4:45 LRN Sportscast June 13

The New Orleans Saints have wrapped up OTAs with minicamp ready to begin on Tuesday. Jameis Winston is the unquestioned starter under center this year, and he will be backed up by veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton says he’s enjoying his role and believes Winston is primed for a big year.

Cut 18 (19) “…watch him work.”

New Orleans-dot-football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints are hosting veteran running back David Johnson today. The 30-year-old Johnson appeared in 13 games last season for the Houston Texans, rushing for 228 yards on 67 attempts

And kicker Wil Lutz has been cleared to resume kicking duties after 11 months, he announced on Instagram today.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Dolphins were prepared to offer former Saints coach Sean Payton a five-year/$100-million contract but were denied the opportunity to interview the coach by the franchise in January. Any team attempting to hire Payton prior to the conclusion of the 2023 season will have to provide compensation to the Saints via trade.

Three SEC teams are heading to the College World Series, but not top-seeded Tennessee. Notre Dame upset the Volunteers seven to three in the deciding third game of their super-regional. The Fighting Irish are headed to the College World Series for the first time since 2002 when Paul Mainieri was their head coach.

Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Texas A-and-M will make the trip to Omaha as two other Super Regionals are being settled today. With Oregon State and Auburn finishing up one series and Stanford taking on UConn in the other.

The LSU pitching staff adds another member to its ranks. Creighton right-hander Dylan Tebrake, a 2-time Big East Pitcher of the Year, has announced that he will be transferring to Baton Rouge. Tebrake went 8-2 with a 2.71 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 93 innings for the Blue Jays last season.

11:40 LRN Sportscast June 13

Three SEC teams are heading to the College World Series, but not top-seeded Tennessee. Notre Dame pulled off the big upset on Rocky Top defeating the Volunteers seven to three in the deciding third game of the super-regional. The Fighting Irish are headed to the College World Series for the first time since 2002 when Paul Mainieri was their head coach.

Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Texas A-and-M are making the trip to Omaha. The Rebels swept Southern Miss without allowing a run in two games in Hattiesburg. The Razorbacks defeated the Tar Heels in North Carolina and the Aggies beat Louisville.

Two other Super Regionals will be settled today. With Oregon State and Auburn finishing up one series and Stanford taking on UConn in a decisive game three in the other.

The LSU pitching staff adds another member to its ranks. Creighton right-hander Dylan Tebrake, a 2-time Big East Pitcher of the Year, has announced that he will be transferring to Baton Rouge. Tebrake went 8-2 with a 2.71 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 93 innings for the Blue Jays last season. He has a career record of 21-5 and a 2.80 ERA, including 16-2 over the past two seasons.

The New Orleans Saints have wrapped up OTAs with minicamp ready to begin on Tuesday. Rookie tackle Trevor Penning is expected to be an impact player this season after being taken with the 19th overall pick. He says right now his focus is on learning the subtle differences between the college and pro games.

Cut 16 (14) “…good technique.”

New Orleans does have a team in the playoffs, the USFL playoffs. The Breakers forced four turnovers in a 17-6 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits to improve to 6-3 and clinch second place in the South Division. They will face the Birmingham Stallions in the semifinals on Saturday, June 25, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

After taking the weekend off, the NBA Finals resume tonight with Game 5 in San Francisco. The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics are tied at two games apiece. Tip-off is at 8 pm.

6:45 LRN Sportscast June 13

Three SEC teams are heading to the College World Series, but not top-seeded Tennessee. Notre Dame pulled off the big upset on Rocky Top defeating the Volunteers seven to three in the deciding third game of the super regional. The Fighting Irish are headed to the College World Series for the first time since 2002 when Pual Mainieri was their head coach.

Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Texas A-and-M are headed to the College World Series. The Rebels swept Southern Miss and didn’t give up a run in two games in Hattiesburg. The Razorbacks defeated the Tar Heels in North Carolina and the Aggies beat Louisville.

Two super regional series have yet to be completed. Oregon State beat Auburn last night four to three to force a game three and Stanford and Connecticut also headed to a deciding game three as the Cardinal clobbered the Huskies eight to two last night.

The Big East Pitcher of the year has announced he’s transferring to LSU. Creighton right-hander Dylan Tebrake went 8-and-2 with a 2.81 ERA last season and had 115 strikeouts in 93 innings pitched.

The Saints begin a three-day mandatory minicamp tomorrow at the team’s training facility in Metairie. Offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk has high hopes New Orleans will return to having one of the best offenses in the league…
cut 17 (13) “…..this year”

The New Orleans Breakers are in the USFL playoffs after beating Tampa Bay 17 to six yesterday. New Orleans was outgained 352 to 215 yards, but the Breakers forced four turnovers to improve to six and three on the season. New Orleans will face Birmingham in a semifinal game on June 25th in Canton, Ohio.

NBA, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has surgery on a finger on his right hand and will need six to eight weeks to recover. Zion Williamson says he wants to be in New Orleans and he hopes to sign a contract extension if it’s offered by the Pelicans.

7:30 LRN Sportscast June 11

The opening day of the NCAA Super Regionals brought plenty of excitement, as underdogs won two of the first four games on Friday. Oklahoma beat fourth-seeded Virginia Tech 5-4, and in a shocker, Notre Dame topped number one Tennessee 8-6. In other games, East Carolina took down Texas 13-7, and Texas A&M downed Louisville 5-4.

Those series continue today, while four more get started. North Carolina and Arkansas, Southern Miss and Ole Miss, Auburn and Oregon State, and UConn and Stanford open their best-of-three sets Saturday as we get closer to the College World Series.

The NBA Finals are all squared at two games apiece. Steph Curry scored 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 107-97 win over the Boston Celtics. Boston led 94-90 with 5 minutes to play but was outscored 17-3 down the stretch. Curry had 10 of those 17 points. Game 5 is back in San Francisco on Monday night.

It’s a great weekend to “go fish,” and I’m not talking about the card game.  Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is out for the next 6-8 weeks following surgery on his right pinky finger. He averaged just under 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists this past season for the Pels.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Opelousas native and former LSU standout Devery Henderson will be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame this year. Henderson played eight seasons in New Orleans, leading the NFL in yards per reception in 2006 and 2008. He caught a career-high 51 passes during the 2009 Super Bowl season….
Cut 16 (18) “…it all worked out.”
Also heading into the Saints Hall of Fame is former running back and special teamer Fred McAfee who had two different stints with the Black and Gold, 1991 to 1993 and then again from 2000 to 2006. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and had 210 career tackles on special teams, while also rushed for 12-hundred yards in his career.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, it’s a perfect opportunity to go fish. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

After four seasons at LSU, outfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo has announced he’s entered the NCAA Transfer portal. DiGiacomo hit .275 in 133 games for the Tigers but only hit .206 this past season in 68 at-bats.

11:40 LRN Sportscast June 10

The NCAA Super Regionals begin today with four best-of-three series. Notre Dame visits number one Tennessee, Texas faces East Carolina, Louisville battles Texas A&M, and Oklahoma visits Virginia Tech. The SEC leads all conferences with 5 teams remaining in the 16-team field, with the ACC right behind with 4.

The Sun Belt has announced Lamson Park in Lafayette will host next year’s conference softball tournament while Louisiana Tech will host the 2023 Conference USA softball championship.

Nicholls State and head men’s basketball coach Austin Claunch have reached agreement on a two-year extension pending board approval. In four seasons with the Colonels, Claunch is 74-46 and led the team to Southland Conference titles in 2021 and 2022.

The NBA Finals resume tonight with a critical Game 4. The Boston Celtics lead the Golden State Warriors two games to one after their 116-100 victory on Tuesday. The Warriors are 5-0 in the playoffs following a loss, a streak they extended by winning game two of the series. Tip-off is at 8 pm.

Devery Henderson and Fred McAfee are the latest players to be inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. Henderson, an Opelousas native, played 8 seasons with the Saints and was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl Champs.

Cut 16 (18) “…it all worked out.”

Drafted in 1991, McAfee spent 10 seasons wearing the Black and Gold, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2002. Today, he serves as the team’s VP of Player Engagement.

Cut 17 (19) “…I thank you.”

The induction ceremony will take place this October.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints are finishing up their final week of organized team activities. Running back Mark Ingram and safety P-J Williams are two players spotted at yesterday’s practice after not being seen at the first two practices that the media was allowed to attend. Still no wide receiver Michael Thomas and head coach Dennis Allen says can’t guard Mike will likely miss the minicamp as well…
cut 18 (19) “….process play out”
Thomas was seen on social media this week running sprints at the team’s facility.

Wide receiver Devery Henderson and running back-slash-special teams standout Fred McAfee will be the two newest members of the Saints Hall of Fame. The two will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in October.

The super regionals get underway today starting with Texas taking on East Carolina at 11 AM. Also, Oklahoma is at Virginia Tech, Notre Dame takes on Tennessee and tonight Texas A-and-M hosts Louisville.

It was a return to form in Lafayette as the Ragin’ Cajuns made it back to the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time since 2016 this season. UL-Lafayette was a regular participant for two decades before this extended absence. Coach Matt Deggs says the foundation has been set to bring back the glory days.
Cut 19 (17) _“…a championship program.”
The Sun Belt has announced Lamson Park in Lafayette will host next year’s conference softball tournament. Louisiana Tech will host the Conference USA softball tournament next year.

4:45 LRN Sportscast June 9

Fred McAfee and Devery Henderson were announced as the latest inductees into the New Orleans Saints Hall of fame this afternoon. McAfee spent 10 of his 16 NFL seasons with the Saints and was a special teams star, earning a selection to the 2002 Pro Bowl…

Cut 21 (17) “…a great ride.”

Henderson, an Opelousas native, and LSU star spent 8 seasons with the Saints, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2009.

Cut 22 (12) “…grateful of it.”

Their induction ceremony will be held during the upcoming season.

LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is still on the way back from offseason ankle surgery, though he’s excited about the upcoming season. He says he’s not sure who’ll be throwing him the ball, but was very impressed by the development of Garrett Nussmeier, who drew plenty of praise this spring.

Cut 17 (18) “…he can do.”

LSU’s baseball season came to a disappointing end on Monday. However, Tigers legend Ben McDonald says that Coach Jay Johnson changed the culture this year, and the future for the Tigers looks very, very bright.

Cut 19 (19) “…transfer portal.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast June 9

There are plenty of unsettled questions about the 2022 LSU football team, but one player on the roster seems like a sure thing. Kayshon Boutte is expected to be THE next great LSU wide receiver and is already projected as a top 10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. In 16 career games, Boutte has 83 catches for 1244 yards and 14 touchdowns but is coming off of two ankle surgeries and returns to a new coaching staff and offensive scheme. In a conversation with Tiger Rag Radio, Boutte said he’s excited about how Brian Kelly plans to utilize his skills.

Cut 16 (12) “…amount of ways.”

The Boston Celtics took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals after beating the Golden State Warriors 116-100 in Game 3. Jaylen Brown scored 27 points to lead the Celtics. Game 4 is Friday night.

LSU Baseball finished 40-22 this season, 17-13 in the SEC. The Tigers’ regular season and conference wins reached their highest totals since 2019. LSU great and college baseball broadcaster Ben McDonald gave his assessment of year one of the Jay Johnson era.

Cut 18 (20) “…and then some.”

LSU outfielder Dylan Crews and first baseman Tre Morgan have been invited to join the U-S Collegiate national team this summer. Training camp begins June 30 in North Carolina.

Vegas is already putting together its prop bets for the 2022 NFL season and Saints quarterback Jameis Winston can be found on a number of boards. Right now, Winston is getting 40-1 odds to lead the league in passing this season. Tom Brady leads the way at 7-1.

4:45 LRN Sportscast June 8

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says the association is still working on plans for the high school football playoffs. Bonine says that the size of the brackets won’t be determined until late August or early September. While there are still questions regarding how many teams will qualify for the playoffs and where they will go, Bonine says the association will explore every option it can to ensure the postseason is as fair as possible.

Cut 18 (10) “…make it equitable.”

Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees is hanging up the mic for the time being. The chairman of NBC sports told the Associated Press that Brees will not serve as the network’s color analyst for Notre Dame Broadcasts or serve as a studio host for their NFL coverage on Sundays. Brees reportedly wanted to spend more time with his family. And I think NBC wanted him to as well.

Tulane baseball has removed the interim tag from Jay Uhlman, naming him as the program’s 25th head coach on Tuesday. Uhlman took over for Travis Jewett on May 16 and led the Green Wave to a 3-4 record.

The Denver Broncos have entered into a sale agreement with the Walton-Penner family to sell the franchise for a record $4.65 billion, the most ever paid for a North American sports franchise. The Walton-Penner group is led by Walmart heir Rob Walton. The agreement is now subject to review by the NFL’s finance committee prior to a vote by the owners. Twenty-four yes votes are needed for approval. The deal is expected to be finalized within the next 60 to 90 days.

College football season is months away, but preseason predictions are already flowing in. Southeastern Louisiana is ranked 19th in the 2022 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason Top 25. The Lions are one of six teams to be ranked in the final FCS Top 25 in each of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, linebacker Tyler Grubbs headlines 10 Louisiana Tech players named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Teams. The Bulldogs begin their first season under Sonny Cumbie on Sept. 1 against Missouri.

Game three of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics is tonight as the series shifts to Boston tied at one game apiece. Game time is at 8 pm.