The Saints wrapped up a disappointing season yesterday with a ten to seven loss to the Carolina Panthers. There were high hopes going into the year, but the Saints started the season two and five and could never really recover. It’s the second straight year, defensive end Cam Jordan and the Saints missed the playoffs…
Cut 17 (11) “…with a vengance.”
Once again the Saints have a bunch of unrestricted free agents going into the offseason. Coach Dennis Allen could not predict on how much of a roster turnover we will see…
Cut 18 (13) “…week or two”
Today is Black Monday in the NFL, a day we see a lot of coaching changes, but Allen is expected to get another season.

Tonight is the national championship game in college football as Georgia tries to repeat, while T-C-U looks to finish an improbable season by winning the school’s first national title since 1938. Kick-off is at 6:30 PM.

LSU needs help at the cornerback position and they have received a commitment from Darian “Duce” Chestnut, who started the last two seasons at Syracuse. The former three-star recruit from New Jersey recorded 83 tackles and four interceptions in his two seasons for the Orange and has two more years of eligibility left.

The Pelicans will look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight in Washington as they face the Wizards. New Orleans is 24-and-16 and in third place in the Western Conference.

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team improved to 16-0 yesterday, the school’s best start to a season, by beating Kentucky 67-48 at Rupp Arena in Lexington. LSU has now won 24 straight regular season games dating back to last year.

Playing without the injured Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans could not defeat one of the more talented teams in the NBA as New Orleans fell to the Brooklyn Nets 108-102 in front of a sold out crowd at the Smoothie King Center. Coach Willie Green liked the fight he saw from his team…
cut 16 (11) “…down the stretch”
C-J McCollum had 28 points to lead New Orleans and Naji (Nah-G) Marshall had a career high 23 points and nine rebounds. The Nets got 33 points from Kevin Durant. The Pels begin a five-game road trip tonight in Dallas.

LSU is in Bryan-College Station today to take on Texas A-and-M. The Tigers have won ten straight over the Aggies. LSU is 1-1 in SEC play, A-and-M is 1-0. Tip time is 5 PM.
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LSU offensive lineman Anthony Bradford has declared for the NFL draft. The former four-star recruit out of Michigan started the final games of this season. He’s six-foot-five, 345 pounds. Despite Bradford’s departure, LSU is still expected to return a majority of its starting offensive line next season.

The Saints will look to close out the regular season on a four-game winning streak when they host Carolina tomorrow. Offensive guard Andrus Peat and Paulson Adebo (Uh-dee-bo) have been ruled out because of injuries. Kick-off is at noon.

Back to college basketball, here are some other games on the schedule today…ULM, who is 3-and-0 in the Sun Belt, hosts Southern Miss, the Cajuns take on Georgia State, La Tech hosts UTEP and Nicholls is at Northwestern State.

LSU baseball is ranked number one in the Perfect Game preseason poll and Dylan Crews has been named Preseason player of the year

Big game at the Smoothie King Center tonight as the Pelicans host the Nets. New Orleans is in third place in the Western Conference with a 24-14 record, while Brooklyn is 25-13 and in third place in the Eastern Conference. The Pels have been outstanding at home this season with a record of 17-and-4. Tip off is at 6:30.

Tomorrow, the LSU men’s basketball team takes on Texas A-and-M in College Station. The Aggies are 9-and-5, 1-0 in SEc play and led by Wade Taylor and Tyrece Radford. Coach Matt McMahon on A-and-M…
cut 29 (24) “…guards”
Tip-off is at 5 PM.

Also on Saturday, ULM hosts Southern Miss, the Cajuns take on Georgia State, La Tech hosts UTEP and Nicholls is at Northwestern State.

The NFL has determined that Monday’s suspended game between Cincinnati and Buffalo will not be resumed, so the game has been canceled Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow says neither team was in the right mental state to finish the game after watching medical staff perform CPR on Bills safety Damar Hamlin…
Cut 16 (19) “…emotional night.”
More good news about Hamlin’s recovery. He FaceTimed with teammates today and told them he loves them.

Jess Curtis is leaving the Many Tigers, where he won three state championships for the head coaching job at Natchitoches Central…
cut 20 (20) “….appealing to me”
The Chiefs were three and seven last year.

It was a good night for most Louisiana college basketball teams last night, Louisiana Tech defeated Rice on its home floor as they knocked off the Owls 88-82 overtime. ULM improved to 3-0 in the Sun Belt with a 66-58 win over Georgia State. The Ragin Cajuns won their first Sun Belt game as they defeated Southern Miss 75-61. McNeese knocked off Northwestern State 92-77. and Nicholls beat Texas A-and-M Commerce 66-63.

Many Saints and Pelicans fans have been frustrated after attending recent games and finding their vehicles broken into. NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says they will increase patrols during events at the two venues.
Cut 14 (13) “…Smoothie King Center”
The Pels host the Nets tonight and the Saints play Sunday in the Dome against the Panthers.

Natchitoches Central High School is set to introduce Jess Curtis as its new Head Football Coach coach today. Curtis led the Many Tigers to an undefeated state championship this season and has three state championships and three runner-up finishes in the last nine years. Curtis is a Many native and played for the Tigers’ 1988 state finalist team. He says it was hard to leave his alma mater and the success they’ve had, but was impressed by Natchitoches Central…
Cut 19 (20) “…at Natchitoches Central”
Curtis takes over a program that went three and seven last season and looking to build an on-campus stadium instead of playing its games at Northwestern State’s Turpin Stadium.

Big win for the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team on the road last night as the Bulldogs defeated Rice 88-82 in overtime. The Owls tied the game at the end of regulation with a 45-foot three-point shot. But Tech bounced back and scored 19 points in O-T. It was a team win for the Bulldogs, as Cobe Williams, Kenny Hunter and Keaston Willis each had 18 points.

ULM is now 3-0 in the Sun Belt. Tyreke Locure had a career-high 25 points as the Warhawks held off Georgia State for a 66-58 win. It’s the first time ULM started Sun Belt play with three straight victories since the 2006-07 season.

The Ragin Cajuns won their first Sun Belt game of the season as they defeated Southern Miss 75-61. Kentrell Garnett scored a career high 20 points and hit six-three pointers.

Nicholls and McNeese are now 2-0 in Southland play as the Colonels defeated Texas A-and-M Commerce 66-63 and McNeese outlasted Northwestern State 92-77.

The Saints will close out the regular season on Sunday by hosting the Carolina Panthers. Since shutting out Las Vegas on October 30th, New Orleans has played some great defense, allowing just 15 points and 176 passing yards.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are preparing for a matchup against division rival Baltimore as they are fighting for the one seed in the A-F-C. It’s Cincinnati’s first game since Monday’s canceled game when Damar Hamlin collapsed. Burrow says opinions in the locker room are still split on those who ready to play Sunday…
cut 18 (17) “….dealing with it”
Hamlin’s doctors say he’s still critically ill but he’s made substantial improvement and is able communicate through writing.

All NFL teams will be preparing for the final week of the regular season with heavy hearts as their thoughts and prayers remain with Bills Safety Damar Hamlin. Doctors announced earlier today Hamlin is still in critical condition but has made substantial improvements. He has no signs of neurological damage and is now awake and able to communicate through writing. Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen says that the team is taking all necessary steps to ensure the players’ mental health…

Cut 16

Natchitoches Central High School announced the hiring of Jess Curtis as the Chiefs’ new football coach. Curtis led Many High School to three small school state championships in the last nine seasons. Since taking over in 2010, he’s had a 163-24 record and made the playoffs every year. Curtis takes over a Chiefs team who went 3-7 last season.

LSU Women’s Basketball will look to match their best start in program history tonight against Texas A&M. the seventh-ranked Lady Tigers are 14-0 and could match their best start to the season ever with a win in the P-MAC tonight. Tip-off is at 8:00.

ULM men’s basketball returns home tonight after starting Sun-Belt play with two road wins last week. Tonight, they’ll host Georgia State, who’s 1-1 in the conference and coming off a win over South Alabama. Warhawks Coach Keith Richards says the panthers are a tough team…

Cut 19

UL-Lafayette is hoping for their first Sun-Belt win over Southern Miss. The Cajuns were preseason favorites to win the conference and started out the season 10-2 but have lost their last two conference games. They’ll look to bounce back against a 13-2 Golden Eagles team who’s undefeated in the Sun-Belt.

The Saints are preparing for Sunday’s game against Carolina with heavy hearts over the health of Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Hamlin is in critical condition after going into cardiac arrest during Monday’s game against Cincinnati. Saints quarterback Andy Dalton says seeing a life and death situation on the football field makes you take a step back…
cut 17 (15) “….this game”
There is good news to report on Hamlin’s recovery. The Bills say he’s shown remarkable improvement and the player’s agent says he is awake.

The Pelicans easily defeated the Rockets last night 119 to 108. The Pels led by 23 points after the first quarter and six players finished in double figures led by CJ McCollum, who had 28. Up next a visit from the Nets on Friday.

Last night in college hoops, Tulane trounced Tulsa 93 to 77. Cameron Christon had 25 points and nine rebounds as Grambling defeated Texas Southern 85-72. Southern improved to 2-0 in the SWAC with a 66-62 win over Prairie View A-and-M.

ULM men’s basketball returns to Fant-Ewing Coliseum tonight after winning its first two Sun Belt games on the road last week, a four-point win over Texas State and a 12-point victory over Arkansas State. Warhawks Coach Keith Richard says they are rebounding the ball better…
Cut 18 (21) “…some games”

Also tonight, the Ragin Cajuns host Southern Miss. Louisiana Tech is at Rice. Northwestern State visits McNeese.

The Saints are back at practice, but with heavy hearts over the health of Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Hamlin is in critical condition after going into cardiac arrest during Monday’s game against Cincinnati. Saints quarterback Andy Dalton says seeing a life and death situation on the football field makes you take a step back…
cut 17 (15) “….this game”
A family spokesperson told the Associated Press that Hamlin’s recovery is moving in a positive direction, but didn’t provide specifics.

The Pelicans easily defeated the Rockets last night 119 to 108. They led by double figures for most of the game as six players scored in double figures led by CJ McCollum, who had 28 points. It was New Orleans first game since knowing Zion Williamson will miss at least the next three weeks because of a strained hamstring.

Last night in college hoops, Tulane trounced Tulsa 93 to 77 as Jalen Cook scored 24 points and dished out seven assists. Cameron Christon had 25 points and nine rebounds as Grambling defeated Texas Southern 85-72. Southern improved to 2-0 in the SWAC with a 66-62 win over Prairie View A-and-M.

Tonight, the Ragin Cajuns who are 0-2 in Sun Belt play will host Southern Miss. Coach Bob Marlin says they need to defend their home court…
cut 20 (19) “…big difference”
Tip-off is at 7 PM.

ULM is 2-0 in the Sun Belt and the Warhawks host Georgia State. Louisiana Tech is in Houston to take on Rice. The Owls are 11-and-3 and have won five in a row.

The Pelicans have announced star forward Zion Williamson will miss at least the next three weeks because of a hamstring strain. New Orleans will host the Houston Rockets tonight. The Pels are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. They are one game back of Denver for first place in the West.

LSU is now 1-and-1 in SEC play after losing a hard fought game to Kentucky 74-71 last night. The Tigers are at Texas A-and-M on Saturday.

The Aggies have reportedly hired Bobby Petrino as their new offensive coordinator and he’ll take over play calling responsibilities from head coach Jimbo Fisher. Petrino has served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri State the last three seasons. He’s previously been a head coach at Arkansas and Louisville, when Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016.

On the prep level, Lafayette Christian has a new head football coach, Hunter Landry. He was the Knights offensive coordinator the last two seasons.

The Buffalo Bills say safety Damar Hamlin remains in the ICU and in critical condition, but signs of improvement have been noted since he collapsed on the field in Monday night’s game against the Bengals. LSU Health New Orleans cardiac electrophysiologist Doctor Jameel Ahmed says being in the I-C-U allows the body to rehabilitate after a traumatic event…
cut 15 (12) “….its own”

Week 18 of the NFL season will go on as scheduled. That means the Saints will host Carolina this Sunday. It’s a meaningless game but Coach Dennis Allen says every player who is healthy will play….
cut 18 (21) “…what we do”
The Saints have won three straight.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will miss tonight’s game against Houston and he’s expected to miss at least the next three weeks with a strained hamstring. New Orleans is six and two without Williamson this season.

LSU is now 1-and-1 in SEC play after losing a hard fought game to Kentucky 74-71 last night. K-J Williams had 23 points in a losing effort. Jacob Toppin had 21 for the Wildcats while Oscar Tshiebwe had 19 points and 16 boards.

The Ragin Cajuns were preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt but they are off to an 0-2 start in league play. Coach Bob Marlin says the team is frustrated with the losses…
cut 19 (21) “….play better”
The Cajuns host Southern Miss tomorrow.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains sedated and in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest Monday night following a tackle in a game against the Bengals. LSU Health New Orleans cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Jameel Ahmed says a hard hit in the chest at the right time can cause cardiac arrest.
Cut 13 (13) “…electrical arrhythmia. ”
Doctors performed CPR on Hamlin moments after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.

After racking up three sacks in the win over Philadelphia, Saints defensive end Cam Jordan is the new all-time sacks leader for the Black and Gold. Coach Dennis Allen says it was a proud moment for the franchise…
cut 17 (21) “…those characteristic”