The Pelicans season ended last night a 113-to-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says playing the defending champs in the playoffs was a good measuring stick for the franchise…
cut 8 (12) “…as a franchise”
Now we wait to see if they re-sign the injured DeMarcus Cousins.

The NFL suspends Saints running back Mark Ingram for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says Ingram’s production is tough to replace.
Cut 13 (09) “Mark Ingram”
Ingram is appealing the suspension.

West Monroe native Jerry Stovall will have his jersey retired during a ceremony during a game this fall. Stovall joins an exclusive group of LSU legends who have had their jersey retired. In football, it’s just Billy Cannon and Tommy Casanova. Stoval says it’s a humbling honor, but he didn’t achieve it by himself…
cut 29 (09) “…names on it”
Stovall was known as “Mr. Everything” and finished as a runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1962.

In college baseball…Northwestern State defeated Grambling seven to three last night. Tonight, Grambling hosts Louisiana Tech. It’s the Bulldogs final non-conference game of the season and they blanked Grambling 8-0 on March 6th.

McNeese has won two straight over LSU and the two teams meet again tonight at Alex Box Stadium. Caleb Gilbert is set to start on the mound for the Tigers.

The Pelicans will attempt to keep their season alive tonight when they face Golden State in Oracle Arena down three games to one in their Western Conference Semifinal series. New Orleans did not practice yesterday as Coach Alvin Gentry decided his team needed a day off. The Warriors have won 14 straight home playoff games. Tip off is at 9:30.

In a expected move, the Saints have reportedly released tight end Coby Fleener. He was signed in 2016 to a 36-million dollar contract as a replacement to the traded Jimmy Graham. But it never worked out for Fleener, who caught just 22 passes last season.

Former LSU Tiger Booger McFarland will reportedly serve as a sideline analyst during Monday Night Football broadcasts on ESPN. Joe Tessitore and Jason Witten will be in the booth, while McFarland will give his thoughts from down on the field. He’s been a college football analyst for ESPN since 2014.

The LSU baseball team is off tonight. They will host McNeese tomorrow. The Cowboys have defeated the Tigers the last two seasons. Coach Paul Mainieri said on his radio show last night that Caleb Gilbert will start on the mound. Freshman right-hander Nick Stroz is expected to pitch out of the bullpen. He’s only thrown one inning this season, because of shoulder problems. And infielder Josh Smith is likely out another week as he tries to correct his back problems.

On the baseball diamond tonight, Northwestern State will host Grambling State.

Southeastern’s Corey Gaconi has been named Southland Pitcher of the Week. Gaconi tossed a two-hit shutout Sunday as S-L-U blanked Southland conference lead Sam Houston six to nothing. Southeastern is just 1.5 games back of the first-place Bearkats.

Nicholls Senior catcher Kyle Knauth is the hitter of the week. The Mandeville native had six RBIs in a game against Stephen F Austin and also drove in five runs against Priairie View A-and-M and had 13 RBIs for the week.

No practice today for the Pelicans as Coach Alvin Gentry says the players needed to rest their bodies and minds after a 118-92 loss to Golden State last night. The Warriors have a three games to one lead in the series and can advance to the Western Conference Finals with a win tomorrow night on their home floor. Gentry on his team’s difficult position…
cut 17 (17) “…be over”
The Pelicans have won just three games at Oracle Arena over the last seven years.

The Saints have reportedly released tight end Coby Fleener after two seasons of a five year, 36-million dollar contract. Last year, Fleener caught just 22 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. You knew this was coming after the Saints brought back Benjamin Watson.

With LSU’s NCAA Baseball tournament chances on the bubble, the Tigers fought hard this past weekend and picked up a huge series victory over 4th ranked Arkansas. LSU closed out the series on Sunday with a 7-5 win, much to the delight of Coach Paul Mainieri…
Cut 19 (15) ” coming up”
LSU right-hander AJ Labas was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Labas made his first conference start yesterday and pitched six solid innings against the Razorbacks, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out three.

Southeastern’s Corey Gaconi has been named Southland Pitcher of the Week. Gaconi tossed a two-hit shutout yesterday in S-L-U’s six to nothing win over Southland conference leading Sam Houston State. Southeastern is just 1.5 games back of the first-place Bearkats.

After yesterday’s 118-92 loss to Golden State, the Pelicans now trail the best of seven series with Golden State three games to one. Only eleven NBA teams have been able to come back from that deficit and win a series. Game 4 is tomorrow night and Pelicans Guard Jrue Holiday says they have to play desperate….
cut 18 (13) “…have to be”
New Orleans has to shoot better from three-point territory. They only knocked down four 3s in yesterday’s loss.

The LSU baseball team desperately needed a good weekend after losing seven of nine and the Tigers came through with a series victory over fourth ranked Arkansas. AJ Labas started and tossed six strong innings and Matthew Beck pitched a season high three shutout innings for his first save.

The Ragin Cajuns four-game winning streak ended yesterday with a 10-3 loss to 15th ranked Coastal Carolina. ULM swept a Sun Belt Series for the first time since 2014 by taking three from Georgia State. Louisiana Tech is in third place in Conference USA after dropping a series to Middle Tennessee.

Multiple reports say former LSU Tiger and Winnboro native Booger McFarland will join the Monday Night Football Broadcast crew. He’ll serve as an on field analyst.

Season ticket renewals for LSU football games have only declined one-percent, despite a concern about a dramatic drop in season ticket holders, because of changes with federal tax laws. Fans can no longer deduct the contribution they make that gives them an opportunity to purchase season tickets. Tiger Athletic Foundation President Rick Perry….
cut 14 (09) “…effects”
College football attendence has been on the decline the last four years.

The Pelicans are one game away from elimination from the NBA playoffs after Kevin Durant scored 38 points in Golden State’s 118-92 win over New Orleans to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Warriors started the game on a 20-6 run and Coach Alvin Gentry’s team never fully recovered…
Cut 16 (09) “defensively”
The Pelicans made just four-three pointers. Game 5 is tomorrow night in Oakland.

The LSU baseball team improved its chances of making the NCAA Tournament after taking two of three from Arkansas. The Tigers clinched the series with a 7-5 victory on Sunday…
cut 20 (09) “…today too”
Ruston’s Zach Watson had three hits and drove in two runs.

The Ragin Cajuns four-game winning streak ended yesterday with a 10-3 loss to 15th ranked Coastal Carolina. ULM swept a Sun Belt Series for the first time since 2014 by taking three from Georgia State. Louisiana Tech is in third place in Conference USA after dropping a series to Middle Tennessee. Southeasetern Louisiana won a big series on the road taking two of three from Southland Conference leader Sam Houston.

College football attendance has dropped four straight years nationwide, but LSU officials says they’ve only seen a one percent drop in non-renewals for season tickets this year. Despite not having a 10-win season since 2013, Tiger fans are not giving up their season tickets. Tiger Athletics Foundation President Rick Perry says if anything, tickets are becoming even more sought after.
Cut 13 (07) “last year”

The Pelicans are hoping the home crowd can help them get a victory over Golden State and avoid an 0-3 hole in the best of seven Western Conference semifinal series. It’s a matchup between two of the fastest, most up tempo teams in the league, and some fans are getting worried that it’s impossible to beat Golden State at their own game. Coach Alvin Gentry says no matter what, they are not changing what’s gotten them this far.
Cut 20 (18) “the league”
The game tips off at 7.

Rough game for former LSU standout Ben Simmons last night. Simmons scored just one point and through the first two games of the series, he has 12 turnovers and 13 assists as the 76ers trail two games to none.

LSU enters this weekend on the bubble to make the NCAA Baseball Tournament and there’s just three weeks left in the regular season. The Tigers can boost their RPI with a series victory over 4th ranked Arkansas this weekend. LSU has won 12 of the last 13 SEC regular-season series versus the Hogs. That includes the Rally Possum game two years ago in Baton Rouge. Coach Paul Mainieri says he can’t explain the Tigers success against the Hogs, considering the number of great players that have come through the Razorback program….
cut 17 (19) “….overtime that”
First pitch tonight is at 7 PM.

Other series of note, the Ragin Cajuns host 15th ranked Coastal Carolina, Louisiana Tech hosts Middle Tennessee. First game is at 7 PM tonight.

Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Pelicans and Warriors is tonight inside the Smoothie King Center. Golden State has a two games to nothing lead and the defending champs have taken an alarming lead in the amount of free throws earned in the series, but coach Alvin Gentry says that will not discourage the Pels from continuing to pound the ball inside…
cut 19 (15) “….do it”
Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday did not attempt a single free throw in Game 2’s loss.

It’s also a big weekend of high school baseball quarterfinal as there are best of three series involving most of the classes in division. In Class 5A, 4th seeded Barbe hosts fifth seeded Captian Shreve. In Four-A, 27th seeded Buckeye is still around and they face third seeded DeRidder.

The LSU baseball team can turn its season around, if they can take this weekend’s series versus fourth ranked Arkansas. Coach Paul Mainieri’s team is in a slump, while the Razorbacks are one of the top teams in a loaded SEC
Cut 16 (15) “pitching great”
LSU’s Josh Smith is not expected to play this weekend because of a bad back. Arkansas is also dealing with injuries. Closer Matt Cronin might not be available this weekend and one of Arkansas’ best hitters Carson Shaddy is also banged up.

The Ragin Cajuns host 15th ranked Coastal Carolina this weekend. UL Lafayette has won 14 of its last 18.

Louisiana Tech is in second place in Conference USA and they host Middle Tennessee this weekend. The Blue Raiders are in 10th place.

The Pelicans need to find a way to get a win tonight down 2-0 to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. New Orleans lost the first two games of the series by an average of 14 points, after beating Golden State in the final week of the regular season. Coach Alvin Gentry says this isn’t the same they faced in that contest….
cut 18 (15) “…right now”
New Orleans is hoping to get to the free throw line more in this game. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday never made a trip to the charity stripe in game two.

LSU officials told the Advocate that football season ticket renewals are down only one-percent, despite a nationwide trend of falling attendence across college football.

Georgia Football Coach Kirby Smart has received a new seven-year, 49-million dollar contract.

LSU baseball takes on the first place team in the SEC West when they host Arkansas tonight for the start of a weekend series. The Tigers are 10-11 in the league, while the Razorbacks are 13-8. Sophomore infielder Josh Smith is not expected to play this weekend as he continues to have issues with his back. Blaine Knight starts on the hill for the Hogs, he’s 7-0 on the year.

The Ragin Cajuns get a chance at the best team in the Sun Belt as they host 15th ranked Coastal Carolina for a three game series. Coastal is 17-4 in the Sun Belt, while UL Lafayette is 12-9, a half game back of Little Rock for first place in the West Division. ULM hosts Georgia State.

Louisiana Tech begins a three-game set with Middle Tennessee tonight. The Bulldogs have won seven of their last nine. In six of those victories, they’ve scored in double figures.

In the Southland, all of the Louisiana teams are on the road. Southeastern is at first place Sam Houston.

Grambling is at Texas Southern in a big matchup in the SWAC.

The Pelicans hope home court advantage will help them get back into the series with Golden State as they are down two games to none after losing the first two contests in Oakland. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says they should be able to knock down more shots…
cut 25 (13) “…make shots”
And New Orleans will hopefully get a chance to shoot more free throws. They only shot nine free throws in Game 2, while Golden State had 27 opportunities from the free throw line. Game 3 is tomorrow night.

They are throwing money around in Georgia like it’s going out of style. The Falcons reportedly signed quarterback Matt Ryan to a five-year, 150-million dollar contract extension.

And Georgia Football Coach Kirby Smart has a new seven-year, 49-million dollar contract that keeps him in Athens through the 2024 season.

LSU begins an eight-game homestand tomorrow night against 4th ranked Arkansas. D-1 Baseball-dot-com Kendall Rogers says the Tigers need to finish strong to make an NCAA Regional, but they haven’t been able to play good baseball for long stretches this season….
cut 20 (18) “…has been”
Both D-1 Baseball and Baseball America do not have the Tigers in their NCAA Tournament projections with just three weeks left in the regular season.

Louisiana Tech is back home this weekend to host Middle Tennessee. The Bulldogs are 15-6 in conference action, a game and half behind league leader Southern Miss.

Two of the best teams in the Southland meet in Huntsville as Southeastern Louisiana visits Sam Houston State. The Lions are 2.5 games behind Sam Houston.

Coach Ed Orgeron spoke at the LSU Football Caravan stop at the Touchdown Club of Houston yesterday and Tiger fans in the Longhorn State are also asking about LSU’s quarterback situation. Orgeron says the battle to be the starter is even right now between Myles Brennan, Justin McMillan and Lowell Narcisse
Cut 17 (15) “we’ll see”
Six-foot-six high school quarterback recruit Grant Gunnell was at the caravan event. He heard from Steve Ensminger about what the Tigers offense will look like in 2018.

Former LSU Tiger and free agent Eric Reid still has yet to sign with a team. He’s filed grievance against the league allegeding collusion by the owners. The former 49er joined Colin Kaepernick in not standing for the national anthem.

Golden State Head Coach Steve Kerr says Stephen Curry will be in the starting lineup for tomorrow night’s Game 3 between the Pelicans and Warriors. Curry came off the bench in Game 2, his first action in five weeks, and scored 28 points in 27 minutes. New Orleans is hoping they’ll have a few more trips to the free throw line. The Pelicans were outshot 27-9 from the charity stripe in game two.

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl will be played on Thursday December 27th at 12:30 PM this year. The R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl will be played on Saturday December 15th and kick-off at 8 PM.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has suspended Wossman Head Football Coach Dean Smith for the first four games of this season and the school has been fined 25-hundred dollars for illegal recruiting. Smith has also been placed on administrative probation for one year. The L-H-S-A-A says Smith violated six by-laws by illegal recruiting a student-athlete.