Tigers - 6, Sooners - 2

After putting a cap on a 34-21 regular season record and 16-14 in the Sun Belt, Louisiana baseball has now turned their heads to the Sun Belt Baseball Championship tournament in Montgomery, Alabama. The Cajuns head into this 10-team tournament as the 7-seed, with hopes they can do enough to earn a spot at a regional. Their first game will be a single-elimination matchup against the 10-seed Thundering Herd of Marshall, who finished 23-31 overall and 13-17 in the conference, today at 3pm. Louisiana sealed their spot in the tournament after winning the series against the 20th nationally ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at home this past weekend. Luckily, this helped boost their resume for an NCAA tournament push. The Cajuns now go into the SBC tournament with series wins over four of the top five teams in the Sun Belt (Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, App State, and South Alabama). It also brought the Cajuns RPI up to 40th. While their path to earning a spot in the Field of 64 is not guaranteed, it certainly is not out of reach thanks to the resume they have built throughout the season. The Cajuns won series against three of the current five "Quadrant 1" teams they have played this season (Southern Miss, Coastal, and Arkansas State). Not to mention, Southern Miss was ranked in the top 10 nationally during that weekend series. They also have impressive series wins over "Quadrant 2" Dallas Baptist and App State teams, both of which were on the road. UL finished the season with nine 3-game series wins out of the 14 they played. What has hurt the Cajuns this season though is some of their poor losses, especially halfway into conference play when the team entered a lull and lost three straight conference series. As a result of poor pitching and execution, those losses to Texas State (sweep), ULM (lost two of three), and JMU (lost two of three) eventually set the Cajuns back into a hole that they had to dig out of. Before those losses, the Cajuns were nationally ranked and held an RPI in the top 20. That said, the Cajuns will more than likely need to win some games in the Sun Belt tournament to get the likes of the selection committee to strongly consider them for a regional bid, and it starts today against a tricky Marshall team in a first-round "play-in" style game. The Thundering Herd are not a great baseball team by any stretch, but they are not awful either. With the help of a weak schedule this season, they presented a strong offensive game through the likes of Evan Bottone (hitting .387) and Tyler Kamerer (hitting .323), and Jackson Halter (11 HR, 52 RBI). All of that has come from the help of average pitching from their opponents this season (5.8 opponents ERA). Marshall's pitching itself has presented its fair share of weakness with a 6.14 team ERA, playing a big role in why this team has lost a lot of games. With Marshall's RPI sitting at 179 and presenting a losing record through a weak schedule, a win against Marshall will more than likely be necessary for the Cajuns to keep their regionals hopes alive. UL is just now getting back on the radar for regionals bid, but that is under the assumption that they beat this Marshall team. Given an unusually crowded bubble for the field of 64 this season, a Cajuns loss today would probably drop them well enough to make it hard for the selection committee to consider them for a regional bid. Should the Cajuns defeat Marshall, they will find themselves matched up against Coastal Carolina for the fourth time in the last week. That game would take place on Wednesday at 12:30pm. The winner will play on Thursday afternoon against the winner between App State and Texas State. Since this tournament (outside of the first round) is a double-elimination bracket, the loser will move into the loser's bracket for a chance at redemption. With Louisiana being strongly on the bubble for the field of 64, a win against Coastal in this case would almost certainly guarantee them a seed in the NCAA tournament. It would be the final defining statement for the program who appears to have gotten hot at just the right time following the unusual skid they had halfway through the season. If UL loses to Coastal however, it would not be the end of the world thanks to the double-elimination style bracket, but they would definitely need to find themselves back in a game against a team still in the winner's bracket, which would require two wins in the loser's bracket. For now, the Cajuns will need to focus on their task at hand today, which is to beat the Marshall Thundering Herd and earn the right to play Coastal Carolina tomorrow.

The date was Monday, November 17, 2025. I was sitting in the Baton Rouge airport, ready to depart back home. Keep in mind, this came following the first game without Brian Kelly since 2021 — a game I attended that resulted in a lackluster 23-22 victory over a two-win Arkansas team. As I scrolled through X to kill some time before my flight, I started seeing reports that Lane Kiffin might be on his way to Baton Rouge to meet with LSU officials. I immediately turned to my buddy to show him, thinking to myself, “ What if?” Fast forward two weeks later to November 30th, and Lane Kiffin was officially announced as the head football coach of the LSU Tigers. The college football world was set ablaze. For weeks, it felt like Lane Kiffin and LSU was all anyone wanted to talk about. Every talking head seemed eager to chime in and capitalize — monetarily or otherwise — on the sheer magnitude of the situation. Despite Indiana’s undefeated season, Lane Kiffin to LSU still somehow felt bigger. Since then, Lane and his staff have assembled the number one rated transfer portal class in the country — showing everyone that he meant exactly as he said during his introductory press conference back in December. One of the main reasons Kiffin gave in departing Ole Miss for seemingly greener pastures at LSU was that this place is “ Just Different ,” and he has shown his desire to prove exactly that. Speaking from the heart of a fan, I felt a sigh of relief knowing that better days were ahead. A fresh face, a new regime, and a new era at LSU was set to begin. For most — if not all — of the fanbase, it was time. Time to right the wrongs of the previous regime and get back to winning ways. Something was missing: the attitude, swagger, and culture of LSU’s past. This was something Tiger fans did not feel the previous head coach truly embraced. That is exactly why I, like many others, believe Lane Kiffin is the right man for the job. I think I can speak for most college football fans when I say Brian Kelly was not very well-received in Baton Rouge. He tried very hard with his recruiting dance videos and many other viral disasters, but no one was buying it. Most importantly, Louisiana did not buy it. Everything about it felt forced — forced attempts to embrace the fans, the culture, and the way things are expected to be at LSU. As we now approach the middle of May, I have noticed the intent and effort that Coach Kiffin has been putting in trying to embrace all that comes with being the head man at LSU. With Lane, it all feels effortless. Whether it’s his Instagram stories featuring music from Louisiana hip-hop icons, casually sporting Kobe Bryant Nike sneakers, or meeting with LSU legends of the past; it all feels authentic. As the college football world awaits a primetime showdown on September 5th in Death Valley; the expectations will grow, the chatter will increase, and the butterflies in our stomachs will begin to flutter. A loaded roster, a star-studded coaching staff, and a fanbase desperate to return to the promised land are all looming. This is the chance to restore a proud brand of people, football, and culture to its former glory. All the makings of something special are brewing in the heart of Louisiana. This feels… “Just Different.”  Make sure you follow Rudy Georgetti on X.

Florida - 11, LSU - 1

Florida - 11, LSU - 8

Tulane Green Wave Commit Queens U Transfer Carson Schwieger @CarsonSchwieger 6-9/222 Schwieger is a specialized perimeter shooter and spot-up threat. His calling card is elite three-point shooting on high volume, he ranked among the nation’s top volume 3PT makers while hitting at a 40.9% clip (34th nationally). Most of his shots are catch-and-shoot threes (both open and contested); he has taken virtually no mid-range jumpers all season. He is effective as a stretch 4 in pick-and-pop actions (7/20 on the season) and forces defenses to close out hard, creating driving lanes for teammates. Shooting Mechanics: Quick, repeatable release; comfortable on the move or stationary; good on both contested and uncontested attempts. Finishing/Inside Play: Efficient but low-volume around the rim (56–57% on 2PT attempts, mostly at the rim or in limited post-ups). Not a primary creator or driver, low usage, minimal self-creation, and few assists/turnovers indicate a low-maintenance offensive role. Rebounding: Solid but not dominant (3.1 RPG in 24.5 MPG). Uses his frame and length well on the glass, especially on the defensive end, but is not an elite crash-and-grab guy. Positional rebounding is fine for a stretch 4. Intangibles/Motor/IQ: High feel for the game, low turnover rate, smart off-ball cutter, and team-first player. Physical and competitive; no major red flags in effort or attitude from available reports. Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X #RollWave

Tulane Green Wave Commit Versatile Forward Joah Chappelle 6’8” / 200 lbs Dutchtown HS (5A GA State POY) / Pearl River CC / Georgia State (Hampton/Atlanta, GA) Physical Profile: Long, athletic 6’8” forward with excellent length, mobility, and a high-motor frame. Has grown into his body and added strength since high school, giving him the versatility to play multiple positions on both ends. Elite wingspan and quickness allow him to guard 1-through-5 effectively while crashing the glass and protecting the rim. Explosive in transition and finishes with authority around the basket. Scoring Versatility (Primary Strength): Efficient inside scorer with a rapidly expanding perimeter game. At Pearl River CC, he averaged 16.3 PPG on 53.1% shooting with six double-doubles and multiple 20+ point games (season-high 27). Capable of scoring in the post, attacking off the dribble, and knocking down open threes (improved 37.8% from deep at Georgia State). High-level athlete who finishes through contact and excels in the open floor, lefty with soft touch and developing face-up skills. Playmaking & Basketball IQ: Surprisingly skilled passer for a forward, dished out 3.1 APG at the JUCO level with vision that creates for teammates. High IQ player who reads defenses, makes smart decisions in transition, and elevates those around him. Understands how to use his size and length to manipulate help defense. Defense & Rebounding (Elite Trait): High-motor, blue-collar defender who takes pride in shutting down opponents. Extremely versatile, can guard guards, wings, and bigs with his length and lateral quickness. At Georgia State he led the team in blocks (0.9 BPG) and offensive rebounds while posting strong rebounding numbers (5.3 RPG overall). Instinctive shot-blocker and lob threat on the defensive glass. Never takes a play off. Intangibles & Leadership: Relentless competitor with a championship mentality. Named 5A State Player of the Year at Dutchtown and MACCC Freshman of the Year at Pearl River, proven winner who steps up in big moments. High-character kid with a strong work ethic and family-driven background. Coaches rave about his versatility, toughness, and ability to impact winning on both ends. Overall Traits & Projection: Dynamic, multi-positional forward with elite defensive tools, rebounding prowess, and growing offensive versatility. Tulane lands a high-upside transfer who can immediately anchor the frontcourt with his length, motor, and two-way impact. Projects as a difference-maker in the AAC, a modern forward who can guard, rebound, run the floor, and develop into a primary scoring option. His senior year at Dutchtown and dominant JUCO campaign showed massive growth, and he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X #RollWave