SEC Media Days are underway in Hoover, Alabama, and there’s huge expectations for the LSU Tigers who bring back most of their skill position players, including starting quarterback Brandon Harris. CBS-sports-dot-com’s Dennis Dodd says Harris’ play will likely determine how far LSU goes this season. Dodd says Harris has to be a more accurate passer….
cut 20 (13) “…great things”
LSU’s turn at SEC Media Days is Thursday.

Former LSU baseball star Alex Bregman looks like he’s ready to join the Houston Astros. Bregman was a home run shy of the cycle yesterday as he played for the US Team in the All-Star Futures game in San Diego. Bregman is currently at Triple-A Fresno.

LSU’s Jamal Adams and TreDavious White have been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, which goes to the top defensive back in college football. Louisiana Tech’s Xavier Woods is also a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award. Woods was in on 56 tackles last season and had three interceptions.

In NBA summer league action, the Pelicans lost to Utah 79-72. First round pick Buddy Hield struggled with his shot early, but hit four straight three-pointers in the 4th quarter and finished with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Second round pick Cheick Diallo had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

And New Orleans has reportedly agreed to trade small forward Luke Babbitt to the Miami Heat for a second round pick. It’s a salary cap move for the Pels who are expected in the coming days to officially announce the signing of Solomon Hill to a four-year 58-million dollar contract.

SEC Media days begin today in Hoover, Alabama as this annual event is considered the unofficial kick-off to the football season. Alabama is the defending national champ and they go into this season as a favorite to win the SEC West, but Lyn Scarborough of Lyndy’s Magazine says the Crimson Tide has a question mark at quarterback…:
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Many believe LSU has a good chance to get back to the SEC Championship game. Dennis Dodd of C-B-S-sports-dot-com says after nearly losing his job last year, Coach Les Miles enters this season on the hot seat…:
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We’ll hear from the Tigers on Thursday.

In Las Vegas summer league NBA action, the New Orleans Pelicans fell to the Utah Jazz last night 79-72. Pels star rookie Buddy Hield led all scorers with 21 points, but shot just 7-20 from the field. New Orleans is now 0-2 going into a 9pm game today against Sacramento.

In other Pelicans news, the team reportedly traded veteran small forward Luke Babbitt to the Miami Heat for a top-55 protected draft pick in 2018, and cash considerations. It ends Babbitt’s stay in New Orleans after three seasons. Point Guard Tim Frazier agreed to a two-year $4-million dollar deal with New Orleans, according to sources.

Former LSU star and No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons put on an impressive performance in the Vegas Summer League, but the 76ers are also 0-2 following an 83-70 loss to Chicago Sunday. Simmons hit 7 of 13 shots and scored 18 points against the Bulls.

In the MLB, Astros prospect and former LSU stand-out Alex Bregman shined for Team USA in the All-Star Futures baseball game Sunday in San Diego, but the United States fell to the World 11-3.

The Pelicans rookies will be on display tonight as New Orleans plays its first summer league game of the year when they take on the Lakers at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. First round pick Buddy Hield leads the squad that will also play on Sunday against the Jazz. Second round pick Cheick Diallo will get some valuable playing time during the summer league, after seeing little playing time for the Kansas Jayhawks this past season. You can watch tonight’s game at 9:30 on ESPN.

Former LSU star Aaron Hill will start at third base tonight for the Boston Red Sox. It will be Hill’s first game with the BoSox since he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. The 34-year-old Hill is having a nice season as he’s hitting .283 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports LSU football coach Les Miles received 168-thousand dollars for appearing in Raising Cane’s commercials. The head coach’s total outside income outside from the paycheck that he gets from LSU was 237-thousand dollars in 2015. Coach Paul Mainieri also did well in outside income as he earned 165-thousand dollars, with most of that coming in baseball camps.

LSU and Alabama lead the country for the number of players on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch list, which goes to the nation’s best defensive player in the country. LSU representatives are Jamal Adams, Kendell Beckwith, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and Lewis Neal, who led the team in sacks last season with eight.

Louisiana Tech’s Xavier Woods is also on the Nagurski Watch list. The West Monroe native had 56 tackles and three interceptions last season.

The Red Sox have acquired former LSU star Aaron Hill from the Milwaukee Brewers for a Triple-A right-hander and Double-A infielder. Boston says they were looking for a right-handed hitter infielder that could third base, and that Hill fits that spot and makes them better. Hill is batting .283 with 8 homers, and 29 RBIs in 78 games this season.

The New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Lakers today in the Las Vegas Summer LeAgue opener.

Former Louisiana Tech small forward Jaron Johnson was announced by the NBA Development League as one of 14 members of the Select team which will compete in the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas that tips off today.

Five former LSU athletes took another step on their Road To Rio on Thursday at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials as Rodney Brown advanced to the men’s discus final in the field and Quincy Downing, Jasmin Stowers, Tenaya Jones and Cassandra Tate each advanced to semifinals on the track at Hayward Field.

UL Ragin’ Cajuns track and field student-athletes Morgann Leleux and Alena Hrusoci will look to punch their respective tickets to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games when they each compete in qualifying meets beginning Friday.

A former teacher and assistant basketball coach at Fontainebleau High has been arrested for having sexual relations with a student. Emelie Gunn has more”
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Baton Rouge native Langston Galloway has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. Galloway can play point guard and shooting guard and during his first two seasons in the NBA with New York, the former Christian Life standout averaged nine points and three assists a game.

In other NBA news…former LSU forward Anthony Randolph has signed a two-year deal with Spain Real Madrid. Randolph will have a chance to leave right away, if an NBA team comes calling. The Mavericks had some interest in the veteran.

Former LSU Tiger Ryan Schimpf hit not one but two home runs for the Padres last night as San Diego outslugged Arizona 13-6. Schimpf had 3 RBIs on the night. Schimpf has four homers in the past week and 19 for the season when you combine what’s he done at Triple-A and the Majors.

Louisiana Tech has hired Jerry Zulli (ZOO-lee) as an assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator. Zulli spent last season at Missouri, before that he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Alabama

LSU’s Trent Domingue and Louisiana Tech’s Jonathan Barnes are on the Lou Groza AWard Watch List. Both kickers were semi-finalists last year for this award. Domingue was 13 of 17 on field goals last year and also scored a touchdown in a fake field goal attempt in LSU’s 35-28 victory over Florida. Barnes was 22-of-26 on field goal tries last year.

ESPN is reporting that Baton Rouge native Langston Galloway has agree to terms with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 24-year-old guard averaged 7.6 points in 25 minutes per game last season for the New York Knicks. Galloway was born in the Capitol City and attended Christian Life Academy. The Pelicans open the Vegas Summer league against the Lakers tomorrow night in a game that will be televised by ESPN.

The Saints have signed a veteran defensive end three weeks before the team reports to West Virginia for the start of training camp. Tapp is a 13 year vet that will provide the team with some help with the pass rush. He was a 2nd round pick out of Virginia tech for the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, but has mostly been a back-up in recent years. He played in all 16 games last season for the Detroit Lions and recorded 26 tackles and 2 sacks while forcing 2 fumbles.

LSU is among the teams predicted to reach the 2017 College World Series by Baseball America. In its annual “Eight for Omaha” projection released this week, The Tigers are joined by East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Long Beach State, Oregon State, South Carolina and TCU as the favorites to play in next year’s CWS.

LSU hitting coach Andy Cannizaro reportedly met with officials from his alma mater, Tulane, on Wednesday, regarding their vacant head coaching job. Former Green Wave coach David Pierce was named Texas’ baseball coach on June 29. Current Southeastern coach Matt Riser has also interviewed for the gig.

SEC Media Days get underway on Monday in Birmingham, and LSU Head coach Les Miles and The Tigers will take the stage on Thursday, along with Ole Miss and South Carolina. The Mad Hatter will be joined by running back Leonard Fournette, center Ethan Pocic and defensive back Tre’Davious White. Pocic has been named to the 2016 Rimington Watch List.

There are reports the Pelicans will sign Baton Rouge native and guard Langston Galloway. Galloway spent his first two seasons in the NBA with the Knicks and has averaged nine points a game during his career.

The Saints are in the need of defensive ends and they signed a veteran one today by inking Darryl Tapp to a deal. Tapp played the last two seasons in Detroit and last year he had 26 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Next week, it’s SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama. It’s been announced running back Leonard Fournette, center Ethan Pocic and cornerback Tredavious White will join Les Miles to meet with about a thousand members of the media on Thursday.

LSU hitting coach Andy Cannizaro is reportedly interviewing with his alma mater Tulane about its head coaching vacancy.

Louisiana Tech has hired Jerry Zulli (ZOO-lee) as an assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator. Zulli spent last season at Missouri, before that he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Alabama.

Former Saints cornerback Brandon Browner is under investigation by police in California. They are trying to determine if the veteran football player assaulted his girlfriend’s father. Reports say the woman’s father was at the home because a fight between Browner and his girlfriend spilled into the driveway. Police say the 59-year-old father was thrown to the ground and suffered an injured thumb that did not seek medical attention.

LSU athletes, coaches, and support staff will undergo sexual harassment sensitivity training and awareness classes. Deputy Athletic Director Eddie Nunez says the initial training for the Tigers’ 400 athletes and 250 employees will be led by former Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe’s firm. Nunez says they hope to do this every year and continue to reinforce it….
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The Saints announce they’ve signed defensive end Darryl Tapp and released tight end Jack Tabb. Tapp is a 10-year NFL veteran and played with the Lions last season, where he recorded 26 tackles , two sacks and two forced fumbles. Tapp also played for the Seahawks, Eagles, Redskins and the Lions. New Orleans is in search for bodies that can play at defensive end, as they have a lack of them on its roster.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that linebacker Sione Teuhema has transferred to Southeastern Louisiana. Teuhema played in 20 games for the Tigers and recorded two sacks.

For the second consecutive season, LSU senior center Ethan Pocic has earned a spot on the Rimington Trophy Fall Watch. Pocic was a second-team all-selection a year ago and led the team in knock down blocks last year.

Two former Louisiana college baseball players have been named to the All-Star game. Will Harris, who helped the LSU Tigers, reach the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, has been named to the American League All-Star team. Harris has been outstanding out of the pen for the Astros as he’s recorded an ERA of 0.74 in 36 relief appearances.

And Former Ragin Cajuns star Jonathan Lucroy is a National League All-Star for a second time. Lucroy will represent the Milwaukee Brewers. The catcher is hitting .296 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.

LSU student-athletes, coaches, and support staff will undergo sexual harassment sensitivity training and awareness classes. Deputy Athletic Director Eddie Nunez says their classes will be very broad and address everything from human relations risks to prevention of harassment and abuse….
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Nunez says everyone in the athletic department will attend these classes throughout the year.

Tulane will reportedly interview LSU hitting coach Andy Cannizaro and Southeastern Louisiana head coach Matt Riser as the Green Wave look for a new baseball coach. Cannizaro has spent two seasons at LSU and also played at Tulane, where he was named an all-american on two occassions. Riser has been the head coach of the Lions for the last three seasons and also played at Tulane.

Former LSU Tiger Will Harris has made the American League All-Star team. Harris has been sensational out of the bullpen for the surging Houston Astros. He’s posted a 0.74 ERA in 36 relief appearances and has eight saves. Former Ragin Cajuns standout Jonathan Lucroy has been named to the National League All-Star team for a second time. After a down season in 2015, Lucroy has bounced back to hit .296 in his seventh season in the big leagues. The Major League All-Star game is Tuesday July 12th.

LSU athletes, coaches, and support staff will undergo sexual harassment sensitivity training and awareness classes. Deputy Athletic Director Eddie Nunez says they are increasing their efforts on this topic after troubling reports of sexual assaults involving athletes at other schools….
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Nunez says the classes will address everything from human relations risks to prevention of harassment and abuse.

Saints Safety Roman Harper told a Charlotte TV station he can’t wait to face his old team again. Harper spent the last two seasons with the Panthers, helping Carolina reach the Super Bowl last season. He says the thrash talk has already started. The Black and Gold host the NFC Champs on October 16th and travel to Carolina for a Thursday night game on November 17th.

It’s award watch list season. LSU junior running back Leonard Fournette was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, which goes to the College Player of the Year. It’s a second straight year Fournette has appeared on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list after he rushed for 1,953 yards and a school record 22 touchdowns as a sophomore.

UL Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire is also on the Maxwell Award Watch List after he rushed for over one-thousand yards and 13 touchdowns last season. McGuire also caught 34 passes for three TDs.

Also, LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith, senior cornerback Tre’Davious White and junior safety Jamal Adams were all named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch list. The Bednarik Award goes to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Beckwith was a semifinalist last year after finishing second on the team in tackles.

Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin says USC guard Malik Marquetti will transfer to UL Lafayette and be eligible to play the 2017-18 season. The Compton, California native was a team captain for the Trojans team that made the NCAA Tournament this past season. He appeared in 27 games and averaged two points a contest.

Nick Phillips has been named the new director of athletic media relations at ULM. Phillips comes to Monroe after holding a similar position at UNC Asheville. He’s also a former Sports Information Director at LSU-Eunice.