LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator is finally over as the Tigers have hired Daronte Jones, who spent last season as the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron told T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104-5 in Baton Rouge that former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda suggested Jones…
cut 4 (10) “…outstanding job for us”
When Aranda was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Jones served on his staff in 2015. Since then, Jones has also coached with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins. The Maryland native has also coached in Louisiana before as a safeties coach for Nicholls State in 2002 and a defensive coordinator for two high schools, Franklin and Jeanerette.

In other coaching news…former ULM and McNeese head coach Matt Viator has reportedly joined Billy Napier’s staff as U-L Lafayette.
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The LSU men’s basketball team will look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M. The Tigers are coming off an 82-69 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. Before that game, the Bayou Bengals were bounced by Alabama 105-75. Coach Will Wade on what the Tigers need to improve on…
Cut 17 (12) “..same old story”
The Aggies have also lost two in a row. Tip-off is at 8 PM.

The Pelicans are 5-and-10 and looking to give some of their younger guards like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis more playing time. So the Athletic is reporting the Pels are looking at possibly trading Lonzo Ball and J-J Redick.

In baseball news, LSU pitchers Devin Fontenot and Jaden Hill have been named D1 Baseball pre-season All-Americans. Devin Fontenot returns for his senior season and will be one of the Tigers top arms out of the bullpen. Hill could potentially be the team’s Friday night starter.

LSU is reportedly close to hiring Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs coach Daronte Jones as the team’s next defensive coordinator.  Coach Ed Orgeron was on “Off The Bench” with T-Bob Hebert and says that if the process continues to go well, he plans to have the entire defensive staff completed very soon.

Cut 5 (11) “pretty soon”

While Orgeron hopes to get a deal done soon, nothing is official with Jones yet.

Jones’s most recent stop at running a defense was Division II Bowie State where he spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator and had one of the top defenses in the nation.

In baseball news, LSU baseball pitchers Devin Fontenot and Jaden Hill have been named D1 Baseball pre-season All-Americans.  Devin Fontenot returns for his senior season and will be one of the leaders of this year’s squad.  Hill looks to have a big junior year and could potentially be the team’s Friday night starter.

The LSU men’s basketball team will look to stop a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M.  Javonte Smart and Cam Thomas are two guys who didn’t shoot the ball well in losses to Alabama and Kentucky. Coach Will Wade expects they will bounce back soon…

Cut 18 (18) “be fine”

Smart was held to six points versus Kentucky.

The game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs has been postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.  There have now been 22 games postponed so far in the NBA season.  The Pelicans next game is scheduled for tomorrow at 8 p.m. against the Washington Wizards.

Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the Cajuns’ road games on Friday and Saturday at Texas State.  It is unclear when coach Marlin will be able to return to the team.

There are reports that LSU has finally found a defensive coordinator. Bruce Feldman with the Athletic reports that Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones is expected to become the Tigers new defensive coordinator. He’s spent the last five seasons coaching defensive backs with the Vikings, Bengals and Dolphins and also worked under former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda when he was at Wisconsin.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has gone from being cut by the Jaguars to one win away from being a Super Bowl champion. Fournette had a rocky three-year run in Jacksonville that included injuries, a one-game suspension, and getting arrested in 2019 for driving on a suspended driver’s license. While the rest of his Tampa Bay teammates were celebrating Sunday after the victory over the Packers, Fournette called his parents…
Cut 30 (12) “…in the playoff.”
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The LSU men’s basketball team will look to stop a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M. The Tigers topped the Aggies earlier this season 77-54, but Coach Will Wade still looks at A-and-M as a tough matchup because of their height and physical play…
Cut 16 (20) “us the most”
The Tigers are coming off an 82-69 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. The Aggies are also on a two-game losing streak and lost last Saturday to Ole Miss 61-50.

Last night’s Pelicans-Spurs game was postponed as neither team had eight available players after COVID-19 contact tracing. New Orleans next scheduled game is Wednesday against the Washington Wizards

All three former LSU running backs that played in Sunday’s NFC and AFC championship games scored a touchdown. In the AFC title game, former Tigers standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrell Williams got into the end zone as the Chiefs beat the Bills 38-24. And in the NFC title game, Leonard Fournette had a spectacular 20-yard touchdown run as Tampa Bay topped Green 31-26. Former LSU Tiger Devin White also had a fumble recovery and 15 tackles for the Buccaneers. Super Bowl 55 between the Bucs and Chiefs will be February seventh in Tampa Bay.

It appears the Saints are losing quarterback coach Joe Lombardi. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Lombardi is set to be the new offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

After a difficult one and five road trip, the Pelicans return to the Smoothie King Center tonight to host the San Antonio Spurs. New Orleans is 5-and-10, while the Spurs are 8-and-8.

The LSU men’s basketball team has its first two game losing streak as the Tigers lost to Kentucky on Saturday 92-86. That follows a loss to Alabama. In both games the Tigers got off to a slow start. LSU sophomore forward Trendon Watford…
cut 17 (20) “…accountable”
LSU is at Texas A-and-M tomorrow night.

The Ragin Cajuns completed their first two game sweep of a conference opponent as U-L Lafayette held off Arkansas State 77-74 for a second straight win over the Red Wolves. On Saturday, Cal transfer Jacobi Gordon had a career-high 14 points…
Cut 18 (08) “…from here”
The Cajuns are Texas State this weekend.

During his season ending press conference with reporters, Coach Sean Payton once again said that the next Saints starting quarterback is likely in the building…
cut 18 (29) “>…and personal”
Taysom Hill has one more year left on his two-year, 21-million dollar contract, while Jameis Winston can become a free agent. Also, still no official word on Drew Brees’ retirement.

The Pelicans lost to Utah last night 129 to 118 as New Orleans has lost seven of its last eight. New Orleans is at Minnesota. A Chance to get a win against the 3-and-10 Timberwolves.

Eight former LSU Tigers will play in the NFC and AFC championship games. The Bucaneers have three former Tigers, Devin White, Leonard Fournette and Kevin Minter. The Chiefs also have three, including running back Clyde Edwards who is questionable for their game against the Bills.

In college hoops, ULM looks to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host Texas State. The Bobcats have won three in a row and they lead the Sun Belt Western Division with a 3-and-1 conference mark. Warhawks Coach Keith Richard (Ree-shard) says Texas State plays great team basketball…
Cut 19 (19) “…figure scorers.”

In college basketball tonight, Louisiana Tech is at UTEP, while the Ragin’ Cajuns will host the Arkansas State on the hardwood at 6 p.m.

Tomorrow, LSU is at Kentucky, while Southeastern Louisiana hosts Northwestern State.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says the relationship is good between him and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. It looked like Nielsen was set to become LSU’s next defensive coordinator, when Payton offered Nielsen a promotion and a three-year contract. Payton is fired up his new assistant head coach is staying.

Cut 16 (24) “returning”

It was important for the Saints to keep Neilsen after Tight End Coach Dan Campbell was named head coach in Detroit.

With LSU missing out on Nielsen and Marcus Freeman, The Tigers are still searching for its next defensive coordinator.  It is unclear at this time who LSU is targeting to run the defense.

ULM looks to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host Texas State.  The Bobcats currently sit at 3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.  Koreem Ozier leads ULM in scoring at 13-points a game. Richard says the junior from Wisconsin has stepped up his game in conference play…

Cut 20 (16) “it going”

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team will take on the UTEP Miners tonight at 8 p.m.  UTEP has a 6-6 record on the season while the Bulldogs sit at 11-4.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will host the Arkansas Red Wolves on the hardwood tonight at 6 p.m.  The Red Wolves will roll into Lafayette with a 5-6 record while the Cajuns have a 9-4 mark so far this year.  The Cajuns are led in scoring by guard Cedric Russell at 16.9 points per game.

The Saints face an uncertain future at quarterback and it’s complicated by the fact that the franchise has salary cap issues. New Orleans is reportedly 109-million dollars over the cap for next year and several key members of last year’s team head into the offseason with the chance at free agency. So how will they put another playoff contender on the field next season? Coach Sean Payton is confident they’ll figure out a way…
cut 17 (29) “….for the Saints”
Payton also says he feels good about Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill as his starting quarterback next season.
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The Pelicans lost last night to Utah 128 to 118, despite 28 points from Zion Williamson. Donovan Mitchell has 36 points for the Jazz.

Tonight in college basketball, the Ragin Cajuns and ULM both play at home tonight. U-L Lafayette will face Arkansas State, while the Warhawks will take on Texas State. Koreem Ozier (KUH-reem OH-zeer) leads ULM averaging 13 points a game. Coach Keith Richard (Ree-shard) says the junior from Wisconsin has stepped up his game in conference play…
cut 20 (16) “…it going”

Also tonight, Louisiana Tech is at U-TEP.

The LHSAA says its winter sports championships remain on schedule so that means the girls championships in Hammond will occur March second to the sixth and Lake Charles will host the boys basketball championships the following week.

We are still on Drew Brees retirement watch. No news on when number nine may announce he’s hanging up the shoulder pads for good. According to an Instagram post by his wife, Brittany Brees, Drew played with several injuries. We knew about the rib injuries, but Brittany says the future hall of famer also had a torn rotator cuff and torn fascia in his foot. Coach Sean Payton is not surprised by Brees’ level of toughness…
cut 19 (19) “….and coach”
If Brees does retire, Coach Sean Payton once again said today that he has a lot of confidence in Taysom HIll and Jameis Winston. Winston is one of several players on the Saints roster that can become a free agent this offseason.

The Pelicans face the Utah Jazz again tonight in Salt Lake City. Utah has won six in a row and just beat New Orleans on Tuesday night. The Jazz hit 21 three-pointers that night while the Pels only made six three-pointers. That’s been a common occurence for New Orleans as other teams have shot really well against the Pelicans from three-point range, while the Pels are struggling from three-point range. Tip off tonight is at 9 PM on TNT.

LSU has announced that attendance at baseball games at Alex Box Stadium will be capped at 25-percent and there will be no tailgaiting. Also the Tigers have already made an adjustment to their 2021 schedule as UC Riverside backed out of a weekend series in February. Instead LSU will play Youngstown State and Nicholls that weekend.

The Ragin Cajuns have released their baseball schedule for this season. UL Lafayette will open the season in New Orleans with a three-game series versus Tulane. The next weekend, the Cajuns will host Rice for a three-game series.

Saints Coach Sean Payton will meet with the media today as he speaks publicly for the first time since Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. New Orleans is heading into a busy offseason. The Black and Gold have several players entering free agency including Trey Hendrickson, Marcus Williams, Jameis Winston, Jared Cook and Sheldon Rankins are among the big names.

Plus there’s the looming retirement of Quarterback Drew Brees, who according to his wife, Brittany, played through a lot more than just rib injuries. Brittany said in an Instagram post that her husband also had a torn rotator cuff, torn fascia in his foot to go along with the eleven broken ribs and a collapsed lung which we already knew about. Brittney said Drew never complained once despite what was a difficult season.

Former Saints assistant head coach adn tight ends coach Dan Campbell is officialy the head coach of the Detroit Lions and he reportedly received a six-year contract. Campbell was an interim coach with the Dolphins in 2015 and went 5-and-7.

In college basketball, Nicholls won its fifth straight last night as the Colonels defeated Houston Baptist 92-83. Ty Gordon scored a season-high 27 points in the win. UNO clobbered Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 87-69. Stephen F Austin defeated Northwestern State 86-74 and Southeastern Louisiana outscored McNeese 92-88. Gus Okafor had 26 points for the Lions, while the Cowboys remain winless in Southland play.

The Pelicans visit the Utah Jazz again tonight. Utah beat New Orleans 118 to 102 on Tuesday night. Utah sunk 21 three-pointers in the game as the Pels have lost six of their last seven and they are in 12th place in the Western Conference.

High school football…Union Parish running back Trey Holly is the Class 3A Most oustanding offensive player of the year. Holly rushed for 27-hundred yards and 44 touchdowns last season. St. James defensive end Sai’von Jones is the Defensive Player of the Year in 3A. He’s headed to LSU. Madison Prep Landry Williams is coach of the year after leading the Chargers to their first state title in football.

We knew Saints Quarterback Drew Brees suffered crack ribs and a punctured lung, but the 42-year-old also had a littany of other injuries according to his wife Britanny Brees. Brittany said on an Instagram post today that Brees also had a torn rotator cuff and torn fascia in his foot. Brittany Brees says Drew never complained once and while this has been the hardest year of their lives, in some ways it has been their best. Drew Brees is expected to retire, but was non-commital when he spoke with reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Bucs.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Saints receiver Michael Thomas likely needs surgeries to repair a torn deltoid and other injured ligaments in his ankle. Thomas injured his ankle in week one and was never the same. A source told Schefter that Thomas wanted to keep playing knowing that this might be the last year for Brees and he wanted to win a Super Bowl with him. If Thomas has surgery, he’ll reportedly be ready for summer OTAs.

LSU cornerback Eli Ricks and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been named to the Football Writers Association of America’s All-Freshman team. Boutte set an SEC single-game receiving record with 308 yards against Ole Miss and that was named as the Freshman performance of the year. Boutte says he knew after Terrance Toliver opted out that he had to step up his game…
cut 18 (14) “…just happened”

What the heck happened last night with the LSU basketball team. The Tigers allowed an SEC record 23 three point shots as 18th ranked Alabama trounced LSU 105-75. John Petty hit eight three-pointers and finished with 24 points.

Utah hit 21 threes and defeated the Pelicans 118 to 102. New Orleans will face the Jazz again on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.