The Saints got a victory at the NFL Owners meeting in Arizona as the league has decided to expand instant replay, giving coaches the ability to review all offensive and defensive pass interference calls, in addition to non-calls. Coach Sean Payton lobbied hard for the change after his team was denied a chance of reaching the Super Bowl because of a non pass interference call in the NFC Championship game. Owner Gayle Benson says owners are compassionate about the issue, because they don’t want what happened to the Saints, to happen to them.

LSU’s hitting woes continued last night and it cost them a loss as McNeese blanked the Tigers two to nothing. It’s the third win for the Cowboys in the last four meetings against the Tigers. Freshman right hander Brett Payne threw six shutout innings and struck out five.

ULM scored five runs in the eighth inning as the Warhawks defeated La Tech nine to four. Blake Buckman belted a three-run homer. Frank Colton hit a walk off homer as the Cajuns defeated Tulane seven to six.

The LSU men’s basketball team leaves for Washington D-C today where they’ll take on the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night in the Sweet 16. The Spartans have a hall of fame coach in Tom Izzo, who has a 52-20 record in NCAA Tournament games. LSU Interim Head Coach Tony Benford on playing the Spartans…
Cut 16 (14) “in transition”
In other SEC basketball news….Arkansas has fired Mike Anderson after eight years in Fayetteville. Anderson led the Hogs to the NCAA Tournament three times, but this past season they went 18-and-16.

The Pelicans lost to Atlanta Hawks 130-120. Earlier in the day, New Orleans announced that Jrue Holiday will miss the rest of the season after he had surgery to repair a damaged ab muscle. The Pels are now 1-and-8 since their starting shooting guard went down with an injury.

At the NFL Owners meeting in Arizona, the Saints are leading the charge to expand the use of instant replay. Head coach Sean Payton, who sits on the competition committee, says the NFL cannot fear change, and warned that another blown call in a significant game could damage the league’s image and integrity.
Cut 8 (09) “…alarming”
Payton is pushing a proposal that would allow teams to challenge no calls. 24 of the 32 owners would have to agree for the change to take place, but a vote might not occur until May.

After days of specualtion, the Saints announced the signing of 2018 Pro Bowl tight end Jared Cook today. The 32-year-old has reportedly received a two-year contract worth 15.5 million dollars. Cook is expected to help draw defenders away from star wide receiver Michael Thomas. Cook caught 68 passes for the Raiders last year.

Tonight at Alex Box Stadium, the Fighting Tigers host McNeese State. Sophomore right-hander Ma-Khail Hilliard will get the start for the Tigers. LSU’s starters pitched well last weekend in Georgia, including a great start from freshman Cole Henry. Henry struck out eight in 7.1 innings and Coach Paul Mainieri says the sky’s the limit for the Alabama native…
cut 18 (17) “….out there”
After tonight’s game against the Cowboys, the Tigers will visit Mississippi State for a three game series starting on Thursday.

The season is over for Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday. The team announced that Holiday had surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He missed the past eight games because of a strained abdomen. New Orleans hosts the Atlanta Hawks tonight.

LSU basketball leaves tomorrow for D-C where they’ll play Michigan State on Friday night. The Tigers are a six-point underdog.

The rumored deal between tight end Jared Cook and the Saints is finally official as the Black and Gold announce they’ve signed the ten-year NFL veteran. Cook is coming off his most productive season as a professional as he caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns with the Raiders. At the NFL owners meetings in Arizona, Payton says Cook is a good fit for their offense…
cut 30 (19) “…tape of him”
And Saints leadership is making a push to change the rules so the “no call” in the NFC Championship game can never happen again. There are proposals on the table to expand the use of instant replay, but it will take 24 of the 32 NFL owners to agree to a change. Any significant rule may have to wait for the next owners meetings in May.

The 12th ranked LSU baseball team scored just eight runs in its three game series with Georgia last weekend. Coach Paul Mainieri gives credit to the Bulldogs pitching staff, but admits the Tigers need more production from their right handed hitters…
cut 17 (25) “right handed side”
Mainieri is hoping catcher Saul Garza can get it going at the plate and he’ll get the start tonight as the Tigers host McNeese.

Also today, ULM is at Louisiana Tech. The Warhawks have lost seven in a row, while Tech has won the last 10 games in the series between the two schools. Nicholls faces Southern Miss at the Shrine on Airline. The Golden Eagles have won seven in a row. Also, Southeastern is at South Alabama.

Saints Owner Gayle Benson believes changes are coming to instant replay in the NFL, but it will likely not occur during this round of owner meetings that are underway in Arizona. Benson is lobbying for changes after a non-pass interference call prevented a trip to the Super Bowl for the Black and Gold. Benson says the leagues knows how they feel and it will take some time to go through the process and get the 24 owner votes needed to change the rules. There’s another set of NFL Owner meetings in May.

Benson was also asked about the Pelicans and said there is no way she would sell the team. There’s been reports the Pelicans could be on the move to Seattle or another city, but Benson says she values the Pels as much as the Saints.

The Pelicans host the Atlanta Hawks tonight. New Orleans has lost six straight.

The LSU basketball gets a practice in today and tomorrow they are off to D-C where they’ll play Michigan State on Friday night in the Sweet 16.

LSU baseball has fallen a few spots in the national rankings as a result of losing two of three to Georgia, who is ranked in the top 10 in the major polls. LSU won by one run on Friday night and the Tigers lost by two runs in the next two games. Coach Paul Mainieri says it was a great series between two evenly matched teams…
cut 16 (16) “…winning the series”
The Tigers host McNeese tonight.

In other action, ULM is at Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are beginning an eight-game homestand. The Warhawks have lost seven in a row, while Tech has won the last 10 games in the series between the two schools.

Nicholls faces Southern Miss at the Shrine on Airline. The Golden Eagles have won seven in a row. Parker White starts on the hill for the Colonels.

Also, Southeastern is at South Alabama.

LSU is one of the 16 teams still alive in the NCAA Basketball Tournament after a heart stopping 69-67 win over Maryland. For the second straight game, the Tigers nearly let a double digit second half lead slip away, but Tremont Waters last second layup preserved the victory. Interim head coach Tony Benford gives credit to the players…
Cut 13 (11) “…keep moving on”
The Tigers are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006 and LSU will face Michigan State in DC on Friday. It’s the second ever meeting on the hardwood between the two programs.

Pro Football Talk reports tight end Jared Cook remains committed to signing with the Saints, even though the Patriots need a tight end to replace the retiring Rob Gronkowski. The 31-year-old Cook is reportedly close to signing a deal with the Black and Gold.

The LSU baseball team dropped its series with 5th ranked Georgia with a nine to seven loss on Sunday. The Tigers nearly came back from a 6-1 deficit in the eighth inning. The Tigers are now 4-2 in the SEC. They’ll host McNeese on Tuesday and then visit another Top 5 team on Thursday when they begin a series versus Mississippi State.

The Ragin Cajuns also dropped two of three this weekend. Appalachian State beat UL Lafayette 6-5 yesterday as the Mountaineers scored two runs in the ninth inning to win.

ULM was swept by Texas State. Southeastern Louisiana swept Abilene Christian, winning the final game of the series eight to three.

Northwestern State and Nicholls are both 5-and-4 in the Southland. The Demons defeated Lamar 10 to 6, while the Colonels doubled up Texas A-and-M Corupus Christi six to three.

Louisiana Tech took two of three from Middle Tennessee as they defeated the Blue Raiders 10 to five yesterday. Philip Matulia drove in four runs.

And Southern is now 8-and-1 in the SWAC after the Jaguars swept Grambling.

LSU basketball will face Michigan state for just the second time in program history on Friday night in the Sweet 16 as the two teams will meet in Washington D-C. The tip is set for 6:09 on Friday. The Tigers advanced to the East Regional semifinal with a 69-67 win over Maryland. LSU has won its fair share of close games this season and Interim Head Coach Tony Benford credits the belief system installed into the players…
cut 14 (12) “…win this game”
Michigan State advanced to the Sweet 16 after an easy win over Minnesota.

Tough series in Athens for the LSU baseball team as they dropped two out of three to Georgia. The Bulldogs pulled out a nine seven victory over the Tigers yesterday, despite home runs by LSU’s Josh Smith and Daniel Cabrera. LSU is 4-2 in the SEC.

The NFL owners meetings get underway today. The owners will consider several different proposals to expand instant replay as a result of the blown call in the NFC Championship game. It’s possible the owners will delay a vote on these suggestions until their May meeting.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has announced his retirement. The Saints have been trying to sign former Raiders tight end Jared Cook, but a deal is not official and now the Patriots are said to be interested in signing Cook to replace Gronk.

LSU basketball will look to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 when they face sixth seeded Maryland for an 11:10 tip time. The Terrapins feature two big post players in Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith. Fernando is an NBA prospect who averages a double-double. LSU big man Kavell Bigby-Williams on the match-up…
cut 13 (08) “…for them”
Interim head coach Tony Benford says whoever wins the battle in the paint and on the glass will advance.

LSU’s Zach Hess won last night’s pitcher’s duel in Athens as Hess threw eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win over 5th ranked Georgia. Hess scattered eight hits and struck out nine, while Devin Fontenot earned his first career save. Antoine Duplantis scored on Daniel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly for the only run of the game. Game two of the series is at noon.

_________________________________________________________________

The Saints are reportedly on the verge of signing tight end Jared Cook. Nothing is official yet, but Cook said he’s a big fan of Drew Brees and it will be awesome to catch passes from Brees. The 10-year veteran of the NFL caught a career-high 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns for the Raiders last season and made his first pro bowl.

At LSU pro day, cornerback Greedy Williams declared he’s the best cornerback in the NFL draft. Williams had eight career interceptions in Tiger Town, while Georgia’s Deandre Baker had seven, but it was Williams who won the Jim Thorpe Award which goes to the nation’s top corner.
In college baseball last night, Louisiana Tech downed Middle Tennessee five to one. Matt Miller allowed one earned run in the victory. Tanner Huddleston and Parker Bates each drove in two runs.

Cajuns blew a 4-0 lead and lost to Appalachian State 6-5. Texas State downed ULM five to one, Southern crushed Grambling 18-8. Southeastern Louisiana clobbered Abilene Christian 14-1, Nicholls over Corpus-Christi five to three, Lamar edged Northwestern State four to three and Incarnate Word over McNeese four to one.

LSU can secure a spot in the Sweet 16 tomorrow when they face Maryland in round two of the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins have two big post players in Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith. Fernando is a big-time NBA prospect who averages a double-double. Interim head coach Tony Benford says this game will come down to who wins the paint and the rebounding battle…
cut 14 (10) “…great matchup”
Tip off is at 11:10.

Great matchup in college baseball this weekend as 7th ranked LSU visits 5th ranked Georgia. The Bulldogs are 19-2 and have won 10 in a row. The Tigers have won five straight, but they are looking for their first win on the road this season. First pitch is at 6 PM.

Also, La Tech is at Middle Tennessee, ULM visits Texas State and the Cajuns host Appalachian State and Grambling is at Southern.

The Saints have reportedly signed defensive back and returner Marcus Sherels, who has spent all eight of his seasons in the NFL with the Vikings. Sherels is the all-time leader in Vikings history for punt returns for touchdowns. He averaged 12 yards a punt return last season. New Orleans ranked in the NFL’s bottom in punt returns the last two seasons.

It was Pro Day at LSU today, representatives from all 32 teams were there. Greedy Williams told reporters he’s the best cornerback in the NFL draft.

LSU gymnastics looks to defend its SEC meet championship when they compete against seven other Southeastern Conference schools at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday. Coach DD Breaux says tickets are going fast…
cut 8 (11) “…conference”
LSU is the top seed and the Tigers will compete in the second session at 7 PM.

Third seeded LSU looks to avoid the upset as it faces 14th seeded Yale at 11:40 this morning in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Twenty-one 14 seeds have defeated three seeds since 1985. Tigers interim head coach Tony Benford says the Bulldogs have their attention…
Cut 16 (20) “the same”
The Bulldogs shoot 50-percent from the field, which is the sixth best mark in Division One Basketball.

Grambling and UNO were both knocked out of the College Insider-dot-com tournament. A lay up failed to go down at the buzzer for the Tigers and they lost to Texas Rio Grande Valley 74-73. While Texas Southern topped UNO in overtime 95-89. ULM hosts Kent State tonight at Fant-Ewing.

A lot of drama in last night’s LSU baseball game between the Tigers and Nicholls Colonels. Nicholls first baseman Adam Tarver hit a home run off Todd Peterson in the ninth inning to give the Colonels a four to three lead. It was Tarver’s second home run of the game, but a two-out RBI double by Chris Reid tied the game. Daniel Cabrera had an RBI double in the 10th as the Tigers won their fifth straight game 5 to 4 in 10 innings.

Tulane topped the Ragin Cajuns seven to three. Green Wave right fielder Hudson Haskin homered and drove in four runs. Southeastern Louisiana downed Alcorn State 13 to 3. Preston Faulkner, Kyle Schimpf and Evan Pace homered for the Lions and South Alabama downed UNO 22-7.

NBA…the Orlando Magic made the Pelicans disappear as New Orleans lost 119 to 96. Elfrid Payton’s streak of five straight triple-doubles ended as he only had seven points, two assists and three rebounds.

The LSU Board of Supervisors athletic committee has approved a two-year contract extension for Coach Ed Orgeron and the Louisiana native is getting a 14-percent raise, which means he’ll make four-million dollars a year. Athletic Director Joe Alleva says Orgeron can earn even more money…
cut 13 (12) “…500,000 dollars”
On his monthly call-in show, Governor Edwards called Orgeron’s four-million dollar salary a bargain. He also said he’s not prepared to comment on former Board of Regents Chairman Richard Lispey’s demand that Alleva and LSU President F King Alexander should be fired over the handling of the Will Wade situation.

Tonight in baseball…Nicholls is at seventh ranked LSU. The Ragin Cajuns visit Tulane and the Pelicans are at the Orlando Magic.

The LSU men’s basketball team had a brief workout today at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. That’s where the Tigers will face Yale tomorrow at 11:40 in a first round matchup of the NCAA Tournament. Interim head coach Tony Benford likes the look of his team after the early exit in the SEC Tournament…
cut 20 (16) “…tomorrow”
Guard Skylar Mays says even though the Tigers didn’t win a game in the SEC Tournament, they remain confident heading into the Big Dance…
cut 18 (13) “…we play”
LSU is at 7.5 point favorite.