The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve today new contracts for LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Ensminger’s contract is 800-thousand dollars a year…:
Cut 16 (05) “would be”
He says Aranda’s annual salary will go up to 2.5 million dollars.

The iconic Voice of the Saints Jim Henderson is retiring after a storied career calling the most triumphant and heartbreaking moments in Black and Gold history. The announcement came as a shock to many, as the Saints are a team on the rise, full of young talent. But Henderson says that’s exactly why he chose this moment to leave…:
Cut 13 (10) “go out”
Henderson says most of all, he’s looking forward to just being a fan again.

The New Orleans Pelicans completed a trade Thursday with the Chicago Bulls to land Nikola Mirotioc (nee-koe-luh, MEER-oh-titch) for center Omer Asik (Oh-Mare, A-Seek), a 2018 first-round pick, and some expiring contracts. The Pels take on Oklahoma City tonight on the road for an 8pm tipoff.

Calvary Baptist Academy is celebrating former head coach Doug Pederson’s trip to the Super Bowl as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Last night in college hoops, Louisiana Tech had a comeback 67-62 win over Florida Atlantic.

Saints fans will miss hearing this voice on Sundays…
cut 30 (18) “….Super Bowl
The voice of the Saints for the past 30 years is retiring. Jim Henderson says it was a good time to go out after the team won an NFC South Championship. Henderson says he’ll miss calling games, but looks forward to experiencing Saints football as a fan.

Sources say the Pelicans have acquired Nikola Mirotic from the Chicago Bulls. New Orleans also gets a second round pick and they send Chicago Omer Asik, guards Jameer Nelson and Tony Allen and a first-round pick. Mirotic has averaged 17 points and six rebound after missing the first 23 games because of broken jaw.

Louisiana Tech takes a three-game winning streak into tonight’s game against Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs are seeking their first win on the road this year. Head Coach Eric Konkol says getting this win would be huge for the teams’ development…
cut 18 (16) “….that goal”
The game tips off at 6 PM.

Also tonight, the Lady Tigers host 17th ranked Georgia. LSU is looking to improve to 6-3 in the SEC. The men fell to 3-6 in league play by losing to Tennessee 84-61 last night. Duop Reath had 21 in a losing effort.

UNO has a firm grip on first place in the Southland after beating Northwestern State 82-64 last night. Southeastern Louisiana lost to Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 67-54.

More bad luck for the LSU men’s basketball team as the Tigers fell last night to the No. 18 Vols, 84-61 in Knoxville. Coach Will Wade and his team are now 12-9 overall and 3-6 in the SEC as they head into a Saturday contest against the University of Arkansas inside the PMAC. Tipoff is at 2:30pm.

LA Tech is taking a three game win streak on the road to Florida with a chance at to crack .500 in conference play if the Bulldogs can get their first road win of the season tonight. After convincing wins over Rice and Southern Miss, Head Coach Eric Konkol is feeling confident in his team’s ability to shut down an FAU team tied with them in conference standings..:
Cut 16 (18) “our goal”
Tipoff is at 6pm.
======================================
Elsewhere last night in college hoops, UNO picked up its fourth straight win beating Northwestern State 82-64. New Orleans is now 12-10 overall and 9-2 in the Southland. Tulane beat East Carolina in overtime, 71-69. Southeastern Louisiana fell to Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 67-54 in Hammond.

One of Louisiana’s Fortune 500 company’s may be the most important player on the field Sunday for the Super Bowl. Matt Doyle has the story…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The LSU men’s basketball team will look to pull off the uspet tonight as they visit Tennessee. Because of suspensions, the Tigers will have just nine players available. Reserves Wayde Sims and Brandon Rachal will serve a one-game suspension tonight, while Galen Alexander and Mayan Kiir are on a leave of absence. That leaves LSU with just two players who are six-foot-five or taller, Duop Reath and Aaron Epps.

In other action tonight, Tulane is at East Carolina. The Green Wave have lost four of their last five.

Northwestern State looks for its first Southland win as they visit UNO. The Privateers lead the league with an 8-2 record. Southeastern Louisiana is 7-2 in the Southland and they host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi at the University Center in Hammond.

The Pelcians fell to 7th place in the Western Conference after losing to Sacramento 114 to 103. New Orleans begins a two-game road trip in Oklahoma City on Friday.

Athlon Sports ranks the Top 50 players in college football for 2018 and two LSU Tigers made the list. Cornerback Greedy Williams, who intercepted six passes in 2017 and linebacker Devin White who made 133 tackles in his first year as a full-time starter.

New Southeastern Louisiana Football Coach Frank Scelfo says he wants to bring a physical style of football to Hammond. Scelfo replaces Ron Roberts, who guided the Lions to two Southland championships. Scelfo says he also wants to run a program where the student-athletes excel in the classroom…
cut 18 (16) “…is unacceptable”

In the preseason USA Today softball coaches poll, the LSU Tigers are ranked 8th and UL Lafayette is ranked 22nd.

LSU is a 10.5 point underdog for tonight’s game against Tennessee. The Tigers are 3-5 in the SEC, while the Volunteers are 5-3. Six-foot-seven sophomore forward Grant Williams leads Tennessee in scoring averaging 16 points and six rebounds a game. Coach Will Wade says Williams is one of the better players in the SEC….
cut 20 (12) “….for us”
The Tigers most consistent player in the SEC has been Duop Reath, who is averaging 17 points a game in league play.

In other action tonight, Tulane travels to East Carolina. The Wave have lost three straight matchups with the Pirates.

In the Southland…Southeastern Louisiana and UNO are batting for first place. The Lions host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi, while the Privateers take on Northwestern State in New Orleans.

New Southeastern Louisiana Head Coach Frank Scelfo is asking the North shore area to rally around the Lions football team. Scelfo says through his time across college and the pros, he’s found that getting support from the community is a key to success…
cut 17 (19) “….in them”
Scelfo takes over an S-L-U program that won two conference championships under former head coach Ron Roberts.

The Pelicans had another disappointing loss last night as they fell to the Sacramento Kings 114 to 103. New Orleans was outscored in second-chance points 26-0. Anthony Davis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Pels who visits Oklahoma City on Friday.

After losing by 25 points to 11th ranked Auburn on Saturday, LSU gets another chance at a ranked team tonight when they visit No. 18 Tennessee. Tigers Coach Will Wade expects a better performance tonight…:
Cut 19 (14) “effort”
LSU is 3-5 in the SEC, while the Volunteers are 5-3. Tipoff is at 5:30.

Also in college hoops tonight, Tulane is at East Carolina. UNO hosts Northwestern State. Southeastern plays Texas A&M Corpus Christi in Hammond.

Last night McNeese State fell to Southland conference foe Sam Houston State 67-57.

In the NBA, the Pelicans can’t catch a break without season-ending injured DeMarcus Cousins as New Orleans fell to the Kings last night, 114-103. Anthony Davis had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Pels, while Jrue Holiday scored 21. The Pelicans next will visit Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Southeastern Louisiana names Abbeville native Frank Scelfo as its new head football coach. He takes over for Ron Roberts who left the Lions after six seasons to coach UL-Lafayette’s defense. Roberts led the Lions through their most successful run since the school restarted its football program in 2002, and a fired up Scelfo says he expects to maintain that momentum…:
Cut 16 (15) “we wont blink”
Scelfo was a former offensive coordinator for Tulane and LA Tech, and also spent time in the NFL as an assistant with Arizona and Jacksonville.

LSU football got some great news this week when five-star offensive lineman Kardell Thomas shut down his recruiting process. Thomas said via Twitter he is “110 percent” committed to the Tigers.

LSU basketball will be short handed for their matchup with 18th ranked Tennessee. Coach Will Wade has suspended two players for tomorrow night’s game, Wayde Sims and Brandon Rachal for violating team polices. And Mayan Kiir and Galen Alexander are done for the rest of the season, because of discplinary reasons. Not having Kiir and Sims leaves the Tigers short handed in the post. Wade says he will not use that as an excuse…
cut 18 (08) “…figure that out”
Tip-off tomorrow is at 5:30 central time.

Tonight in college hoops, McNeese State can move to 5-4 in the Southland, if they are able to beat Sam Houston State. 6:30 is tip time.

Frank Scelfo was introduced today as the new head football coach of Southeastern Louisiana. The Abbeville native has previously been an offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech and Tulane. Scelfo has also spent time as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL.
The Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings tonight at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans beat the Kings in the first meeting between these two Western Conference foes and the Kings defeated the Pelicans in game two of the regular season series. Its game two without injured All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. The Pelicans are looking to bolster their roster and have spoken to the Chicago Bulls about forward Nikola Mirotic, but ESPN reports the deal couldn’t be completed because of a contract issue.

The Ragin Cajuns have been picked by the league’s coaches to win the Western Division of the Sun Belt. UT Arlington is picked to finish in second place, Texas State third place and ULM was predicted to finish in last place. South Alabama is the favorite to win the East Division.

And Ragin Cajun athletics announced a two-year patnership with Cox Sports Television today. C-S-T will be televising several softball and baseball games this year, including the LSU contest on March 7th.

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade announces reserves Mayan Kiir and Galen Alexander of Breaux Bridge will not play for the Tigers again this season for violating team policies. Wade says Alexander will look to play somewhere else next season, while there’s a chance that the six-foot-nine Kiir will return to the team following the spring semester
cut 17 (19) “…our team”
Wade has also suspended Wayde Sims and Brandon Rachaal for tomorrow night’s game against 18th ranked Tennessee.

Grambling State has won its sixth straight last night as they defeated Mississippi Valley State 92-89 in overtime. Ivy Smith Junior led the way with 26 points. Grambling is now in a three-way tie for second place.

The Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings tonight. New Orleans looking to rebound after a tough loss on Sunday when the Pels squandered a 21 point lead and lost to the Clippers 112 to 103. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

Southeastern Louisiana is set to name Abbeville native Frank Scelfo as the Lions new head football coach. Scelfo graduated from ULM in 1981 and spent eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at Tulane and he was also the O-C at Louisiana Tech from 2007 to 2009.

ESPN has released its 2018 college baseball schedule and LSU is scheduled to appear on ESPN networks 12 times.

UL Lafayette has been picked as the favorite to win the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference in a poll of the league’s coaches. U-T Arlington is picked to finish second, Texas State third and ULM is expected to finish in last place. South Alabama is the preseason favorite to win the East.

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade announces reserve Mayan Kiir and Galen Alexander of Breaux Bridge are on a leave of absence from the program and Alexander has indicated he will not return next season. Wade has also suspended Wayde Sims and Brandon Rachal for Wednesday night’s game against 18th ranked Tennessee…:
Cut 16 (12) “those guys”
Wade says there’s a chance that the six-foot-nine Kiir can return to the team next season.

Southeastern’s next head football coach will be a guy with strong ties to Louisiana. According to multiple media reports, Frank Scelfo will be introduced as the Lions head coach today. Scelfo is a native of Abbeville and graduated from ULM in 1981.

ESPN released its television schedule for the 2018 SEC baseball season Monday afternoon and it includes 12 LSU games. The Tigers debut on the SEC Network on St. Patrick’s Day against the Missouri Tigers at The Box. LSU will make one appearance on ESPN2, three on ESPNU, eight on the SEC Network.

The New Orleans Pelicans stay home to face the Sacramento Kings tonight at 7pm.

Last night in college hoops, Grambling State beat Mississippi Valley State 92-89. The Tigers are now 10-12 overall, and 6-3 Southwest Athletic Conference.

Tonight on the hardwood, McNeese State hosts Sam Houston State.

Recreational fishing and hunting licenses will be unavailable today and tomorrow, as the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries begins their transition to a new sales system. The licenses will not be available for purchase via regular retail vendors until April 2.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri plans on starting the 2018 season by using Zack Hess as a starting pitcher. The sophomore right-hander excelled out of the bullpen last season, but Mainieri believes the flame thrower is best suited to be a starter this year and not the team’s closer…
cut 19 (19) “…starting pitcher”
Mainieri has Hess as his Saturday night starter, while he plans on Caleb Gilbert being the Friday night pitcher. Todd Peterson could be the third starter in the weekend rotation.

Southeastern Lousiaina will reportedly introduce its new head football coach tomorrow. Football Scoop-dot-com reports it will be Frank Scelfo, who is a ULM grad and has previously been an offensive coordinator at Tulane and Louisiana Tech.

The Pelicans blew a 21-point first half lead and lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 112 to 103 in the team’s first game since the season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins. The loss dropped New Orleans into a sixth place tie with Portland in the Western Conference standings. New Orleans hosts Sacramento tomorrow night.

In college basketball, after getting thumped by Auburn 95-70 last Saturday, LSU faces another ranked opponent on Wednesday night. The Tigers visit 18th ranked Tennessee for a 5:30 tip.

The Ragin Cajuns are 19-3, but they are not getting any votes for the Top 25. UL Lafayette begins a three-game road trip on Saturday when they visit ULM.

In the Southland, UNO leads with an 8-2 record, a half-a-game better than Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State. The Privateers host Northwestern State on Wednesday and then Nicholls makes a trip to Lakefront Arena on Saturday.

Tonight Grambling is at Mississippi Valley State.