Link Gumbo: 3-15-18

It turns out LSU did, in fact, want to play last night as they beat ULL, 84-76. Duop Reath led the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Brandon Sampson and Skylar Mays both also scored in double figures. LSU was fired up to play after ULL’s head coach Bob MArlin took shots at the program. It got a little chippy during the game and we even saw technical get handed down. Will Wade’s post game presser was one you did not want to miss. Wade was asked about Bob Marlin’s comments, and he sure had a heck of a response. To watch the full clip, click here. LSU will travel to face second-seeded Utah on Monday in the second round of the NIT.

The uh...postgame was...interesting...

“Since they don’t get to play us very often,” Wade said after the game, explaining the reasoning behind his time out, “I thought they should sit there and enjoy it.”

Tiger Rag recapped this gloriousness.

Among the choice cuts...

“There’s this thing called the NCAA nitty gritty sheet. Their RPI is higher than ours,” he said. “They also played the 213th strength of schedule. We had the 54th-ranked strength of schedule.”

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“They take shots at our gym,” Wade said. “By the way, we have an arena, not a gym. They take shots at our arena and stuff like that. That’s just not right. We aren’t scared of anybody. Point blank. Period.”

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“He said I was an overrated midget,” Waters said. He added that he wasn’t sure if that was an on the record comment or not. “That’s what I heard. But I have nothing to say back to them. I’m cool. I’m human. I know words can’t really hurt me. For him to call me that…have fun driving back to wherever you came from.”

ULL coach Bob Marlin (Wade caught him a big one) had an appropriately corn-cobbish response:

“I have no comment about what he said. I don’t really care,” Marlin said. “He can run his program and I’m going to run mine. I’m going to try to do it with class.”

More on the game from The Advocate here and here, plus NOLA.com.

On the baseball field, LSU notched a 9-4 win over South Alabama to move to 12-6 on the year. LSU rode the freshman pitcher AJ Labas to victory after he pitched six shutout innings. Hunter Feduccia got the Tigers on the board in the first with a bases-loaded single that brought home two. As well as his bat, Feduccia’s arm behind has also proven to be a boon to LSU. This was the first time AJ Labas has pitched an extended outing since returning from injury. It looks like Labas should hold down the midweek starting role for now as Ma’khail Hilliard will settle into the third weekend spot.

Now that spring practice is back, so are player interviews. The Advocate got Q&A’s with Texas Tech transfers Braiden Fehoko and Jonathan Giles. Fans and reporters have finally gotten to hear from these two after listening to coaches rave about them since the two arrived on campus. Both of them should play a significant role in 2018. Just a few days ago, Coach O said Fehoko was starting to emerge as one of the leaders. We know how highly coaches and other players think of Giles now that we know he is the new number 7 for the Tigers.

The Advocate also spoke to Lloyd Cushenberry about the battle for the starting center spot. It likely come down to Cushenberry, freshmen Cole Smith, or JUCO transfer Damien Lewis. Garrett Brumfield has also take some reps at center.

LSU RB’s Nick Brossette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are starting spring as the go to guys at RB. This is the first time LSU has had a question at RB in a long time. Including the first time since 1974 that they have no returning back who has scored a TD. Brossette has been waiting his turn after sitting behind two of the best backs to ever play at LSU. When Edwards-Helaire got in occasionally last year, we saw some nice flashes.

Lexie Preissman took home the SEC specialist of the week award after an impressive performance on bars against 24th ranked NC State. LSU won 197.575-196.100. The regular season finale is this Saturday at 4 PM CT time in the PMAC.

On Tuesday night, LSU’s softball team improved to 23-2 with a 7-3 victory at home over Western Kentucky. LSU will head to play the University of Kentucky this weekend.

In #NFLSU news, former Tiger defensive tackle Kyle Williams has re-upped with the Buffalo Bills, where he’s been a multi-time pro-bowler over a 10-plus year pro career — per the Sporting News, it was some advice from former Tiger teammate Andrew Whitworth that spurred the move. The Arizona Cardinals have also released Tyrann Mathieu — NFL.com has this list of some potential landing spots.

Here’s to praying for No. 5 on that list...