Waco, Texas. Both teams have eight wins on the year.

It’s been a disappointing Saints season, but at least they beat the Falcons twice. New Orleans took care of the Dirty Birds yesterday as they held on for a 21-18 win over Atlanta. The Saints entered the game with slim playoff hopes, but Coach Dennis Allen expected his team would play hard….
Cut 19 (25) “…did it again here today”
With three games left in the season, the Saints are just one game back of Tampa for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans will visit the Browns on Saturday. The forecast calls for high temperatures in the teens and an inch of snow in Cleveland on that day.

Two weeks from today, LSU will face Purdue in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Bowl practices give teams a chance to play some young guys who didn’t play during the regular season. Coach Brian Kelly says several guys have stood out…
Cut 18 (28) “…few more guys”

The Ragin Cajuns and Houston both arrived in Shreveport today as they’ll face each other in the Independence Bowl on Friday. Looking at a cold game on Friday with high temperatures only in the upper 20s.

Tonight. The Pelicans host the Bucks at the Smoothie King Center as New Orleans looks to snap a three-game losing streak. Tip off is at 7:00.

At five and nine, the Saints are still alive for a playoff spot after sweeping the season series from the Falcons, knocking off Atlanta 21-18. Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill also threw a 68-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed. New Orleans defense gave up 231 rushing yards but, coach Dennis Allen says coming away with the victory was the important thing….
Cut 20 (17) …..what we did today”
And Tampa Bay lost, so the Bucs are now six and eight, but still in first place in the NFC South by one game over the Saints, Falcons and the Panthers.

The Pelicans host the Bucks tonight as they look to snap a three-game losing streak. Tip off is at 7:00.

Two weeks from today LSU will play Purdue in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and Coach Brian Kelly says Jayden Daniels will be ready after failing to finish the SEC Championship game because of an ankle injury…
Cut 16 (26) “..through that progression.”
If Daniels returns next season, he’ll have another five-star recruit at wide receiver. Former Edna Karr standout Aaron Anderson has made the decision to transfer from Alabama to LSU. Anderson was the number one player in the Class of 2022 according to 24-7 sports but chose Bama over the Tigers after Ed Orgeron got fired.

It’s been a disappointing Saints season, but at least they’ve beaten the Falcons twice. New Orleans took care of the Dirty Birds on Sunday as they held on for a 21-18 win over Atlanta. The Saints entered the game with slim playoff hopes, but Coach Dennis Allen expected his team would play hard….
Cut 19 (25) “…did it again here today”
Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill also threw a 68-yard TD bomb to Rashid Shaheed.

Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes and Cincinnati beat the Buccaneers 34-23. So with three games left the Bucs lead the NFC South at 6-and-8 and New Orleans is 5-and-9.

________________________________________________________________

Two weeks from today when LSU when faces Purdue in the Citrus Bowl, the Boilermarkers will play without their top three offensive stars. Quarterback Aidan O’ Connell, receiver Charlie Jones and tight end Payne Durham. UCLA transfer Austin Burton will start for the short-handed Boilermakers. Coach Brian Kelly says Burton started a game in September…
Cut 17 (21) “…and playing”
Kelly says Quarterback Jayden Daniels will be ready to play after missing the second half of the SEC Championship Game with an ankle injury.

Former five-star wide receiver Aaron Anderson has committed to LSU after spending one season at Alabama. The former Edna Karr star did not appear in a game for the Crimson Tide.

And former LSU Tiger receiver Jack Beche plans to transfer to TCU.

For the third time this season, second time this week, the Pelicans lost to the Utah Jazz last night. New Orleans was blown out on Tuesday, but last night came up short, 132 to 129 in overtime. The Pels are now 1-and-4 in overtime games. Zion Williamson had 31 points, C-J McCollum had 28 points in a losing effort.

The Ragin Cajuns shot 57-percent from the field and defeated McNeese 78-70 in Lake Charles last night. Trae English had a game high 24 points for McNeese but they fall 3-and-8, while the Cajuns are 10-and-1, tying their best start since 1990.

Nicholls tipped off Southland play with an 88-73 win over Southeastern Louisiana last night. Latrell Jones and Caleb Huffman each had 17 points for the Colonels. The Lions were only 24-percent from the three-point line.

Tomorrow night, the LSU men’s basketball team hosts Winthrop.

Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been hired as an interim assistant coach at his alma mater at Purdue to help the Boilermakers prepare for their Citrus Bowl matchup on January second against LSU. Purdue is transitioning from one head coach to another, so this appears to be just a one-time thing for Brees.

The Saints will host the Falcons on Sunday as rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder is set to make his first start of the season after starter Marcus Mariota suffered a knee injury and left the team. Ridder was selected out of Cincinnati in the 3rd round of this year’s draft. Saints second-year linebacker Pete Werner is hoping to make his return from injury and faced Ridder during his time at Ohio St. He says preparation for Atlanta shouldn’t change much no matter who’s at quarterback…
Cut 17 (18) “…the first time.”
Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has missed the last eight games with a lacerated kidney, but he continues to practice on a limited to basis.

Mike Leach’s death is still having a resounding impact on all of college football. LA Tech head Coach Sonny Cumbie played under Leach at Texas Tech and served on his staff. Cumbie had the opportunity to talk to reporters about his former mentor and says he’s still in shock over Leach’s death…

Cut 16

Purdue has added a familiar face to its coaching staff in the wake of Head Coach Jeff Brohm’s departure. Purdue alumn and former Saints quarterback Drew Brees is set to take an interim assistant coaching job with the Boilermakers ahead of their Citrus Bowl matchup with the Tigers. Starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell has announced he will be skipping the bowl game and senior cornerback Cory Trice has opted out to declare for the 2023 NFL draft.

The Pelicans will look to bounce back from a sloppy performance in Utah Tuesday that put an end to their seven-game win streak. New Orleans shot just 40% from the floor and made 4 of 27 from three en route to a 121-100 loss. They’ll play the Jazz again tonight as they hope to separate themselves in the West. The Pels are currently tied with Memphis for first in the Western conference at 18-9, and will hope to regain some momentum behind all-star forward Zion Williamson. Jose Alvarado has been listed as out for tonight’s matchup and Brandon Ingram is set to miss his ninth straight game. Tip-off tonight is at 8:00

Angel Reese scored a career high 32 points on 13-15 shooting in LSU’s 88-42 win over Lamar last night. Her 15 rebounds secured her her tenth double-double of the season. She is the first LSU player with 10 consecutive double-doubles to start the season since Sylvia Fowles had 19 straight in the 2006-2007 season. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns will head to Lake Charles tonight to face McNeese as the I-10 rivals have their 98th meeting. UL-Lafayette is 9-1 through their first ten games, the best start to a season since 1990-91. Tip-off in the Legacy Center is tonight at 7:00

Drew Brees became an LSU fan during his years as a Saints quarterback. But he will coach against the Purple and Gold in the Citrus Bowl as his alma mater Purdue has hired him as an assistant coach for this game. Brees reportedly wanted to help in the transition as Purdue moves from one head coach to another. An NCAA waiver will also allow him to recruit.

Purdue’s starting quarterback this season, Aidan O’Connell will not play in the bowl game as the sixth-year senior will prepare for the 2023 NFL draft instead. O’Connell threw for 32-hundred yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

The Pelicans take on the Utah Jazz tonight. Two nights ago the Jazz easily defeated New Orleans 121 to 100.

And in Lake Charles tonight, McNeese hosts the Ragin Cajuns. U-L Lafayette ahs won the last seven games in this series. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie is grieving like many over the death of Mike Leach, who died of a heart condition. Cumbie played for and also searched on Leach’s coaching staff while at Texas Tech. Cumbie says he will always admire the belief that Leach had in his players…
Cut 18 (26) “…also.”

Last night in Ruston, Louisiana Tech fell to Stephen F Austin in overtime 80-79. Stephen F Austin scored the winning basket with point-nine seconds left in O-T. The Lumberjacks hit 14 three-pointers, while the Bulldogs only made four threes.

The LSU Lady Tigers returned to the court last night after a ten-day layoff and easily defeated Lamar 88-42 at the PMAC last night. Angel Reese scored a career-high 32 points and she also collected 15 rebounds.