The Saints are beginning the process of trying to move on from a disappointing finish to the 2018 season. It seemed like New Orleans was destined to play in the franchise’s second Super Bowl only to see those dreams fall apart with an overtime loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship game. Cornerback PJ Williams says they have to look forward and not back…
Cut 16 (16) “..its over
Saints owner Gayle Benson says she’s thoroughly disappointed by the no call on the pass interference the NFL says should have been called against the Rams in the final two minutes of regulation. Benson says its undeniable that their team and fans were deprived at a fair shot of playing the Super Bowl and she plans to aggressively pursue changes.

With no Anthony Davis in the line-up yesterday because of an injured finger, someone had to step up. Veteran Jahlil Okafor was that guy as he scored a season high 20 points and also had 10 rebounds as New Orleans defeated Memphis 105-85. Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic also added 21 points. New Orleans is back home tomorrow night against Detroit.

The LSU men’s basketball team is back in the AP Top 25 after a two month absence. The Tigers are ranked 25th after beating South Carolina and then 18th ranked Ole Miss. LSU is 4-0 in the SEC, one of two teams still undefeated in league play. Number one Tennessee is the other.

Last night, Prairie View defeated Grambling 83-66. The Tigers turned it over 26 times and committed 29 fouls. Southern won for only the third time this season as the Jaguars defeated Mississippi Valley 80-56.

LSU is ranked number two in the Baseball America preseason poll. Vanderbilt is the preseason number one. Florida is ranked fourth, Mississippi State ninth. The Tigers begin preseason workouts on Friday.

The belief among many in the Bayou State is that the Saints had to beat the Rams and refs to win the NFC Championship game. The non-pass interference call in the final two minutes of regulation goes down as one of the worst no calls in sports. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s used to not getting the calls
Cut 12 (11) “…the Saints”
Before the controversial no call, it appeared wide receiver Ted Ginn Junior made a catch to set up the Saints for a game winning score. Ginn says he gets no solace that the NFL has admitted it blew the call
Cut 13 (07) “…what is is.”
It’s the second straight year the Saints season ended with a gut wrenching loss. Last year it was the Minneapolis Miracle that ended the Black and Gold’s season in the divisional round.

The bayou burglary during the NFC Championship game has resulted in a Covington eye doctor’s social media post going viral….
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The LSU men’s basketball team is back in the A-P Top 25 poll. The Tigers, who are on a seven-game winning streak, are ranked 25th in the country. Only LSU and Tennessee are undefeated in league play and the Tigers will host 1-and-4 Georgia on Wednesday.

The Tigers Kavell Bigby-Williams is the SEC player of the week. He averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and had six blocks in wins over Ole Miss and South Carolina last week.

The Saints Super Bowl hopes were dashed inside a stunned Superdome on Sunday by a missed pass interference call and a 57-yard field goal in O-T to give the Rams a 26-23 win over the Black and Gold. New Orleans had a chance to win in regulation, but thanks to the officials, L-A was able to tie the game. Coach Sean Payton says the league office told him afterwards, the refs blew the call
Cut 10 (11) “to swallow.”
It’s another heart breaking playoff loss for the Saints. Last year they had to suffer through the Minnesota Miracle, but the missed call in yesterday’s game is tougher to swallow…
cut 15 (14) “…not fair”

The Pelicans are in Memphis today to complete their five-game road trip. No Anthony Davis as he’ll miss the next week or two with a sprained finger in his left hand. New Orleans has lost three of its last four and they are 1-and-4 this season in games this season without A-D. Tip-off is at 4:30.

The LSU Tigers haven’t been ranked in the Top 25 since losing two in a row in Orlando, but that should change today. The Bayou Bengals are now 4-0 in the SEC after they handed South Carolina its first SEC loss of the season with a commanding 89-67 win over the Gamecocks. LSU had six players reach double figures, led by a pair of freshmen, Naz Reid had 15 points and so did, Emmit Williams who came off the bench to score 15 points and the freshman from Florida finished with 13 rebounds.

Taylor Simoneaux from Franklin won yesterday’s Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge. Rachel Booth of Charlottesville, Virginia was the top female finisher. Desiree Lincoln of Traverse City, Michigan won the women’s half-marathon, Jessica Jones of Baton Rouge finished as a runner-up.

Sunday’s NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams could come down to whoever runs the ball better. New Orleans has Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, while Los Angeles has Todd Gurley and CJ Anderson. Saints linebacker DeMario Davis says Gurley can do it all…
cut 19 (17) “…this game”
The Rams Andrew Whitworth has been one of the best offensive tackles over the last decade. The former West Monroe and LSU star says they are prepared to deal with a loud Superdome crowd…
cut 4 (08) “…the league”
Kick off is at 2:05 after the game it’s the Patriots and Chiefs for the AFC title. Kansas City hasn’t played in a Super Bowl since 1970.

The Pelicans visit the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, the team they swept out of the playoffs last season. New Orleans has won four of its last six thanks to the MVP caliber play by Anthony Davis, who is averaging 29 points and 13 rebounds a contest on the season. Tip time is at 9:30.

Will LSU basketball coach Will Wade be dancing again tomorrow night. Wade showed off some dance moves in the locker room after last Tuesday night’s win against Ole Miss. The Tigers are 3-0 in the SEC and will host South Carolina at 5 PM at the PMAC, the Gamecocks are 4-0 in league play and have won five straight overall.

The Ragin Cajuns have won five in a row over ULM and the two teams meet Saturday in Monroe. Both teams are 2-and-2 in league play.

In the Southland…Northwestern is at Abilene Christian, Nicholls visits Central Arkansas and McNeese will host Southeastern Louisiana for a 1:30 tip off. UNO looks for its fifth straight win at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.

In just his third season, quarterback Jared Goff has led the Rams to the NFC Championship game. Goff says he’s not trying to do anything different for this big game against the Saints…
Cut 16 (19) “…routinely”
The Rams put up 35 points in their trip to the Dome earlier this season, and Saints linebacker Demario Davis says it’s all on their incredible collection of talent….
Cut 18 (15) for us”
Kick-off is at 2:05.

The Pelicans continue their five-game road trip tonight when they visit Portland. In the first meeting between the two teams, New Orleans played without Anthony Davis and the Trail Blazers won 132 to 119. The Pels are so far 1-and-2 on their road trip. Tip time tonight is at 9:30.

A dunk by Old Dominion with 18 seconds left gave the Monarchs a 64-63 win over Louisiana Tech last night. Amorie Archibald had a chance to win it for the Bulldogs, but he missed a pair of three-point tries in the final ten seconds. Archibald finished with 16 points. The loss drops Tech’s record to 3-3 in league play and they will visit Charlotte tomorrow.

Tomorrow at 5 PM, LSU hosts South Carolina at the Maravich Center. Both teams are undefeated in the SEC play. The Tigers have won six in a row, while the Gamecocks are riding a five game winning streak.

In other action on Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns will visit ULM. McNeese will host Southeastern Louisiana for a 1:30 tip-off.

Saints Coach Sean Payton wants the Superdome on Sunday for the NFC Championship game to be the loudest it’s ever been. Payton is also asking Who Dats to raise the noise meter, well before the Rams snap the ball on offense. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff says communication in the huddle will be critical when it comes to combating the loud Superdome crowd….
cut 17 (20)”….they’re doing”
Kick-off Sunday is at 2:05 and the winner will face either the Chiefs or Patriots in the Super Bowl on February third. K-C is a three-point favorite and it will be cold inside Arrowhead Stadium. Game time temperatures will be in the 20s for the 5:40 kickoff.

The Saints are Super Bowl bound if they can make it through the LA Rams Sunday. We hit the streets to find out what fans are expecting.
Cut 1 (33) “….Super Bowl”

Tough loss in Norfolk, Virginia last night for Louisiana Tech basketball as Old Dominion hit a go-ahead field goal with 18 seconds left and the Monarchs beat the Bulldogs 64-63. Tech is now 3-3 in Conference USA. La Tech will head to Charlotte to face the 49ers on Saturday.

The Pelicans are at Portland tonight for a 9:30 tip.

There could be some Saints fans starting to get nervous about Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Rams. Last week, New Orleans fell behind 14-0 before coming back to beat Philadelphia 20-14. Quarterback Drew Brees says a win like that gives them confidence they can pull out a victory when the tough gets going…
cut 18 (13) “….make it”
Saints Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and tight end Ben Watson missed practice yesterday. Kirkwood has a calf injury and Watson was under the weather. The Rams had zero players on their injury report.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says beware of ticket scams if you are trying to buy tickets for Sunday’s NFC Championship game. Landry says make sure the ticket seller belongs to the National Association of Ticket Brokers or has a guarantee policy. And he says if you have tickets…
cut 7 (06) “….dome”
He says scalpers can steal the bar codes and create a counterfeit ticket.

If you stayed up to watch last night’s Pelicans game, you saw a record for the number of three pointers made in an NBA game. 43 of them went through the hoop in a Golden State victory. Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers and finished with 41 points in 147-140 victory for the defending champs.

Great crowd in Lake Charles last night to watch McNeese defeat Nicholls 86-75. There were 27-hundred fans inside the new Health and Human Performance Complex. McNeese improved to 2-3 in the Southland, Nicholls fell to 3-2.

Tonight, Louisiana Tech is at Old Dominion. The Bulldogs are looking for their first conference road win and they are only giving up 61 points a game in league contests. That leads Conference USA. Tip time is 6 PM.

The Pelicans and Warriors set an NBA record by hitting a combined 43 3s, but it was Golden State who made more of them as they defeated the Pels 147 to 140. The Warriors knocked down 24 three-pointers, Steph Curry made nine of them and finished with 41 points. Anthony Davis had 30 points and 18 rebounds in the loss. Nikola Mirotic added 29 points.

Roydell Brown had a career-high 25 points as McNeese defeated Nicholls 86-75 in front of 27-hundred fans at the new Health and Human Performance complex. Kevin Johnson had 16 points for the Colonels.

Southeastern Louisiana won its first league game as the Lions upended Lamar 76-69 behind 22 points from Marlain Veal. UNO won its fourth straight as the Privateers dribbled past Stephen F Austin 68-61. UNO fell behind 17-4, but got 15 points off the bench from Troy Green.

40-year-old Saints Quarterback Drew Brees will go up against a Rams defense on Sunday in the NFC Championship game that’s led by their 71-year-old defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Brees says he knows Phillips likes to bring the heat…
cut 17 (18) “..all time”
Remember after the Saints beat the Rams in the regular season, Los Angeles cornerback Marcus Peters was not happy with Coach Sean Payton for what he was saying and said if they met again, they would have a nice little bowl of gumbo together. But Peters said on Wednesday that his original comments were blown out of proportion…
cut 30 (12) “…to have”
Kick off Sunday is at 2:05.

LSU Coach Will Wade was concerned about his defense heading into last night’s match up with 18th ranked Ole Miss, but they were up to the test in Oxford. The Tigers held the Rebels to 41-percent shooting from the field and forced 16 turnovers in an 83-69 win over the Rebels, who saw their 10-game winning streak snapped. The game was tied at halftime, but the Tigers outscored the Rebels 52-38 in the second half. Tremont Waters led the way with 20 points and nine assists. LSU is now 3-0 in the SEC, one of three teams with an undefeated record in league play. The Tigers, who have won six in a row, host South Carolina on Saturday, who is also 3-0 in the SEC.

Tonight in the Association, the Pelicans are at Golden State. The Warriors set an NBA record with 51 points in the first quarter last night as the defending NBA champs moved into first place in the Western Conference with a 142-111 win over Denver.

New Orleans and Los Angeles meet in the NFC Championship game Sunday. Rams running back Todd Gurley was bothered by a sore knee at the end of the regular season, but he looked good in last week’s playoff win over Dallas. The former Georgia Bulldog rushed for 115 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries. Saints linebacker AJ Klein says Gurley is a big, physical running back that’s hard to tackle…
cut 17 (18) “….match ups”
The Saints held Gurley to 68 yards in their regular season match-up.

Washington State will name a new neuroscience center after former Saints star Steve Gleason. The 41-year-old Gleason is from Spokane and a Washington State graduate. He’s now a major advocate for A-L-S.

For the third time this season, the Saints will face the Rams in New Orleans on Sunday. New Orleans beat Los Angeles in the preseason, regular season and this Sunday a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line. Coach Sean Payton says L-A has one of the N-F-L’s best D-lines led by Aaron Donald…
cut 17 (16) “….tape here”

Expect another loud Superdome crowd Sunday. The decibel level reached a reported 128 in the win over the Eagles. Southeastern Louisiana Communications Professor Joe Burns has this advice, if you bring young kids to the game…
cut 15 (11) “…to you”

LSU will look to remain unbeaten in SEC play tonight when the Tigers travel to Oxford to face the 18th ranked Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss moved up into the Top 25 in the latest poll by beating two ranked teams last week, Auburn and Mississippi State. LSU is averaging 91 points a game in two SEC contests, but they’ve also allowed 84 points a game in league play and Coach Will Wade says they have to get better on defense.

The Ragin Cajuns JaKeenan Gant has been named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the week. The six-foot-eight senior from Georiga had 36 points at Georgia State and 22 points against Georgia Southern last week. U-L Lafayette is at ULM this Saturday.

The Pelicans are now 1-1 on their five game road trip after beating the Los Angeles Clippers 121 to 117 last night. New Orleans will face the Golden State Warriors tomorrow. The defending NBA champs are on a four-game winning streak heading into their big match-up with Denver tonight.