There’s still plenty for Louisiana football fans to be pulling in this weekend in the NFL Conference Championships. In the AFC, former LSU star running back Leonard Fournette and the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Patriots. Last week Fournette was spotted wearing his purple and gold shoulder pads which he later said are too comfy to put away…:
Cut 17 (15) “LSU fans”

In the NFC, Eagles Coach Doug Pederson is a former ULM quarterback and high school coach at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport. He talks about his reputation of being a player’s coach…:
Cut 18 (15) “Doug Pederson”

The New Orleans Pelicans will be well represented in the starting lineup for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. The league announced Thursday that Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were among the five starters from the Western Conference in this year’s game. This is Davis’ 5th consecutive All-Star appearance and second as a starter. Cousins is making his four consecutive All-Star appearance and first as a starter. This is the first time in franchise history that the Pelicans have two starters in an All-Star game. New Orleans will face the Grizzlies tomorrow in the Smoothie King Center.

In college hoops, UL-Lafayette overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half to claim a 77-65 win over UT Arlington in Sun Belt Conference action Thursday on the road. The Ragin Cajuns are now 6-0 in the SBC and off to their best start since the early 70s. They’ll face Texas State tomorrow.

What a win by Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs lost their last five games by four points or less but did not let that happen last night. Tech walked away with a 66-65 victory over North Texas. They’ll face Rice tomorrow.

LSU nose tackle Greg Gilmore has been added to the Senior Bowl. He’ll be one of four Tigers in the game on January 27th in Mobile. Defensive lineman Christian LaCouture, running back Darrel Williams and receiver DJ Chark have also received invitations.

And former LSU standouts Russell Gage and Frank Herron will play in the N-F-L-P-A Collegiate Bowl on Saturday in the Rose Bowl in Pasedena.

The Ragin Cajuns put their 5-0 Sun Belt record on the line tonight against U-T Arlington. UL Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin on tonight’s game in the Lone Star state….
cut 29 (26) “….play well”
Also in the Sun Belt, ULM is at Texas State.

Louisiana Tech hosts North Texas tonight at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Bulldogs can use a win. They are 10-9 overall, 1-and-5 in Conference USA. Bulldogs Coach Eric Konkol says the North Texas is a balanced team…
cut 30 (23) “…four spots”
Starting tonight, Tech will be home for seven of its next nine games.

After beating the best team in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, the Pelicans turned around and lost to the worst team in the East on Wednesday. New Orleans fell to the Hawks 94-93, despite having a 19-point lead in the second quarter. Both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins missed free throws down the stretch. New Orleans is back on home on Saturday to host Memphis. The Grizzlies are just 15-28 on the season.

The Ragin Cajuns are in first place in the Sun Belt and 5-0. They visit UT Arlington tonight. The Mavericks were picked to win the Sun Belt this season. Frank Bartley leads UL-Lafayette in scoring, averaging 16 points a game. But Coach Bob Marlin says the senior from Baton Rouge is more than a scorer…
cut 19 (09) “…better team”
Tip-off is at 7:15. ULM is at Texas State. The Warhawks are 1-and-4 in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana Tech hopes they can start putting some victories together as they play the next seven of their nine at home, starting tonight against North Texas. Eric Konkol’s team is 1-and-4 in Conference USA and he says they need to take better care of the basketball….
cut 30 (14) “…help us”
Tip-off is at 6:30.

Last night, Southeastern Louisiana beat Houston Baptist 85-69 and Northwestern State fell to 0-6 in the Southland after the Demons lost to Sam Houston State 75-52.

Saints punter Thomas Morstead will travel back to Minneapolis and present the Children’s Minnesota Child Life Program with 150-thousand dollars. Vikings fans have been donating to Morstead’s foundation, What You Give Will Grow. They were impressed Morstead was the first to return to the field for the extra point Minnesota had to kick after the Vikings scored the game-winning touchdown on the final play.

The Ragin Cajuns put their perfect 5-0 Sun Belt record on the line tonight when they visit U-T Arlington — the preseason favorite to win the league. In four of U-L Lafayette’s conference wins, they’ve allowed 64 points or less. Coach Bob Marlin says that’s been key…:
Cut 18 (17) “help us win”
The Mavericks are 3-3 in the Sun Belt, but have won three of their last four.

In college hoops last night, Southeastern topped Houston Baptist 85-69. UNO fell to Central Arkansas 81-57. Tulane held off the Houston Cougars 81-72 in New Orleans, with the help of Cameron Reynolds who scored 22 points and made back-to-back 3-point jumpers.

Louisiana Tech is in last place in Conference USA with a 1-and-5 record. But they play the next seven of nine at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Bulldogs host North Texas tonight and Coach Eric Konkol says his team has lost some close games and he knows why…:
Cut 20 (10) “the stretch”
Tipoff is at 6:30pm.

Northwestern State football will open the 2018 season at Texas A&M before hosting SWAC champion Grambling to kick off a five game home schedule. The Demons will then face Nicholls, Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist and McNeese. Coach Brad Laird announced the schedule Wednesday.

Fresh off an upset win in Boston, the Pelicans then blew a lead in a 94-93 loss to the Hawks Wednesday night. The Celtics have the best record in the east, while Atlanta has the worst in the league. Star forward Anthony Davis only, who has had back to back 40 plus games, only had 8 last night. The loss drops the Pels from 6th to 7th in western conference standings.

Quarterback Drew Brees says he’ll stay in New Orleans as long as the Saints want him. The 39-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent in March. He says one of the reasons why he wants to be back is that the franchise took a chance on him in 2006 when Sean Payton would not…
cut 18 (14) “….Sean Payton’
It’s possible right tackle Zach Strief will not be back as he’s thinking about retiring. Strief missed most of the season with a torn A-C-L and M-C-L and the 34-year-old may have lost his starting spot to rookie Ryan Ramczyk.

Lance Guidry will remain the head coach at McNeese State. New Florida State head coach Willie Taggart and Guidry talked about becoming an assisant for the Seminoles, but Guidry says it didn’t work out for either party.

Anthony Davis put together another dominating performance last night as he scored 45 points to help the Pelicans beat the Celtics 116 to 113 in overtime. A-D also had 16 rebounds for New Orleans, while DeMarcous Cousins posted 19 points and 15 boards and Jrue Holliday chipped in with 23 points. Let’s see if the Pelicans can give that same type of effort tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

LSU lost its third straight SEC home game last night as Georgia’s Yante Maten hit a bucket in the lane with five seconds to go to give the Bulldogs a 61-60 win over the tigers. Maten had 21 points. Brandon Sampson led LSU with 17 points, but the Tigers could hold on to a 10-point halftime lead.

Nicholls won its fourth straight Southland game last night as the Colonels cruised past Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 91-61. Tevon Saddler had 23 points and five assists.

Drew Brees’ contract is a huge question mark for the Saints this off-season. The quarterback turned 39 on Monday, and is a free agent in March. Brees and the Saints front office have been coy so far about contract negotiations, but the QB says he hopes to have a deal before the free agency begins. He says this young, talented team is a great incentive to stick around:
Cut 17 (16) “yes i do”
Brees says he intends to end his career in black and gold, and doesn’t want to play anywhere else.

In the NBA, Anthony Davis and the Pelicans continued stellar play to pick up their third straight win. The Pels beat the Celtics on the road last night 116-113 in overtime. Davis had 45 points and 16 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins added 19 points and 15 rebounds. Jrue Holiday scored 23 points.

The LSU men’s basketball team still hasn’t wont an SEC game at home, after dropping a close 61-60 contest to Georgia last night in the PMAC. But the game was tied eight times and the lead changed hands 16 times. Also last night in college hoops, Nicholls dominated Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 91-61. Today, UNO is at Central Arkansas. Tulane hosts Houston. Southeastern hosts Houston Baptist.

Despite being linked to the Florida State Seminoles in reports over the last week, McNeese State head coach Lance Guidry will remain with the Cowboys. New FSU coach, Willie Taggart, and Guidry coached together at Western Kentucky. Guidry said while he’s grateful to Coach Taggart for his interest, it just didn’t workout for either party and he’s happy to stay at McNeese.

The LSU Baseball team is ranked No. 16 in the D1 Baseball Preseason Top 25, after the Tigers National Championship appearance at the College World Series in 2017. LSU is just over a week away from kicking off practice this spring in preparation for its 2018 season.

There is video of Saints Coach Sean Payton mimicking the Vikings skol clap right before the game winning touchdown pass in Sunday’s NFL playoff game. Payton was asked about it during his season-ending press conference and the coach said the gesture was towards a group of fans, it was good playoff fun.

Payton and his staff will coach the NFC team in the Pro Bowl on January 28th.

LSU offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield has announced he will return for his senior season. Starting safety John Battle also says he’s coming back. Six juniors off the 2017 team declared for the NFL draft before the January 15th deadline.

Reports out of Tuscaloosa say Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze met with Alabama’s Nick Saban about the Crimson Tide’s vacancy at offensive coordinator. Freeze resigned from Ole Miss last July after he made inappropriate calls on a university-issued phone.

Despite the winter conditions, LSU and Georgia are set to play tonight at 6 PM inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Tigers are coming off a 74-66 loss to Alabama on Saturday. LSU shot 40-percent from the field and 28-percent from three-point territory. Coach Will Wade says making shots might be difficult tonight…
cut 17 (21) “….go in”
LSU also has to do a better job rebounding. They were outrebounded by 16 versus the Crimson Tide.

Nicholls State goes after its third straight win tonight as they host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi in Stopher Gymnasium.

The Pelicans are at the Boston Celtics.

The LSU men’s basketball team hosts Georgia tonight. The Tigers are looking for their first win at home in SEC play. Coach Will Wade says they need more from junior guard Brandon Sampson, who is averaging just four points a game in SEC contests and has yet to make a three-pointer…:
Cut 16 (20) “take over”
LSU lost to Alabama on Saturday 74-66. Also tonight in college hoops, Nicholls State hosts Texas A&M Corupos Christi.

The Tiger football team got some good underclassman news finally on Monday, as guard Garrett Brumfield announced that he’ll bypass the NFL draft and return for his senior season. So on the offensive line, three of five are coming back. On D, starting safety John Battle will also return.

Now that the Saints season is over, many are putting the tragic ending behind them and looking ahead to next season. Drew Brees and Kenny Vaccaro headline the Saints 2018 free agent class. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says the team has a strong young core, that can’t lose its most important piece…
Cut 25 (12) “right back again”
Detillier expects it will take about 25-million dollars a year to keep Brees on the Saints.

The NFL announced Monday that the coaching staffs of the Saints along with the Steelers have been selected to lead the 2018 Pro Bowl teams. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton and crew will lead the NFC in the game on January 28 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

Tonight, the Pelicans will look to keep the momentum going as they face the Celtics in Boston.

Can’t be an easy birthday for Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who turns 39 today. He led the team back from a 17-0 halftime deficit only to see the Saints defense fail to make a play in the final seconds in a 29-24 heart breaking loss to Minnesota. Brees will be an unrestricted free agent in March, but he sounds like a guy who will be back…
cut 18 (18) “…make you stronger”
Rookie Safety Marcus Williams wiffed on the tackle that led to the game winning touchdown pass. Williams says he won’t let that one play define him….
cut 15 (11) “….to me”

Former LSU Tiger Leonard Fournette was a big reason why the Jaguars upset the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42 in the AFC playoffs yestrday. Fournette ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns and he did it while wearning his shoulder pads from LSU.

Anthony Davis had a season-high 48 points in Madison Square Garden yesterday as New Orleans rallied from 19 points down late in the third quarter to beat the Knicks 123-118 in overtime. Jrue Holiday had 31 points. The Pelicans continue their three-game road trip tomorrow in Boston.

Tonight in college hoops….Grambling hosts Texas Southern. G-S-U has won two straight and Southern looks for its second league win as they visit Mississippi Valley State.

LSU looks for its first home SEC win tomorrow as they host Georgia at 6 PM.

Nicholls can up its record to 6-1 in the Southland tomorrow as they host Texas A-&M Corpus Christi. Colonels Guard Roddy Peters is the Southland Player of the Week today. He has helped Nicholls win three straight.

The Saints were 10 seconds away from playing in the NFC Championship game, then the unthinkable happened. Here’s Jim Henderson’s call on the Saints Radio Network…
cut 30 (16) “…kidding me”
Unfortunately for the Who Dat nation, it’s not a joke. Quarterback Drew Brees on the end of the season…
cut 17 (17) “….things happened”
Brees turns 39-years-old today. The Saints first priority in the offseason is to sign the future Hall of Famer to a new contract.

Former LSU star Leonard Fournette scored three touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards as Jacksonville upset Pittsburgh 45-42. Fournette did it while wearing the shoulder pads he wore while at LSU. It will be the Jaguars versus the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

Hahnville’s Pooka Williams has been named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football for 2017. The Kansas signee rushed for 3.128 yards and 37 touchdowns as he helped Hahnville reach the 5A state title game.

Anthony Davis had a season-high 48 points as the Pelicans rallied to beat the New York Knicks 123 to 118 in overtime yesterday. The Pels are at Boston tomorrow.

In college basketball, After losing to Alabama in front of a sold out Pete Maravich Assembly Center crowd, the Tigers host Georgia tomorrow night at 6 PM. The Ragin Cajuns are 5-0 in the Sun Belt. UL Lafayette is at UT-Arlington and Texas State this week.