The New Orleans Pelicans begin the stretch run of the season on the road tonight against the Phoenix Suns. With the Pels sitting 12^th in the Western Conference standings, a game and a half behind 10^th place Portland, the focus should be on the court. But the biggest topic of discussion lately has been Zion Williamson and his future with the team. Williamson has appeared in only 85 games since 2019 but will be eligible for a $190-million extension this offseason. NOLA-dot-com Pelicans beat writer Christian Clark expects Zion to re-sign but says he’ll have to show the front office he’s healthy and ready to commit to the franchise.

Cut 18 (15) “…take the max.”

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Fresh off their big win over LSU, Louisiana Tech opens up a three-game series against Tulane at JC Love Field Friday night. Tech is 4-0 after sweeping Wichita State and beating the Tigers. Tulane is also 4-0 with a series win over UMASS-Lowell and a 7-5 victory over Nicholls on Wednesday.

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Led by Khayla Pointer, number eight LSU narrowly defeated Alabama at the P-MAC on Thursday night. Pointer scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and handed out eight assists for the Tigers who assured themselves of a second-place finish in the SEC. After earning nine wins all of last season, the Tigers have 11 conference wins heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Tennessee. Kim Mulkey is impressed and says you should be too.

Cut 21 (12) “…still number 2.”

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The men play will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak when they host Missouri Saturday night. This will be the first meeting between the teams this season. Mizzou is 2-9 over its last 11 games and 3-10 away from home so far. LSU needs to win two of its final three games to finish .500 in the SEC. The Tigers haven’t had a losing conference record since Will Wade’s first season.

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Former Saints head coach Sean Payton is currently engaged in negotiations with Fox Sports to join them as an analyst according to reports. It has yet to be decided whether Payton would be in-studio or in the booth, but there are rumors he could succeed Troy Aikman as the network’s lead analyst.

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The present and future of Zion Williamson have been the hottest topics in the NBA over the past week. Speculation continues as to whether Zion will play for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, or ever again. Williamson has missed 113 games since 2019. Pelicans beat writer Christian Clark of NOLA-dot-com says with 23 games remaining in the season, he doesn’t see Zion back on the court in the near future.

Cut 16 (17) “…this season.”

New Orleans plays its first game since the All-Star break tonight on the road against the Phoenix Suns.

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The hiring of former Baylor coach Art Briles by Grambling continues to draw attention and backlash. Yesterday, former Grambling quarterback Doug Williams said that he and James “Shack” Harris would not lend their support to the program due to the multiple allegations of Briles’ role in covering up sexual and physical assaults while in Waco. Grambling athletic director, Dr. Trayveon Scott, told ESPN that he had done his homework on Briles and is comfortable with the hiring.

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New LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock met with the media for the first time since arriving on the Baton Rouge campus in January. Job one is picking a passer. Myles Brennan is expected to be the starter at quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier also returns and incoming freshman Walker Howard is one of the top recruits in the country. Denbrock says they’ll use spring practice to evaluate all three quarterbacks…

Cut 20 (13) “…chance to win”

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Led by Khayla Pointer, number eight LSU narrowly defeated Alabama, 58-50 at the P-MAC on Thursday night. Pointer scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and handed out eight assists for the Tigers. LSU didn’t shoot the ball that well, but didn’t have to after holding the Crimson Tide to just 34 percent shooting from the floor and forcing 18 turnovers. The Tigers close the regular season at home Sunday against 16th-ranked Tennessee.

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The Lady Techsters topped Rice in double overtime 90-80 for their seventh win in their last 10 games. The highlight of the night was the play of Anna Larr Roberson, who poured in a career-high 44 points and tied a school record with 20 made field goals and Keuinna Walker. Walker posted the fourth triple-double in program history with 27 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists.

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New LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock met with the media for the first time since arriving on the Baton Rouge campus in January. Denbrock described what he wants an LSU offense to look like
Cut 19 (23)_“…efficiently”
Denbrock says the three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster will compete against each other in spring football.

Grambling has confirmed the hiring of former Baylor coach Art Briles as its new offensive coordinator. Briles was fired from Baylor six years ago after the university said Briles covered-up sex assault claims against his players. HBCU sports analyst Reggie Flood says it appears the university has tried to insulate new head coach Hue Jackson from an oncoming wave of criticism…
cut 11 (10) “….this hire”

The Pelicans return from the All-star break tonight to face the red-hot Suns in Phoenix. It doesn’t seem like former number one pick Zion Williamson will play this season as he’s still in Portland rehabbing a foot injury. Former teammate and fellow Duke alum JJ Reddick called Zion a detached teammate this week and Pelicans beat writer Christian Clark of NOLA-dot-com says the description is accurate…
cut 17 (19) “….needed from JJ”
Recently acquired Pelican CJ McCollum told reporters yesterday to leave the young fella alone and Zion is trying to rehab in peace.

Last night in college basketball…Louisiana Tech over Rice 83-79, Nicholls won its eighth straight as the Colonels clobbered the Northwestern State 80-62. Nicholls is now tied with UNO for first place in the Southland after Southeastern Louisiana outscored UNO 84-79. The Lions are 9-and-1 at home and host Nicholls tomorrow.

LSU football Coach Brian Kelly introduced Matt House as his new defensive coordinator. He spent the past three seasons as linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. House says he hasn’t decided if LSU will be a four-three defense or a three-four, but Kelly emphasized that he wants the Tigers to give opponents multiple looks this season.

Cut 17 (18) “…as possible.”

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The U-L Cajuns won their third game in a row to pull to .500 on the season, with an 82-69 road win over Georgia Southern. Theo Akwuba posted 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double. They play their regular-season finale tomorrow at Georgia State.

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A pair of ranked teams will square off on the softball diamond tonight when second-ranked Alabama visits Lamson Park to tangle with the number fifteen Ragin’ Cajuns. U-L is off to a 6-0 start and batting .453 this season while allowing just two runs.

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Hosting the Tigers for the first time since 1998, number 15 Louisiana Tech defeated 8th-ranked LSU 11-6 last night in an early statement game by the Bulldogs, who are off to a 4-0 start. After dominating one of the top teams in the country, Tech broadcaster Dave Nitz likes the potential in Ruston but says there isn’t much time to celebrate this win with some big games ahead.

Cut 10 (12) “…next week.”

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The LSU men continued their late-season slide on the hardwood with a 66-71 loss at number six Kentucky. Xavier Pinson had game-highs with 26 points and eight assists but the Tigers couldn’t hold on to an eight-point halftime lead, getting outscored 48-35 in the second half. LSU falls to seventh in the SEC with three games to play, including season-ending matchups with number 18 Arkansas and 24^th-ranked Alabama.

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LSU’s women will try to extend their win streak to seven games and tighten their grip on second place in the SEC tonight when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tigers have 23 wins already this season, their highest since 2011-12 and their 11 conference wins are the most in 13 years.

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LSU football Coach Brian Kelly introduced Matt House as his new defensive coordinator. He spent the past three seasons as linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. House hasn’t decided on the Tigers’ defensive alignment, saying he’s still learning personnel before he develops a scheme…

Cut 18 (19) “…we can become.”

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The New Orleans Saints have named Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard as co-defensive coordinators. Saints analyst Bobby Hebert says he expects the Saints defense to remain dominant under the pair…

Cut 20 (22) “…ten wins.”

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Louisiana Tech travels to Texas in search of their 20^th win of the season, as the Bulldogs take on Rice tonight. Tech is tied for second in the Conference USA standings and has won four straight over the Owls. Coach Erick Konkol says a fifth win won’t come easily, with Rice sitting at 9-4 at home this year.

Cut 29 (18) “…in their building.”

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LSU continued its late-season slide with a 66-71 loss at number six Kentucky. Xavier Pinson had game-highs with 26 points and eight assists but the Tigers couldn’t hold on to an eight-point halftime lead, getting outscored 48-35 in the second half.

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In other men’s games, LSU-Shreveport topped 11^th-ranked LSU-Alexandria in NAIA action. The Ragin Cajuns have won three in a row after beating Georgia Southern, and Tulane fell to number 14 Houston.

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For the women, LSU-S knocked off LSU-A as well, and Tulane won its 20^th game of the season and 8^th in a row after beating SMU.

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Louisiana Tech fans are celebrating today as the Bulldogs handed LSU its first loss on the young baseball season as 15th ranked Tech trounced the second-ranked Tigers 11 to six. LSU committed five errors and Tigers pitching could not handle the top of La Tech’s batting order. Taylor Young and Philip Matulia combined to drive in seven runs.

In other action. Tulane held on to beat Nicholls seven to five and Missouri slammed Southern 19-8.

In basketball, LSU fell to 7 and 8 in the SEC after losing to sixth-ranked Kentucky 71 to 66 in Lexington. LSU’s leading scorer Tari Eason only had five points, because of foul trouble and the Wildcats scored 48 points in the second half.

ULM lost its fourth straight as they fell to Georgia State 82-70, while the Cajuns won their third in a row, defeating Georgia Southern 82-69. Tulane lost to 14th ranked Houston 81-67.

LSU football Coach Brian Kelly introduced his new defensive coordinator to the media on Wednesday. Matt House was the D-C at the University of Pittsburgh, F-I-U, and Kentucky. The past three seasons he was the linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and helped them win a Super Bowl. Kelly on why he hired House…
Cut 16 (18) “…to Matt.”

The Saints have named defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen and secondary coach Kris Richard as co-defensive coordinators. Current head coach Dennis Allen was the team’s D-C last season and its expected he will continue to call defensive plays. Saints analyst Mike Detillier…
cut 19 (12) “…head coach”

The Saints announce Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard will both serve as co-defensive coordinators, taking the place of Dennis Allen, who is now the head coach. Nielsen, who is also the defensive line coach, is entering his 20th season of coaching and has been with the Saints since 2017. Richard, who is the secondary coach, was the Seahawks defensive coordinator from 2015 to 17. The team also confirmed Pete Carmichael will continue as the offensive coordinator and Kodi Burns is the new wide receivers coach.

The LSU basketball team is at sixth-ranked Kentucky tonight. The Tigers beat the Wildcats in the PMAC on January fourth, but Kentucky is 16-and-0 in Rupp Arena and they expect 24-thousand fans for tonight’s 8 PM tip.

In other action tonight…Tulane hosts 14th ranked Houston. The Ragin Cajuns are at Georiga Southern, while ULM visits Georgia State. The Warhawks look to snap a three-game losing streak.

It will be chilly, but J-C Love Field will be packed for tonight’s baseball game between the second-ranked LSU Tigers and the 15th ranked Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. This is only the seventh meeting between the two schools in baseball and Tech’s only win came in 2019. It’s the first time the Diamond Dogs have hosted LSU and Tech Head Coach Lane Burroughs knows his players are fired up for the game…
Cut 20 (20) “ …those games”
The two teams played twice last year and LSU won both contests, 16 to 7 and 16 to 8.

Today’s Northwestern State-ULM game has been postponed and the two teams will try to play again on March 9th. Nicholls will host Tulane. The Colonels are off to a 1-and-3 start.

LSU will be trying for a late-season reversal of fortune on the road against sixth-ranked Kentucky. The Tigers topped the Wildcats 65-60 in their first matchup at the P-MAC, but since then the two teams have been going in opposite directions. Coach Will Wade says there’s little the Tigers can take away from that game this time around.

Cut 18 (20) “…beat ‘em here.”

Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.

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In New Orleans, Tulane hosts a basketball doubleheader at Fogelman Arena. The 18-7 women’s team faces Southern Methodist at 3 pm as the Wave tries to move into second in the American Conference standings. Tulane hasn’t finished higher than 4^th in the AAC since joining in 2014. The men welcome 14^th-ranked Houston as they look to end a seven-game losing streak to the Cougars and maintain their hold on 4^th place in the conference standings. That tip-off is at 7 pm.

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A sold-out crowd is expected in Ruston tonight as Louisiana Tech hosts LSU on the Bulldogs home baseball diamond. Both teams enter the game 3-and-0. The Tigers swept Maine and scored a program-record 51 runs for a three-game series last weekend. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs says LSU’s hitters are a steep challenge for his pitchers…

Cut 19 (19) “… all year”

The teams played twice last year and LSU won both contests, 16 to 7 and 16 to 8.

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The U-L Cajuns extended their winning streak to three games in a row after a come from behind 6-5 win over Southeastern in 10 innings. Carson Roccaforte was 2-5 with a double and two runs driven in, and CJ Willis went 2-for-4, including driving in the game-winning score in the bottom of the 10^th. Jake Hammond picked up the win and Andrew Landry took the loss after allowing two runs in just one-third of an inning.

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A sold-out crowd is expected in Ruston tonight as 15th ranked Louisiana Tech hosts second-ranked LSU in baseball. Both teams are 3-and-0. The Tigers swept Maine and scored a program-record 51 runs for an opening weekend series. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs says LSU’s hitters will challenge his pitchers…
Cut 19 (19)_“… all year”
The weather forecast does not look good, temperatures will be in the upper 30s and there’s a 50-percent chance of rain.

Last night, The Cajuns scored two runs in the tenth inning to beat Southeastern Louisiana six to five. C-J Willis’ one-out double was the game-winning hit. Houston held off McNeese three to two. The Cowboys lost despite giving up two hits.

LSU men’s hoops bring its seven and seven SEC record to Rupp Arena tonight as they visit sixth-ranked Kentucky, who is 16-and-0 at home this season. Three of LSU’s conference losses have been by four points or less. Coach Will Wade says they spend plenty of time preparing for late-game situations….
cut 17 (15) “….clean it up”
LSU beat the Wildcats in the first meeting of the season, a 65-60 victory at the PMAC on January fourth.

In other action tonight…Tulane hosts 14th ranked Houston. The Ragin Cajuns are at Georiga Southern, while ULM visits Georgia State.

Former Pelican J-J Redick said on ESPN’s First Take that Zion Williamson is not invested to the Pels or the city and describes him as a detached teammate. New Orleans has sent out a notice for season tickets next year, but the letter to fans does not mention Zion Williamson.

Former New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick raised plenty of eyebrows with his appearance on ESPN’s First Take with some very pointed criticism of Zion Williamson. Redick said Williamson is a “disengaged teammate” and that he had direct conversations with him during his rookie year in front of teammates about his dedication to the franchise. Williamson has not played a game for the Pelicans since May 4^th of last season and has missed 118 games since he was taken with the number one pick in 2019.

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In baseball matchups from around the state today: the U-L Cajuns host Southeastern at Russo Park in Lafayette, and Grambling is in New Orleans to face UNO.  And Houston makes a visit to Lake Charles to take on McNeese.

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Cajuns slugger Connor Kimple has been named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week. Kimple bashed three home runs in just 10 at-bats and drove in six RBI as the Cajuns took two of three over then 14th-ranked Cal-Irvine. He went yard in all three games, becoming the first UL player since 2019 to homer in three consecutive games.

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LSU will have its hands full tomorrow when the men’s basketball team travels to Rupp Arena to face sixth-ranked Kentucky. After going on a three-game win streak the Tigers lost a heartbreaker at South Carolina, dropping them to 2-6 away from home this season. Kentucky is an SEC-best 16-0 on their home floor, and Coach Will Wade has to figure out how to stop possibly the most talented team in the conference.

Cut 16 (13) “…really good pieces.”

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The UL Cajuns picked up honors on the hardwood as Redshirt freshman forward Kobe Julien posted averages of 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, including setting career highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a win over ULM on his way to being named the Sun Belt’s basketball Player of the Week.

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Nicholls guard Ty Gordon was named Southland Conference Player of the Week for the sixth time this season and the eighth time in his career, both conference records. He averaged 29.5 points and 3.5 assists in two wins for the Colonels, including a career-high 31 in a win over McNeese.