UNO takes on Mount St. Mary tonight in a First Four matchup in the NCAA Tournament. The winner gets to play top-seeded Villanova on Thursday night. Privateers Head Coach Mark Slessinger says the Mountaineers up tempo style is quite different from what the Privateers do…
cut 18 (18) “…can be’
Mount St. Mary’s press is called “Mount Mayhem.” But UNO has been one of the better teams in the country, when it comes to not turning the ball over.

The Pelicans are back in the Smoothie King Center tonight as they host Portland. The Trail Blazers have won nine of the last 11 games played between these two teams. New Orleans enters the contest five games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Saints announced today they’ve signed defensive end Alex Okafor to a one-year contract. Okafor spent the last four seasons with Arizona and racked up 13.5 sacks. And Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler is scheduled to visit with the Saints on Thursday. The 27-year-old is a restricted free agent, but there’s talk the Saints might work out another trade with New England to add one of the better cornerbacks in the league.

In other NFL news…former Dutchtown star running back Eddie Lacy has signed with Seattle. Lacy battled weight issues in Green Bay, but Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll doesn’t seem to mind. The Chiefs have signed former LSU defensive tackle Bennie Logan to a one-year deal. Logan made 51 starts during the past four seasons in Philadelphia. And the Browns have claimed ex Tiger wide reciever James Wright.

In baseball…LSU has a rare meeting with Louisiana College tonight at Box. Southeastern and McNeese look to keep their long winning streaks alive. The Lions have won seven in a row and they are at South Alabama, while the Pokes have won eight straight and they are at 24th ranked Houston.

UNO will play in its first NCAA Tournament game in 21 years when they face Mount St. Mary’s tonight for a 5:30 tip-off on Tru-TV. Head Coach Mark Slessinger is pumped about the national exposure UNO is getting
cut 17 (15) “…part of it”
Mount St. Mary’s is located in Maryland and they won the regular season and tournament titles in the Northeast Conference.

The Saints have reportedly signed edge rusher and outside linebacker Alex Okafor to a one year deal. He’s had 13.5 sacks during his four-year career in Arizona. And Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler will reportedly visit the Saints Thursday. He’s a restricted free-agent so New England can match the Saints offer.

Sixth ranked LSU looks for its fourth straight win when they host Louisiana College tonight at 6:30. This game was added to the schedule last week to make up for last week’s rain out against San Diego. Tiger second baseman Cole Freeman has been named SEC Player of the week and he’s hitting .482 on the season.

Elsewhere…Southeastern Louisiana has won seven straight and they visit South Alabama tonight. McNeese State has won eight in a row and the Pokes are at 24th ranked Houston tonight. Nicholls is at 30th ranked Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech, who is ranked 24th in the coaches poll, hosts Grambling State tonight at J-C Love Field.

In basketball…the Pelicans host Portland tonight, the LSU Lady Tigers are an eight-seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face Cal on Saturday night from Waco, Texas. Louisiana Tech and Tulane women’s basketball teams are in the WNIT. The Lady Techsters will play SMU in Dallas on Friday and the Lady Green Wave will host Texas-Arlington Thursday at 7 PM.

UNO represents Louisiana in the NCAA Tournament tonight as they face Mount St. Mary’s in a First Four contest in Dayton, Ohio. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The LSU women’s basketball team found out Monday evening that they’ll be playing in the Big Dance. The No. 8 seed Lady Tigers will face No. 9 California in the first around of the NCAA Tournament in Waco, Texas on Saturday.

For only the second time in its school history, Louisiana Tech will play in the postseason Women’s NIT.

The Saints are hosting former Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor, according to sources. Okafor played through an injury last season and finished the year with 3 and a half sacks.

Around the diamond, LSU takes on Louisiana College tonight in the Box. The Tigers are now ranked No. 6 by Baseball America. First pitch is 6:30. LSU pitcher Alden Cartwright announced on Twitter Monday that he is ending his playing career. The Senior suffered a complete tear of a ligament outside his elbow last April. LSU Freshman Cole Freeman earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors. For the third time this season, LSU pitcher Jared Poche was among the Collegiate Baseball National Players of the Week.

The Newspaper also named Southeastern third baseman Taylor Schwaner one of its Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week. The Lions take on South Alabama today on the road.

Louisiana Tech hosts a pair of midweek games beginning tonight against Grambling State, then tomorrow against No. 9 UL-Lafayette.

Nicholls State is at Ole Miss and McNeese State is at Houston.

In the NBA, tonight the Pelicans take on the Trail Blazers in the Smoothie King Center.

The UNO men’s basketball team left today for Dayton, Ohio that’s where the Privateers will play Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday in the first game of the NCAA Tournament. If the University of New Orleans wins that game, they’ll play defending national champion and top seeded Villanova on Thursday night in Buffalo, New York.

LSU Athetic Director Joe Alleva will watch the NCAA Tournament closely as he looks for a new coach to lead the Tigers basketball program. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says one of the name’s he’s heard as a top prospect is Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey….
cut 17 (12) “…Northwestern State”
Notre Dame will play Princeton in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

At the Boys Basketball Tournament in Lake Charles, Washington-Marion, Peabody, Lafayette Christian, Zwolle and Atlanta were among the schools who took home championship trophys.

LSU remains either sixth or seventh in the major college baseball polls after sweeping Wichita State this past weekend. The Tigers had lost three of their last four heading into the weekend. But Coach Paul Mainieri shook up the line-up as he moved shortstop Kramer Robertson to lead-off and batted Antoine Duplantis third and it helped the Tigers score 27 runs during the three-game series…
cut 20 (12) “…many runs”
LSU will host Louisiana College on Tuesday and UNO on Wednesday.

Southeastern Louisiana swept three from UNO this past weekend and they are tied for first in the Southland with McNeese. The Cowboys have won eight in a row after sweeping Central Arkansas.

The Cajuns took three from Saint Peter’s this past weekend and they’ll now get ready to play Louisiana Tech in Ruston on Wednesday. Snow postponed the Bulldogs game at Arkansas State yesterday.

March Madness is upon us and as Southland Conference champ UNO was watching the NCAA Selection Show Sunday, they learned quickly that they’ll play in the First Four and will take on fellow play-in candidate Mount St. Mary’s tomorrow. The Privateers are Louisiana’s lone university to make the field of 68.

The coaching search is on for the LSU men’s basketball team and Athletic Director Joe Alleva says he’ll be looking for someone who can put the excitement back into the program. After a couple of less-than-stellar seasons, Johnny Jones was released. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham pegs former LSU assistant and current Nevada head coach Eric Musselman as a top prospect…:
Cut 18 (08) “conference”
He feels that another man on Alleva’s radar is Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, who used to work with the AD at Duke and is a Northwestern State alum.

In the NBA, Anthony Davis dominated as the Pels held on to beat the Hornets, 125-122 on overtime Saturday. New Orleans plays Portland tomorrow.

The sixth ranked LSU baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Wichita State with a 9-2 victory over the Shockers. Left fielder Antoine Duplantis of Lafayette drove in a four runs and freshman Eric Walker pitched six scoreless innings for his second win. Coach Paul Mainieri is pleased with the victory…:
CUT 19 (11) “the weekend”

No. 15 UL-Lafayette shut out St. Peters 4-0 to finish the weekend sweep.

McNeese State has now won eight in a row following a 5-3 victory over Central Arkansas Sunday to complete the Southland Conference sweep.

And Nicholls State needed 10 innings to rally and beat Northwestern State 8-4 and the Colonels take the series.

Southeastern dominated from start to finish over UNO Sunday picking up the 4-2 win.

Grambling took the series from Southern following an 11-2 victory for the Tigers on Sunday.

ULM lost both in a double header Sunday to UAB who swept the Warhawks after a 4-3 game one loss and a 3-2 defeat in game two.

Tulane fell to San Diego 6-2.

The Johnny Jones era is officially over. LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva announced today the five year head coach had been relieved of his duties. Don Molino reports…:
Voicer 2 (24) “…Molino”

The Saints have finally made a move with Brandin Cooks. The wide receiver is off to New England as the Saints made a deal with the Patriots for draft picks. The trade was helped by a move the Saints made on Thursday. New Orleans signed speedster and deep threat Ted Ginn Jr. Sources say the Black and Gold traded Cooks and a 4th round pick to the Pats for a 32nd and 3rd round pick.

College hoops, Louisiana Tech couldn’t overcome a hot shooting Marshall team who who hit 19 three-pointers to get past the Bulldogs, 93-77, on Friday in the C-USA Tournament Semifinals.

ULM struggled to get the offense going on Friday as the Warhawks were unable to come away with the win over Texas State in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Warhawks fell 63-51.

UL-Lafayette came up short against Georgia State, falling 86-76 in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt.

Last night on the diamond, LSU defeated Wichita State 6-1 at Alex Box Stadium in the first of a three game series. Junior right-hander Alex Lange tossed eight innings, allowing just two hits, no runs, and no walks with nine strikeouts.

the 15th-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns shutout Saint Peter’s 10-0 in the series opener at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

ULM fell to UAB, 4-3.

McNeese baseball got a Southland Conference opener victory as the Cowboys propelled over Central Arkansas, 6-3, in 11 innings.

Nicholls State couldn’t overcome Northwestern State and the Colonels were defeated 8-5 in conference action.

Southeastern extended its winning streak to five games topping New Orleans 8-0 to open conference play.

Louisiana Tech Split a double-header at Arkansas State. The Bulldogs got a 19-3 win first. They had a heartbreaking loss to the Red Wolves as they edged Tech 6-5.

The Johnny Jones era is officially over. LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva announced today the five year head coach had been relieved of his duties. Don Molino reports…

Voicer 2 (24) “…Molino”

Louisiana Tech’s run in the Conference USA Tournament ended today with a 93-77 loss to Marshall. Tech will now wait to see if they get invited to postseason tournament.

ULM was eliminated from the Sun Belt Tournament with a 63-51 loss to Texas State. The Warhawks finish 9-24.

The Cajuns will look to advance to the semifinals when they play Georgia State.

The Saints announced today several signings.  Agreeing to three-year deals were wide receiver Ted Ginn  Junior and linebacker AJ Klein. Former Detroit lion guard Larry Warford signed a 4-year contract. The black and gold also confirmed the re-signing of Nick Fairley. And that they have released Jairus Byrd.

LSu begins spring football tomorrow. The Tigers top pass rusher Arden key will not participate in spring practice as he’s away from the football team for undisclosed reasons. ESPN.com David Chang who covers the LSU Tigers says developing additional pass rushers will be a priority during spring football….

Cut 18 (14). “….deserve it”

And tonight LSU baseball begins a three games Series against Wichita State at Alex box Stadium. The Tigers have lost three of their last four.

Free Agency began Thursday in the NFL and the Saints have been making plenty of moves. New Orleans came to terms with two players from NFC South rival Carolina by inking Wide Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and Linebacker A.J. Klein. The team also made a splash in landing one of the top available offensive linemen in Detroit’s Larry Warford. The Black and Gold retained Wide Receiver Willie Snead and agreed to a new deal with Defensive Lineman Nick Fairly. Plus, the Saints are still exploring a possible trade for Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks, according to sources. There are also reports that former Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o is visiting New Orleans today.

It’s no surprise after a dismal season, but sources say that LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones will be fired by Athletic Director Joe Alleva today. The fifth-year coach, who was a member of LSU’s Final Four team in 1981, is the fourth-winningest coach in school history. But this past season was the kicker as the Tigers ended 10-21 overall. Alleva will now look to hire his third men’s hoops coach since coming to LSU in 2008.

Spring football kicks off this weekend for the LSU Tigers. David Ching covers the Tigers for espn.com and says Danny Etling is the clear favorite to be the starter at QB, but it doesn’t hurt to make him fight for the job…:
Cut 16 (14) “for the job”
It’s the first spring practice for new head coach Ed Orgeron, who declared there will be an open competition at starting quarterback.

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team move on to the semi-finals following a convincing 69-57 victory over UAB in the C-USA Tournament. The Bulldogs will face off against Marshall today at 2pm.

In college baseball, UNO opens SLC play facing Southeastern. LSU faces Wichita State in a three game series beginning today in Baton Rouge. ULM is at UAB. UL Lafayette hosts Saint Peters. Louisiana Tech is at Arkansas State. McNeese is at Central Arkansas. Nicholls is at Northwestern State.

The new NFL calendar year officially began at 3 this afternoon and moves are being made all over the place. The Saints have reportedly resigned defensive tackle Nick Fairley to a four year contract worth almost $30 million dollars. Fairley joined New Orleans last season and finished with 6 1/2 sacks and 22 quarterback hits.

The Saints have also added Guard Larry Warford, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and linebacker AJ Klein. There are also reports that former Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o is visiting the Saints tonight.

Still no news about Johnny Jones being released as LSU’s basketball coach. Sources say Athletic Director Joe Alleva and Jones haven’t even spoken nor scheduled a meeting since the loss in the SEC Tournament last night. This is what Jones had to say after the disastrous season ended….:
CUT 30 (09) “for us”
Jones is said to be going to Lake Charles to watch his son play in the high school boy’s basketball tournament Saturday.

Louisiana Tech begins play in the Conference USA Tournament this evening as one of the hottest teams in the league. The Bulldogs will play will play UAB. Bulldogs head coach Eric Konkol says for them to win this tournament, good play will have to start on the defensive end:
Cut 17 (15) “awful lot”
The last time the Dunkin Dogs faced UAB, Tech had to finish with four players because of a benches clearing shoving match.

The Pelicans new center, All-Star Demarcus Cousins, has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for cussing at fans during two different games, according to reports. It happened in the Pels victory over the Lakers on March 5th, then the next night in New Orleans loss to the Jazz. Cousins joined New Orleans last month in a huge trade with Sacramento.

Trade talks are reportedly heating up between the Saints and the Patriots. New England is reportedly considering trading cornerback Malcolm Butler to New Orleans for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. But sideline reporter on the Saints Radio Network, Kristan Garic, is not optimistic Cooks will be dealt….
cut 19 (14) “…get done”
There is a report the Saints might sign free agent wide receiver Ted Ginn Junior and he could be a vertical threat that can replace Cooks.

There’s also a report the Saints will sign linebacker A-J Klein, who has played the last four seasons for the Panthers.

Meanwhile, there are reports former LSU Tiger Andrew Whitworth is set to leave Cincinnati. The three-time Pro Bowler has reportedly agreed to a three-year 15-million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Rams. The 35-year-old has played 11 seasons in Cincinnati.

The LSU men’s basketball team is back in Baton Rouge after it’s disastrous season ended last night with a 79-52 defeat in the SEC Tournament to Mississippi State. Embattled Head Coach Johnny Jones…
cut 30 (09) “…for us”
Jones is expected to be fired soon.

Louisiana Tech faces UAB in the Conference USA Tournament at 5:30. The Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine and head coach Eric Konkol believes his young team can win this tournament and receive an automatic berth into the Big Dance…
cut 16 (17) “…offense”
The last time the Dunkin Dogs faced UAB, Tech had to finish with four players because of a benches clearing shoving match.