Third-seeded LSU is in Jacksonville getting ready for tomorrow’s first round NCAA match-up with 14th seeded Yale. Junior guard Skylar Mays says both teams like to play an up tempo style and that should benefit the Tigers
Cut 16 (11) “for us”
Yale averages 81 points a game and as a team they shoot 50-percent from the field. On defense, the Bulldogs do not force a lot of turnovers, just 11 a game.

This afternoon, LSU-Alexandria takes on Central Baptist College in the N-A-I-A tournament. The Generals are the number two seed and they are making their fifth straight appearance in the national championship tournament.

Grambling State is at Texas Rio Grande Valley for an opening round match-up in the College Insider-dot-com tournament. UNO hosts Texas Southern, tomorrow it’s ULM hosting Kent State.

The Saints announce they’ve come to terms on a four-year contract with unrestricted free agent offensive lineman Nick Easton. The former Harvard star is expected to take Max Unger’s place as the starting center. In 2017, Easton started at left guard for 12 games for the Vikings, but missed all of last season with a neck injury.

The LSU Board of Supervisors athletic committee has approved an extension and pay raise for football coach Ed Orgeron. Athletics Director Joe Alleva appeared at today’s meeting and said Orgeron is deserving of a 500-thousand dollar raise…
cut 12 (10) “…extremely well”
Orgeron’s new contract runs through 2023 and his annual salary is four million dollars, the ninth highest in the SEC. The full board is expected to approve the deal this afternoon.

Last night in college baseball, UL-Lafayette defeated Northwestern State eight to three as sophomore Hayden Cantrelle hit for the cycle.

LSU basketball is in Jacksonville, ahead of tomorrow’s NCAA first round match-up between the Fighting Tigers and Yale. Head Coach Will Wade remains suspended. Junior guard Skylar Mays says they miss Wade, but the talent on the floor is good enough to reach the Final Four, especially when it comes to guard play between him, Tremont Waters and Javonte Smart…
cut 17 (09) “…whole thing”
Mays says even though the Tigers didn’t win a game in the SEC Tournament, they remain confident heading into the Big Dance. Tip off tomorrow is at 11:40.

Grambling State men’s basketball will play in its first postseason tournament game in 39 years tonight when the Tigers visit Texas-Rio Grande Valley in the College-Insider-dot-com Tournament.

UNO is also in that tournament and tonight the Privateers host Johnny Jones and the Texas Southern Tigers.

Former Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis has signed with the Detroit Lions. Lewis will always be remembered in New Orleans, because he was the guy involved in the controversial no call in the NFC Championship game.

All 32 teams from the NFL were on hand to watch Louisiana Tech’s pro day. It was a chance for defensive end Jaylon Ferguson to show what he’s got after he was not invited to the NFL draft combine in Indianapolis. The potential first round draft pick ran a 4.75, in the 40-yard dash. Wide receiver and punt returner Teddy Veal had the fastest time at 4.64.

Former LSU baseball star Alex Bregman has reportedly agreed to a six-year, 100-million dollar contract to the Astros.

Last night in college baseball, the Ragin Cajuns downed Northwestern State eight to three, McNeese blanked Houston 1 to 0, Southern Miss upended ULM 5-4, Louisiana Tech trounced Mississippi Valley 21 to 1. Tonight, LSU hosts Nicholls.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is set to get more job security and a bump in pay. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Im Jeff Palermo”

Former Saints wide receiver and return Tommylee Lewis has signed with the Detroit Lions. He caught 20 passes during his three seasons in New Orleans. And the Back and Gold has reportedly expressed interest in trading for Dolphins defensive end Robert Quinn. Dallas is also said to be interested in the 28-year-old pass rusher.

The LSU men’s basketball team arrives in Jacksonville today as the Tigers continue their preparations for their first round NCAA Tournament match up with Yale. 2006 was the last time LSU went to the Final Four and that season they also played the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Jacksonville, beat Iona and Texas A-and-M.

The Sun Belt Conference has named a new commissioner. His name is Keith Gill and the former Duke football player is the first African-American commissioner of an NCAA F-B-S conference. He’ll start on May 1st, replacing the retiring Karl Benson. Gill is currently the executive associate commissioner for the Atlantic 10.

In college baseball tonight, the Ragin Cajuns host Northwestern State, McNeese faces Houston in Lake Charles, Louisiana Tech hosts Mississippi Valley, Grambling visits Jackson State and U-L-M is at Southern Miss.

Seventh ranked LSU baseball returns to the diamond tomorrow night to host Nicholls. The Tigers have won four in a row since losing to Northwestern State.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected tomorrow to approve a two-year contract extension and a 14-percent increase in pay for Coach Ed Orgeron. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says Orgeron’s annual salary will climb to four-million dollars…
cut 9 (08) “…won it”
Orgeron’s buyout at the start of the deal would also be 10-million dollars.

Max Unger says he didn’t think he could make it through another season, which is why the longtime center for the Saints decided to retire, even though he was set to make five million dollars next season. Unger says a lower body injury has made it difficult for him to get into his stance and surgery would mean he would miss the entire offseason, which Unger didn’t want to do.

Pelicans point guard Elfird Payton recorded his fifth consecutive triple-double last night in an overtime win over Dallas. Only four other players have had five straight triple-doubles, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. New Orleans is at Orlando on Wednesday.

The Sun Belt Conference’s new commissioner is the first african-american commissioner for an FBS conference. Keith Gill will take over for the retiring Karl Benson, who will officially leave the office on May 1st. Gill is currently the executive associate commissioner for the Atlantic 10.

LSU basketball finishes the regular season ranked 12th in the A-P poll, which is there highest finish since 2000. The 26-and-6 Tigers face Yale on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs only have one NCAA Tournament win and that happened in 2016, when they upset Baylor in the first round.

Southern is the only Louisiana school in the women’s basketball tournament. The 16th seeded Lady Jaguars will battle top seeded Mississippi State on Friday in Starkville.

The LSU Board of Supervisors will vote tomorrow on a contract extension and raise for head football coach Ed Orgeron. The proposed deal would extend Orgeron for another two years, through the 2023 season and he’ll get a 14-percent increase in pay, boosting his salary to four-million dollars a year. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says the contract seems justified…
Cut 7 (11) “…head coach”
Orgeron is 25-9 since taking over as the interim coach during the 2016 season.

Former Saints center Max Unger says he decided to retire from football, because he didn’t think he could put his 32-year-old body through another season. Unger says injury issues to his lower body was making it difficult for him to get even in his stance.

The Pelicans ended a six-game losing streak last night with a 129 to 125 overtime win over Dallas. New Orleans point guard Elfrid Payton joined a short list of NBA greats with his fifth straight triple-double. Payton had 19 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. The only other players to have five straight triple-doubles, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

LSU basketball finishes the regular season ranked 12th in the A-P poll, which is there highest finish since 2000. The 26-and-6 Tigers face Yale on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs only have one NCAA Tournament win and that happened in 2016, when they upset Baylor in the first round.

Southern is the only Louisiana school in the women’s basketball tournament. The 16th seeded Lady Jaguars will battle top seeded Mississippi State on Friday in Starkville.

After sweeping Kentucky, LSU baseball is up to 7th in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll. The Tigers host Nicholls tomorrow night.

The LSU men’s basketball team is getting ready to play Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers were bounced out of the SEC Tournament rather quickly, playing in just one game. Interim head coach Tony Benford says they want to go much farther in the Big Dance…
cut 30 (27) “….some shots”
Both teams like to play up tempo, so a lot of points are expected.

Former Saints Center Max Unger said today he decided to retire, because he didn’t think he could make it through another season, because of lower body injuries.

The 10th ranked LSU baseball team started SEC play by sweeping Kentucky in a three-game series. The Tigers completed the sweep with a 7-2 win. Senior third baseman Chris Reid had a two-run single and he says starting fast in conference play is a confidence booster…
Cut 16 (15) “phenomenal job”

Elsewhere, the Ragin Cajuns took two of three from Little Rock, winning four to two yesterday. Both ULM and La Tech were swept. McNeese took two of three from Lamar, winning yesterday six to four. Northwestern State and Nicholls are both three and three in the Southland. The Demons beat UNO eight to one, while the Colonels edged Central Arkansas two to one.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is receving a two-year contract extension that will keep him at LSU through 2023 and he’s also getting a 14-percent boost in pay. The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to sign off on the new deal on Wednesday.

LSU is a three-seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament and the Tigers will play the Yale Bulldogs on Thursday in Jacksonville. Yale is led by junior guard Miye Oni (Me-A Own-ee), who is averaging 18 points a game. LSU interim head coach Tony Benford…
cut 10 (12) “…push the ball”
Tip time is at 11:40 on Thursday. And if LSU can beat Yale, they’ll face either sixth seeded Maryland, or 11th seeded Temple or Belmont on Saturday.

Three Louisiana teams are in the C-I-T tournament. ULM will host Kent State on Thursday, Grambling State will travel to Texas Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday. UNO will host Johnny Jones and the Texas Southern Tigers also on Wednesday.

The Pelicans visit the Dallas Mavericks tonight. New Orleans has lost six in a row.

The Saints and former Vikings offensive lineman Nick Easton have reportedly agreed to a four-year contract. Easton is expected to take center Max Unger’s spot on the O-L ine. Unger unexpectedly retired over the weekend. Easton didn’t play last season because of a neck injury, but he started at left guard for Minnesota in 2017 and can also play center.

LSU’s pitchers threw the ball well this past weekend in a three-game sweep against Kentucky. It all started with a solid start from Zach Hess in game one of the series and yesterday four LSU pitchers held Kentucky to just four hits. Tigers assistant coach Sean Ochinko says they threw strikes against the Wildcats…
cut 17 (23) “…great job”

LSU is a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament and they’ll face Ivy League Tournament champion Yale on Thursday at 11:40 in the morning in Jacksonville. 2015 was the last time LSU was in the NCAA Tournament. They only have one player on the roster who has been in the Big Dance and that’s Kavell Bigby-Williams, who formerly played at Oregon. Interim head coach Tony Benford says they are looking forward to playing Yale…
Cut 11 (12) “NCAA Tournament.”
If LSU wins, they’ll play either Maryland, Belmont or Temple on Saturday. The top two seeds in the East Regional are Duke and Michigan State.

ULM will reportedly host Kent State in the college-insider-dot-com tournament on Thursday. Also in that tourney, Grambling will travel to Texas-Rio Grande Valley and UNO will host Texas Southern.

The Saints have reportedly signed Nick Easton to take the place of center Max Unger, who unexpectedly retired over the weekend. Easton has played both center and guard and this will be his fourth team. He missed last season with a neck injury.

The 10th ranked LSU baseball team is off to a strong start in SEC play as the Tigers completed a three-game sweep of Kentucky with a seven to two victory on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium. Tigers hitting coach Sean Ochinko handled the postgame media duties for Paul Mainieri, who left right after Sunday’s game for his father’s visitation. Demie Mainieri will be buried today. Ochinko says the players wanted to provide Mainieri with some comfort…
Cut 18 (21) really helps”

The LSU basketball team was one and done in the SEC Tournament. Florida hit a three-pointer with a second left which led to the Gators upsetting the Tigers 76-73. LSU led for much of the game and at one time had a 13-point lead. LSU now awaits Sunday at 5 PM, which is when the NCAA Tournament brackets are released. Interim head coach Tony Benford believes the Tigers should be seeded high…
cut 16 (11) “…two seed”

ULM’s run through the Sun Belt tournament ended last night in New Orleans with an 81-67 loss to Georgia Southern.

UNO upset top seeded Sam Houston State 79-76 in the Southland Tournament to reach the championship game. The Privateers will play Abilene Christian in the title game tonight The Wildcats defeated Southeastern Louisiana 69-66 last night.

The Saints have added depth to their defensive line by signing defensive end Mario Edwards Junior. Last season with the Giants he had two sacks and three tackles for a loss. The former Florida State standout can play both inside and out.

The SEC baseball opener for the LSU Tigers was rained out last night and the two teams will play a doubleheader today, starting at 2 PM.

Elsewhere, Southern Miss outscored Louisiana Tech 12-9. Bulldog pitchers Matt Miller and Jonathan Fincher allowed nine runs.

Little Rock downed the Cajuns four to one, as UL-Lafayette was held to three hits. ULM pitching gave up four home runs in a 13-3 loss to Coastal Carolina.

Central Arkansas edged Nicholls four to three as an RBI single by the Bears in the ninth led to a walk-off win. McNeese defeated Lamar six to one. Brett Whelton led the offense with a three-run home run, while Rhett Deaton got the win on the mound. Oklahoma State blanked Southeastern nine to nothing and Northwestern State upended UNO four to three. Ridge Heisler tossed a complete game victory.

Javonte Smart is back with the LSU Tigers as they begin play in the SEC Tournament. The university released a statement this morning that said Smart has fully cooperated and participated in a joint investigation conducted by LSU and the NCAA. Smart’s name surfaced in an FBI wiretap conversation purportedly involving head coach Will Wade and a recruiting middleman where the two allegedly discussed a strong offer for Smart when he was still at Scotlandville High School. LSU says the investigation is not closed, but as of now they have not found any wrongdoing conducted by Smart. And because of his full cooperation and transparency, he’s been cleared by university officials for play. The Tigers battle the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals this afternoon.

ULM has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament after an easy 80-50 win over Coastal Carolina. The Ragin Cajuns were eliminated as they suffered a one point loss to South Alabama.

The Saints have re-signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. ESPN reports a one-year deal for the 26-year-old and it’s worth 7.25 million dollars a year.

The Saints have also signed former first round pick Malcom Brown. The defensive tackle spent his first four seasons in New England.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly signed former Saints defensive end Alex Okafor to a three-year deal. Okafor had 8.5 sacks in 26 games for the Black and Gold.

The 10th ranked LSU baseball team begins SEC play tonight by hosting Kentucky. The Wildcats lead the SEC in stolen bases and that’s a concern for the Tigers as they’ve only thrown out one would be base stealer this season. Coach Paul Mainieri…
cut 17 (13) “…every time”
First pitch is at 7 PM.