Tuesday: Pelicans Roster Reality
Chrissy Smith • August 4, 2026
Who Has the Most to Prove This Season? Three Pelicans Entering Pivotal Years
NEW ORLEANS -- There’s no doubt that every NBA season brings pressure. For some players, it's about earning a bigger contract. For others, it's about proving they belong in the rotation. And for a select few, it's about changing the direction of an entire franchise.
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a disappointing 26-win season and enter 2026-27 with a new head coach in Jamahl Mosley, but a roster that looks largely the same. The organization is counting on internal growth—not a roster overhaul—to climb back into playoff contention.
That means several players will be under the microscope from opening night.
Here are the three Pelicans with the most to prove this season:
1. Zion Williamson
This one is obvious because no player on the roster faces more scrutiny than Zion Williamson—not because anyone questions his talent, but because everyone knows what he's capable of when he's healthy and fully engaged.
We've seen stretches where Zion looks like one of the most unstoppable players in basketball. He's a nightmare in transition, impossible to keep out of the paint, and one of the league's most efficient scorers around the rim.
The question has never been talent.
If Zion adds in a mid-range jumper and at least one to two three-point attempts every game, as well as embraces Mosley's defensive culture, the Pelicans' outlook changes dramatically.
2. Jeremiah Fears
Rookies usually aren't expected to carry much pressure, but Jeremiah Fears is different. The Pelicans drafted him because they believe he can become a cornerstone of the franchise, so now comes the difficult part.
He needs to adjust better to NBA speed, learn to really guard veteran players, and make smart decisions when game slows down in the fourth quarter. No one expects him to have it figured out day one, so there will be growing pains, but that's perfectly normal.
I don’t’ think success this season will be measured solely by points or assists for him, but it will be measured by growth.
If Fears finishes the year looking even more like the point guard of the future, the season will be considered a success regardless of his stat line.
3. Jamahl Mosley
Yes, I believe coaches belong on this list too.
Mosley arrives in New Orleans with a reputation for building culture, developing young players, and constructing elite defensive teams. But can he unlock a roster that has consistently shown flashes of playoff potential but struggled to put everything together?
I’m OK with the fact that the Pelicans didn't make sweeping offseason changes because what they did change is leadership. That means much of this season's success—or failure—will be tied to whether Mosley can establish a defensive identity, create accountability, and maximize the talent already on the roster.
His fingerprints should be visible from the opening week.
The Bottom Line
The Pelicans don't necessarily need every player to have a career year, but they need their most important people to answer the biggest questions.
If those players can do that, then the conversation around the Pelicans could look very different by next spring. So that's why this season feels less about talent—and more about proving it.
A quick share helps us a lot!
The 1-1 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are back at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Saturday night when they face the 1-1 UAB Blazers. Kickoff is set for 7pm. Saturday’s matchup will break what is currently an even 4-4 all-time series between the Cajuns and Blazers. These two teams last met in Birmingham three years ago in 2023, when Louisiana defeated UAB 41-21 behind a dominant rushing performance. Quarterback Zeon Chriss, who replaced Ben Wooldridge after he suffered a lower-leg injury early in the game, rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jacob Kibodi added 108 yards and another touchdown. Chriss also helped lead the Cajuns to the convincing win with his arm, completing 14-of-20 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Louisiana comes into Saturday after losing 49-30 in Los Angeles last weekend against the 14th-ranked USC Trojans in a game the Trojans controlled for most of the night. The Cajuns, however, managed to stay within reach for a good portion of the game. An interception by Avery Demery on USC’s first drive gave UL great field position, while their first touchdown came in the second quarter following a strong drive that included a 37-yard catch and run by tight end Brock Chappell before Steven Blanco punched it in. The game eventually started to separate, especially as USC’s offense continued finding the end zone. The Trojans scored touchdowns on six of their eight full offensive possessions and finished with 269 passing yards and 206 rushing yards. Louisiana did show some fight late, though. The Cajuns scored touchdowns on both of their fourth-quarter possessions, with Lunch Winfield finishing the night with 303 yards of total offense. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown while adding 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Needless to say, despite the loss, the Cajuns showed a lot of fight against a USC team that has its eyes set on a national championship run. It also helped Louisiana learn a little more about an offense that left week one’s win against Lamar with some question marks, especially through the air. UAB, on the other hand, has had a somewhat similar start to its season. The Blazers opened the year on the road against Illinois, a game that, much like UL against USC, stayed relatively competitive before Illinois began to separate. Despite losing 42-23, UAB actually outgained Illinois in yards by over 80 yards, finished with seven more first downs and held the football for more than 41 minutes compared with less than 19 minutes for Illinois. So how did they lose by 19? Penalties, red-zone struggles and one costly turnover. UAB committed nine penalties for 69 yards and, despite scoring on all five of its red-zone trips, only came away with two touchdowns. Quarterback Ryder Burton also threw a fourth-quarter interception that was returned 59 yards for an Illinois touchdown. The Blazers then returned home to face the ULM Warhawks, and once again, UAB struggled with penalties and finishing drives in plus territory. UAB eventually won 26-20, but had to play catch-up for most of it. UAB trailed 20-10 midway through the third quarter before scoring the game’s final 16 points. They didn’t take their first lead until Ryder Burton connected with EJ Reid for a 43-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. That game was predominantly won through UAB’s rushing attack. The Blazers rushed for 266 yards on 52 carries, led by redshirt junior running back Rod Robinson II with 114 yards on 21 attempts. Braylon McReynolds added 75 yards and a touchdown. Ryder Burton finished 8/16 passing for 115 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Through two games, UAB is averaging 230 rushing yards per game compared with just 167 yards through the air. The Blazers have run the football 100 times while attempting only 47 passes. That should give us a pretty good idea of what Louisiana’s defense can expect Saturday night. Louisiana Looks to Create Consistency on the Ground Without the ground game, UL wouldn’t be where it’s at offensively right now. The Cajuns are averaging 195 rushing yards per game through their first two contests, and a lot of that has come from quarterback Lunch Winfield, who leads the team with 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns. But the bigger story has been the development of a new group of running backs. Darrell Smith and JJ Garner have both been reliable when Louisiana has needed them, while Anthony Reagan Jr. and Steven Blanco have also shown flashes through the first two games. It’s a deep running back room, which is something Coach Michael Desormeaux and his staff should be able to continue taking advantage of as the season progresses. Right now, it’s simply a matter of creating some consistency with that group. Louisiana’s offensive line, for the most part, has done a good job creating room to run, although the Cajuns will be without starting guard Matt Broussard on Saturday as he is in concussion protocol. Sophomore Jakoby Isom, redshirt sophomore Jayce Mitchell, and redshirt junior Andrew Martinez will all be rotated in place of Broussard. With a passing game that, to me, still poses some questions, it will be imperative that Louisiana establishes the run early against UAB. Whether that’s through the running backs or Lunch Winfield, it has to start there. Shutting Down UAB’s Running Game If there is one thing UAB has made clear through two games, it’s that they want to run the football. The Blazers are averaging 230 rushing yards per game and have run the ball on roughly two-thirds of their offensive plays. Quarterback Ryder Burton, meanwhile, has completed 26/47 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has shown that he can move the football through the air when necessary, but UAB’s identity right now is clearly built around the ground game. That means it’ll come down to how well Louisiana’s defensive front and linebackers can handle running back Rod Robinson II and the rest of this Blazers backfield without allowing them to consistently move the chains. Robinson II has shown so far this season that he is willing to play with physicality rather than agility. One thing UAB has done extremely well is stay on the field. The Blazers are converting nearly 59% of their third downs and have averaged more than 36 minutes of possession through two games. That’s a dangerous combination when you’re playing a team that wants to run the football 40 or 50 times. Louisiana has allowed 135 rushing yards per game so far this season, although USC did rush for 206 yards last week. This will be a completely different style of running game compared with what Louisiana saw in Los Angeles, but it’ll still be a very good early test of the Cajuns’ front seven. How prepared Louisiana’s defense is to slow down UAB’s ground game will definitely be one of the biggest questions Saturday night. Cajuns Get a Key Player Back at Wide Receiver Louisiana is expected to get redshirt sophomore wide receiver Landon Strother back on Saturday after he suffered a broken collarbone during fall camp. He is a player the Cajuns had high expectations for throughout the offseason, especially in a wide receiver room that needed to replace several players who either graduated or transferred out. The good news for Louisiana is that some of its younger pass catchers showed significant improvement against USC. Russell Babineaux had a breakout performance with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Brock Chappell added three catches for 47 yards. Now, adding Strother back into the mix gives Winfield another experienced option to work with. Louisiana will still be without Shelton Sampson Jr., Trenton Chaney and tight end Caden Jensen, but getting Strother back is definitely a step in the right direction. With a receiving room that still hasn’t shown much of a consistent outside vertical threat through two games, this could be the perfect opportunity to start opening things up a little more. Keys to the Game Establish the run game early on offense, and show that you can slow down a rushing attack on defense. If the Cajuns can do both of those things, this is a game Louisiana should be able to control. As mentioned earlier, UAB’s rushing attack helped the Blazers mount their comeback against ULM and also allowed them to control possession against Illinois, with 460 rushing yards total. Those are numbers that can wear a defense down. At the same time, the Blazers have also continuously hurt themselves. UAB already has 17 penalties for 136 yards through two games. Even more interesting is they are a perfect 6/6 when it comes to scoring inside the 20, but only two of those six possessions have ended in touchdowns. The other four ended in field goals. So while UAB has proven it can move the football and sustain long drives, finishing them with sixes has been another story. Louisiana needs to force UAB into those same situations Saturday night. Win first and second down, create third-and-long opportunities and force Burton to beat you through the air rather than allowing the Blazers to stay ahead of the chains with their rushing attack. Even a few negative plays would help take away momentum from the Blazers. Offensively, Louisiana needs to establish the running game early, keep the offense on schedule and don’t put Winfield in situations where he’s constantly being asked to convert obvious passing downs. You never want to fall behind, especially against a team that has already proven it can patiently work its way back into a game. Final Prediction: Louisiana 34, UAB 20 I think the biggest difference in this game will come down to how well Louisiana can limit UAB from getting into the red zone, and what happens once the Blazers get there. UAB has scored on all six of its red-zone opportunities so far this season. However, only two have resulted in touchdowns. Louisiana, meanwhile, has done a pretty good job of limiting opponents inside the 20. Lamar only reached the red zone once and resulted in a missed field goal, while USC made four trips last weekend. Louisiana’s opponents are 4-for-5 scoring in the red zone this season, but all four of those scores have been touchdowns. So the key isn’t necessarily Louisiana’s red-zone defense itself. It’s keeping UAB from consistently getting there in the first place. Against a team averaging 230 rushing yards per game and that can convert third downs well, getting the Blazers off the field before those long drives develop will be crucial. I think Lunch Winfield will find himself doing what he does best: creating plays with his legs and rushing for 50-plus yards, while also (hopefully) finding a passing touchdown or two. I also think this would be the perfect time for UL’s offense to start getting its outside receivers more involved. Russell Babineaux gave the short passing game a major boost against USC. Now with Strother back, it should give Winfield another weapon and hopefully a deep threat guy. It would definitely be great to see Strother find the end zone in his first game back. Ultimately, I think Louisiana’s offensive balance and ability to create more explosive plays will be the difference. UAB will move the football and probably put together a few long possessions, but if the Cajuns can limit touchdowns and force the Blazers to settle for field goals or punts, this is one the Cajuns should have. Give me UL to win this one 34-20 as the Cajuns improve to 2-1 before preparing for a trip to Charlotte next weekend as they wrap up non-conference play. I do think the under hits only because UAB's gameplan has shown to be ground-heavy, and the Cajuns don't fall that far behind on that trend.
Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 a.m. CT Bill Snyder Family Stadium ESPN2 Last time the Wave walked into Manhattan they left with a 17-10 win in 2022. K-State got the 34-27 answer in New Orleans in 2024. This one closes the three-game series. Tulane is 1-1 after the Duke punch and a 28-24 home comeback vs South Alabama. Kansas State is 2-0, has not allowed an offensive touchdown, and is a 20.5-point favorite. Can the Green Wave steal one in Manhattan again? Roll Dat Wave Pod w/ @greenwavecolin drops today! Sponsor: @RedshirtLtd http:// Redshirtltd.com CODE: RDW = 10% Off The Best Tulane Lids Around! Tulane Green Wave: Year 1 of the Will Hall era. Ugly 17-3 opener at Duke. Then a messy, necessary 28-24 win at Yulman when Jaylin Lucas ran for 214 and Kadin Semonza hit Destyn Hill from 14 yards with 1:17 left. Semonza is the starter. 25-of-43, 352 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT through two games. Roster reality heading to Manhattan: The Wave still cannot stay on the field. Duke held the ball 36:35 . South Alabama held it 37:40 and went 10-of-16 on third down. Tulane is 13 first downs in a “win.” That will not travel against a better defense. What remains is still Wave culture: Lucas just set an American Conference yards-per-carry record (19.5) on 11 carries. Hill has 9-158-1. Anthony Brown-Stephens and Zycarl Lewis Jr are the next layer that need to start producing. Semonza and Hill need some help. Maybe the TE’s will finally get involved. Johnnie Daniels punched in two short TDs vs USA. Jamauri McClure (foot, I fear this is way more serious then they are letting on) has not played in either game. If he is not ready, Lucas / Turner / Daniels have to carry a road Power-4 defense that has allowed 144 yards per game. Kansas State Wildcats: Year 1 of Collin Klein. He was the OC in that 2022 home loss to Tulane. Asked this week if that still burns: “No doubt.” They are 2-0 after 71-3 vs Nicholls and 34-7 vs Washington State. 105-10 combined. Defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown. Ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (144.0), No. 1 in passing yards allowed (47.5), No. 3 in scoring defense (5.0). Three penalties for 35 yards in two games. Fewest in the country. (Tulane First Test) Offense is physical and complementary: 52.5 points, 523 yards, 7.2 yards per carry, 19-of-27 on third down. K-State is healthier, cleaner, and already has the identity tape they want. Tulane has the 2022 scar on this building and a chip after having to survive South Alabama. Both teams have questions. Only one of them looks like it has answers through two weeks. Kansas State offense vs Tulane defense: Klein and Sean Gleeson want to run first, stay on schedule, and live play-action. This is not a one-read air raid. It is a physical, complementary attack that has rushed for 607 yards on 84 carries through two games. Avery Johnson is the problem. Senior dual-threat. 37-of-55, 391 yards, 6 passing TDs, 2 INTs, plus 101 rushing yards and a score. He will keep it, pull it, and throw on the move. The two picks vs Washington State were stare-downs and along the sideline 10 yds or less. Jaylen Thomas (Wash St) jumped both (1-TD). Do not expect him to gift those again, but he does get stupid with the ball sometimes so Tulane must capitalize. The run committee: Rodney Fields Jr. (Oklahoma State transfer) 206 yards, 2 TDs, including the 75-yard dagger to open the second half vs WSU. Joe Jackson still hits home runs and already has receiving TDs in both games. Jay Harris and Monterrio Elston Jr. have scored on the ground. Depth is real. Size at WR Spot: Josh Manning 6-3/220 (Missouri transfer) is the clear WR1: 13-130-2. Ten catches for 97 vs WSU. Joe Jackson and Brandon White are the YAC layer. Tulane’s 4-2-5 under Tayler Polk / Nate Fuqua just got gashed for 227 rushing yards by Nate Sheppard at Duke, then survived South Alabama’s 182-yard, 37-minute possession game. Third-down defense is the wound. 10-of-16 allowed to USA. Chris Rodgers (left leg) will not play and “may” be done for the year (2nd Opnion). That is a real loss next to Dickson Agu, who just posted 14 tackles. Next Man Up: Makai Williams stepped up in his replacement, made several key stops. Safety Jack Tchienchou is still the defensive leader. Ed Smith IV, Derrick Shepard Jr., Kam Hamilton, and the young ends have to set the edge against Fields/Jackson and keep Johnson from extending. Through 2 games Tulane has 1 sack and 4 TFL, they must improve this number if they want any chance in this game. Would love to see LB Dalton Hughes rush the passer, did very well with that at USA. Kevin Adams III has 21 tackles and is 2nd on the team, Jack with 18. The secondary can hunt if it is third-and-7+. K-State is converting 70% of those. Last time in this building the Wave made K-State scoreless in the second half. That script does not exist if Fields hits the edge on first down and Johnson gets clean play-action. Look for Macho Stevenson to get a bunch of work with the height of K-State WR room. X Factor: Defense, Defense, Defense. Clean tackling, generate pressure, force mistakes that’s the only way! Kansas State defense Vs Tulane Offense: Hall and Russ Callaway will still want to run it and play-action off it. Semonza is not Retzlaff and he is not Johnson. He does not have to throw 40 times. He has to stay on schedule, hit Hill / Brown-Stephens / Lewis when K-State loads the box, and protect the football. The offensive line is the swing unit on the road. Reese Baker is the veteran. The rest of that front is still proving it. Against a Jordan Peterson front that has allowed 47.5 passing yards per game and stuffed two opponents under 200 total yards, early-down protection is everything. The line is improving and played way cleaner. If McClure is still out, Lucas is the feature. 214 yards on 11 carries vs USA is real. It is also 11 touches. He cannot be the entire plan for 60 minutes in Manhattan. Turner and Daniels have to finish drives. Tight ends Dawson Johnson, Vance Bolyard and the F package (Ty Thompson/Gabe Lovorn) have to be involved. They were afterthoughts at Duke and USA. K-State defense last two weeks: No offensive touchdowns allowed. 144 yards per game. 2-of-12 third downs vs Washington State. Gabe Powers leading the linebacker room. Wendell Gregory and Elijah Hill wrecking the edge. Secondary has not been stressed because nobody has stayed on schedule. First Test for them. Peterson is multiple. Four-man, five-man, nickel. They are assignment-sound and the least-penalized team in the country. You will not draw them offside into a free first down. If that front stays gap-sound, Semonza is in obvious passing downs by the middle of the second quarter. That is when this defense lives. If they overpursue Lucas the way USA did, the Wave can steal explosives. Hill already has a 61-yarder and the game-winner. Last year in New Orleans K-State finished 34-27. In 2022 in this building they could not score after halftime. The difference Saturday is whether Tulane can stay ahead of the chains against a front that has not blinked yet. X Factor: Explosive run game + zero turnovers. Anything less and the clock becomes K-State’s friend. Tulane Green Wave @ Kansas State Wildcats: Overall and Three keys to victory for Tulane: On paper this one should not be close. Kansas State’s favor. K-State is 2-0, healthier, cleaner, and already has the run-game and defensive tape they want. They have not allowed an offensive touchdown. They convert 70% of third downs. They have three penalties in two games. Tulane is 1-1, a 20.5-point dog, missing Chris Rodgers, and still waiting on Jamauri McClure. The Wave just needed a last-minute score to survive South Alabama at home. The only reason this is interesting is 2022. This building has seen the Wave win here. Klein has not forgotten it. Hall’s group has to play a complete, complementary, clean road game it has not played yet. Harley Day in Manhattan. 11 a.m. kick. ESPN2. Loud. Three keys for Tulane: 1. Set the edge and make Fields/Jackson earn everything. If Fields hits the 75-yard variant early, Johnson gets free play-action and the Wave defense spends the morning in the middle of the field. Set the edge, tackle in space, force K-State into third-and-7+. That is the only down this secondary can hunt. Generate pressure and force mistakes 2. Let Semonza be efficient without turning it over. He does not have to out-duel Avery Johnson. He has to stay on schedule, take what Peterson gives him, and protect the football. One or two completed drives that end in the end zone change how K-State has to play the rest of the morning. Ball security is non-negotiable on the road as a three-score dog. 3. Win early downs and stay out of obvious passing situations. The reloaded Wave offensive line does not have to dominate. It has to give Semonza a clean pocket on first and second down and create enough push for Lucas / Turner / Daniels / McClure (if healthy) to keep Peterson honest. Third-and-long against this front is where the game gets away. Stay ahead of the chains, convert a couple of third-and-mediums, and you at least give yourself a fourth-quarter chance. Bill Snyder will be loud. Kansas State will have moments. They almost never had to sweat the first two weeks, this is a plus for Tulane if they strike first. Play complementary and clean football, finish in the red zone, tackle, and make Klein remember 2022 for one more Saturday. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X