More photos » Paul Sancya - AP

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jack Hunt (19) runs from Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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My head is pounding, I'll keep it brief this morning.

That happened, and I still don't believe it. To keep it LSU relevant, Should Indy have won that game, Addai has my vote as MVP.

Men's vs Kentucky went exactly the way you would have expected it to. 81-55 UK. After keeping it tied early, the 'Cats had a 21-0 run in the first half.

The Ladies fought tough in a 3OT marathon, but some very clutch shooting at the end for Ole Miss gave them the victory, 102-101. Graham had LSU's second-ever triple-double and Hightower had 31 points until cramps pulled her out at the end of the game.

The shining note of the weekend, Gym pulled a major upset in knocking off #1 Bama in the PMAC. Susan Jackson set a career-high in the all around. I wish I understood what that meant.

ATTN: LSU is now taking ticket requests for the UNC Season Opener. Also, Holliday had 2 touchdowns in the Texas v. The Nation All-Start Game.

After the break, this weeks Inside LSU Basketball.

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CPM Droppin' the Mad Beatz- PATRICK DENNIS/The Advocate

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The Times-Pic has confirmed from an inside source that TE Coach Don Yanowsky is joining Porter's staff in Memphis.

Despite a last minute surge, Tenn. got out with a win last night 59-54. This team doesn't quit, which is an admirable trait, but we just do not have the talent to compete this year. CTJ is on the verge of having one of the all-time worst seasons in LSU basketball history. The full game replay is after the jump.

Ladies didn't fare much better losing in OT to UGA 49-46 in a game that featured a combined 45 turnovers. The loss drops LSU to 4-5 in conference and 9th place overall.

LSUSports continues it's look back at the career of Rudy Macklin, today focusing on his senior season.

Baseball is only 2 merciful weeks away, and Mainieri was at the BR Rotary Club drumming up support. Snoop Dogg was not in attendance.

This Weekends Action:

Friday

Indoor Track: New York Meet

M Tennis @ Rice

#12 Gym host #1 Bama

Saturday

M Basketball host Kentucky (Macklin retirement, SECnet, 3pm)

Sunday

W Tennis host Texas A&M

W Basketball host Ole Miss (SECnet, 1pm)

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Stanley Roberts looks back on LSU-LMU 20 years ago

Lost in the hustle of signing day yesterday, LSUSports.net released a full game replay of the epic 148-141 OT LSU-Loyola Marymount Game. I have reposted it below the jump. Marvel at a Speedy Shaq, Buckets of 10-K, the old SEC spoke logo, early 90's TV graphics, and LSU Radio as a Hawthorne-only operation.

According to The Advoc,  Houston Bates and Dexter Blackmon, the two commits who didn't sign yesterday, have not signed due to completely opposite academic reasons. Bates was asked to grey shirt, but will instead be a walk-on in the fall so that he can start LSU's Pre-Med program, while Blackmon still needs to qualify academically.

By most accounts, yesterday was a great success. LSU was ranked in the top 10 by all the major outlets. The last minute switches by Copeland and Team EGO, in addition to the sudden bounty of WR prospects really made what was going to be a mid-high range class into on of the best in the nation. And don't forget that LSU has a 7-player head start on one of the most talented classes to ever come out of LA next year. If your looking for analysis of the league as a whole, check out Team Speed Kills' review of the classes. Much like the season, we come in third behind the obvious teams.

Thanks to the new right field bleachers, there will be a good bit of Baseball season tickets up for grabs next Thursday at 8am. $260 a seat isn't bad when you consider that you get 38 games out of it.

In preparation for Rudy Macklin's jersey retirement on Saturday, LSUSports is looking back at his Freshman, Sophmore, and double Junior seasons. Macklin also joined Dale Brown at a very entertaining press conference on Tuesday. It is also posted after the jump.

Tonight's Line-up: #19 Ladies at #14 UGA (6pm Cox Sports); Men host #14 Bruce Pearl's Orange Suit Jacket (Gold Game; 8pm ESPN2)

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Remember those contract extensions/raises? The Board approved them last Friday. "Where will they get the money to pay for them?" You ask. Through increased ticket prices. They tried to soften the blow by dropping the price on near worthless non-BCS game tickets from $45 to $40, but starting this year one SEC game will arbitrarily be designated a "premium game" and the price jumps from $50 to $70. This years designee is the Bama game on Nov. 6. For all the talk in the last year of trying to stem the tide of no shows at the cupcake games, lowering the price might be a good move. The $20 random gut-punch will hurt though (any early guesses for the 2011 schedule? early money is on Florida)

Speaking of coaches with pay raises, The Chief was on Tenn. sports radio last week to talk about Dooley taking over at his Alma Mater. The important quote from the interview:

"Georgia is a great situation, a great job, with a mighty fine head coach,'' Chavis said. "That would have been a good fit. But I haven't done what I came to LSU to do, and I feel a loyalty to this program and our head coach. He hired me when I didn't have a job.''

As mentioned below, yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the record that will never be broken. LSUSports.net has a special essay by Dan Borné, who was covering the game for WAFB at the time. It includes a few old interviews Borné taped with Pete and his father/coach Press Maravich after the game.

Rudy Macklin's jersey will be retired next Saturday during the home game against Kentucky.

Hotard at the Advoc had a great piece yesterday on potential signee Trovon Reed from Thibodaux, who lost his mother to cancer in the March before his senior season.

I've avoided it long enough, the men lost again in Starkvegas on Saturday, 67-51. Taz had 26, Spencer had 9, and that's pretty much it. The one bright spot, if you could call it that, was the play of Daron Populist who went from almost no playing time to 22 minutes worth. If nothing else at least our bad half was in the beginning this time. LSU had only 15 points at halftime.

The Lady Tigers managed to get off the skid and blow away Bama on the road, 78-41. Hightower had a career 6 3-pointers and 29 points. Bama isn't exactly the class of the conference, they haven't beaten LSU since '02.

Baseball was forced indoors because of rain Friday and spent practice in the cages. Rosetta at the Advoc has a nice bit on Blake Dean's transition from outfield/DH to 1st base.

Let's blow through the rest of the spring sports in action: Both tennis teams lost their tourneys, Swimming and Diving won their final matches and head to NCAA postseason. Indoor T&F now has 6 potential (2 guaranteed) qualifiers for NCAA postseason after only 2 meets. Gym lost their meet at Florida, but Susan Jackson won the all-around and will remain the nation's top gymnast for another week.

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LSU's basketball woes continued last night as the Lady Tigers lose their 1st home game to Kentucky in 15 years, 71-62. Despite being tied at the half, and Hightower having a great night going 10-30 for 23 points, Kentucky put together a 17-5 run towards the end that LSU couldn't answer. In more bad news for both basketball teams, a water pipe burst in the still-being-finished basketball practice facility and now all of the floors, including the practice courts, will have to be replaced. This pushes both teams back into the pmac until the middle of march or later.

Baseball starts practice this afternoon as the construction of new right field seats and the installation of the Intimidator at Alex Box continues in preparation of opening day Feb 19th against Centenary. The new section adds 960 seats with backs and may be used for student seating in the future. Also from the report, The SIX national championship flags are being moved to a plaza in front of the stadium where they will fly year round. Meanwhile, the old box is now in it's final days of demolition as it is turned into temporary gravel parking for football season, with more permanent use still being decided.

Despite the loss of two weeks of practice due to the early season start and late semester start, Mainieri says he's already set his lineup and is only worried about deciding on a third weekend starter. LSUSports.net has a nice refresher course on the team and some notes on their summer league activities.

LSU has lost it's 4th recruit in 2 weeks as DT Cassius Marsh has been convinced by the charms of Rick Neuheisel to stay at home and play for the Bruins. Look for LSU too make a serious push for Evangel High DT Brandon Jackson to replace him.

I don't like to go into real news, but the current budget problems at the University deserve a mention. Nearly 300 non-tenured faculty are receiving notices that they may be terminated in the next 12 months. Among them is long time Asst. Director of Bands Roy King, who is often seen directing the PMAC Sports bands. The Band it's self has been warned by the Chancellor’s Office that a cut in personnel may be coming this summer.

This weekend's lineup:

Men's and Women's Tennis being the season with kickoff tournaments in Tallahassee and Los Angeles respectively.

Track and Field continues the Indoor season in Albuquerque.

Gymnastic has 1st road match at Florida tonight.

Swimming and Diving ends their season in Houston.

Men's Basketball at MooU on Saturday (12:30, SECnet)

Lady Tiger Basketball at Bama on Sunday (2:00pm, no tv)

More photos » Chip English - AP

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Big day for recruting as Lache Seastrunk is expected to announce his school choice at 4:15 pm local time. Many sites are predicting him as Oregon bound, but Dandy Don still thinks he will be a Tiger. Don also has a list of the visiting recruits on this final weekend before signing day.

Yesterday SID Michael Bonnette confirmed to The Rev that Scott and LaFell have pulled out of the Senior Bowl. Chuck failed his physical and LaFell has not given a reason.

Softball will start the season ranked 13/18 in the ESPN/USA Today Polls.

LSU has a pair of short phone interviews by Bill Franques talking with Joseph Addai and Marlon Favorite about getting ready for the Super Bowl.

After the break, last weeks Lady Tiger Highlights.

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More photos » Bill Feig - AP

This Week's Starting Five.

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It was a great weekend to be a sports fan in LA, but not if you only like LSU. The men started the weekend with their 5th straight conference loss to Ole Miss. Despite Bo, Taz, and Storm all scoring in double figures, the lack of depth caught up to us again and the Rebels pulled away late. If your looking for an upside, Bo got back into his scoring rhythm with 22 points, and Taz is now the only player in LSU history to rank in the Top 10 in points, rebounds, and assists for their career.

Due to an unfortunate bit of scheduling, what should have been a moment to celebrate one of LSU's all-time best got over shadowed by the most important football game in decades. LSU-UT alone normally draws the biggest crowds of the year, but less than 5000 turned up to honor Augustus's number retirement. The game was a close fight till the Vols exploded with a 13-0 run that lasted till just after 4 minutes to go in the second half. LSU lost 55-43 and are now at .500 in conference. If not for Tennessee's high ranking, the Tigers might be unranked.

The Men's next game is Wednesday at Bama (7pm SECNet syndication) while the Ladies host Kentucky on Thursday (7pm Cox Sports)

One bit of good news on campus this weekend: Thanks to a superior performance against Auburn, LSU's Susan Jackson is the #1 gymnast in the country for the second straight week.

We are getting very close to signing day, and LSU is pulling out all the stops to get another great class. Of particular need is WR where we had no commits until Belle Chasse receiver James Wright gave a verbal after an official visit this past weekend. Also visiting last weekend were Trevon Reed and Jarrett Fobbs. Dandy Don believes we may have gotten both of them to change their minds. Commenter SouthernMan believes that if we do get Reed, Lache Seastrunk will have even more incentive to follow him.

After the break, Last weeks Men's Basketball highlights

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More photos » David J. Phillip - AP

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jack Hunt...er....Devery Henderson pulls down a nine-yard touchdown pass against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Benny Sapp (22) during the second quarter of the NFC Championship NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Congratulations this morning to Devery Henderson, Randall Gay, and all the Saints for their fantastic win in the Dome last night. I think it's safe to say most LSU fans, at least the local ones, are Saints fans too and to go from damn near losing the team to being a game away from winning it all feels so great.

Your regularly schedualed posts will resume later this morning. Till then I recomend you check out SBNation's Saints Blog, Canal Street Chronicles.