Chances are slim that the Tigers will make the NCAA tourney this year, but you'll still have office pools and you'll still want to watch the games at work. CBS will again be streaming the early rounds for free online. Last year the service worked very well. Even when alot of people tuned to the same game, there was no noticeablenoticable slowdown. Sign-up started this morning and VIP signup is limited, so get registered now so you'll be ready in March.

Click here to sign up.

VIDEO HERE


Some of you may have missed this while marching to Walk-On's last night. During the Lady Tiger's game against USL, Sylvia Fowles finally did what we all hoped she would. She is now only the 6th know player in the womens college game to dunk. The Lady's finished the night by blasting the Cajuns, 72-37

By: Casey Gisclair

Well, the NBA offseason is for the most part finished, and it's time to label a few winners and losers.

Top-tier names like Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen did change addresses, but the biggest fish (Billups, Bryant, Garnett) did not leave their tank...yet.

The draft also produced a few real big winners and also a huge loser, but for 25-26 of the other teams, we will have to wait until the middle of the season to accurately rate whether the rookie was worth the risk.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the 1st annual Gisclair Awards for NBA Offseason Efficiency:

1. Best Overall Offseason:
Nominees: Rockets, Magic, Celtics, Blazers, Sonics
Winner: Rockets: I am sorry if I am a homer, but the Rockets moved from distant 5th in the West to an "almost there" 4th by getting 2 solid PGs and a serviceable big-man, while only giving up Juwan Howard.

2. Biggest Risk-takers
Nominees: Timberwolves, Lakers, Celtics, Magic
Winner: Celtics: Celtics general manager Danny Ainge sure better hope his team can win instantly, because acquiring aging Ray Allen's fat contract can put the Celtics in serious financial problems for years to come.

3. Best Under the radar move:
Nominees: Grizzlies (Darko) Rockets (Francis) Lakers (Fisher)
Winner: Lakers: All three teams listed above will get huge contributions from the above players, but Fisher is the total professional on and off the court, and his leadership and 3-point presense makes both the Lakers and Kobe Bryant better.

4. Most money for a player people don't appreciate:
Winner: Gerald Wallace: People don't understand that Wallace has finally matched his potential, averaging 18 points and 7 boards last season. Considering Bobcats president Michael Jordan is only spending half of what the Magic spent to get Rashard Lewis, it is a total steal.

5. High Risk, Small Reward Award:
Winner: Sacramento Kings signing C/PF Mikki Moore to an 18 million dollar deal: I like Moore as much as the next guy, but 6 million a season for someone who is 32, and averages 5 points per game for his career is a bit much.

And finally:
Biggest Loser:
Nominees: Hawks, Timberwolves, Suns, Lakers

Each team has lost in it's own right.
The Hawks are a strong loser, because they had a chance to get Amare Stoudamire in a trade, but their owner vetoed it. The Hawks are always a strong nominee for this award every offseason, but they do not win it this year, because I believe Acie Law and Al Horford will both be solid, NBA ready rookies.

The Lakers are losers, because they had chances to get Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, Kevin Garnett and the list goes on-and-on, but refuse to do so, because of Andrew Bynum: the same Andrew Bynum who is only averaging 7 points a game. Sure, the Lakers want him to blossum, but every, single big-man that has dominated in this league came into the league dominating.

The Timberwolves lose, because they had a real chance this offseason to start fresh and build toward the future, but all they seemed to do so far is trade Mike James for a 30-something washed up PF in Juwan Howard. How the Timberwolves can honestly think they can stand-pat with their roster amazes me.

But, the winner: Suns:
The Suns had and still probably have an opportunity to get the best PF the game has ever seen, and that includes Tim Duncan, but they chose to stick with their initial roster, which will never be good enough to defeat the Spurs. Kevin Garnett may still be out there to be had for the Suns, but until a deal is made, the Suns are just becoming an old team that hinges on the continued good health of Amare.

BY: CASEY GISCLAIR

Well, we will begin today's blog with the news that Greg Oden will be the 1st pick of the NBA draft to the Blazers.

Good move? Bad move? I don't know. I do think, however, it is the safe move. I think this season Oden is better, but Durant will have a better career.

I was going to blog about the rest of round 1 of the draft, but geez, it is so wild and unpredictable, that I will save myself the embarassment. I will instead give 5 players I like from 11-30 and 5 I think are overrated.

Hot:
1. Acie Law IV: PG Texas A&M- Law is the most proven player in this entire draft when it comes to big-time pressure moments. If I had to choose who to take the "last shot" in a game, and had this entire draft to pick from, I would go with Law. Atlanta at 11 would be silly to pass on him.

2. Morris Almond: SG Rice- Almond is not polished, he is not "pretty", and he is an unorthodox player, but the kid can score the ball from anywhere on the floor, and Rule No. 1 in the NBA is: "You can't score, you can't play."

3. Jared Dudley: SF Boston College- Dudley gets lost in the world of North Carolina's and Duke's, but the kid was still ACC Player of the Year, and that has to mean something, right?

4. Spencer Hawes: C Washington- LSU fans remember Hawes from the drubbing he gave Glen Davis in December's rout. But Hawes has passing skills far beyond normal for someone his size, as well as a soft jump-shot from 17 feet.

ULTIMATE SLEEPER:
5. DJ Strawberry: SF Maryland- Strawberry had a solid senior season at Maryland, pushing him onto NBA teams' radar. Strawberry can handle NBA pressure, as he has been on the big-stage his whole life being the son of a former MLB player.

Busts:
1. Josh McRoberts: PF Duke- My disdain for Duke is common-place, but McRoberts slept through his entire second season. He has no motor and no drive. He will get dominated by players in the next level.

2. Alando Tucker: SF/PF Wisconsin- Mr. Tucker made a living last season pushing around a weak Big 10 conference. Sorry, Mr. Tucker, 6'5 power forwards don't play much in the NBA.

3. Marc Gasol: C Spain- I honestly have never seen the kid play live, but watching tapes, I am not impressed. The last name "Gasol" may have NBA teams reaching in hopes that he turns out to be like his brother, but I doubt it will ever happen

4. Rodney Stuckey: SG E. Washington- The kid is a proven scorer playing against JV teams, but he scored low on workouts with people of his level, causing me to drop him a little.

5. Aaron Brooks: PG Oregon- I think Brooks can be a solid spark-plug off a bench of a contending team, but he lacks the size to be an everyday player to run a team.

With LSU's 23-point shellacking of UConn and Tennessee's 36-point blowout of Ole Miss, the 2007 Women's Final Four has the makings of a scene all too familiar to both programs. Setup on opposite sides of the bracket, the Vols and Tigers could again meet this season in a high-stakes game, this time for the National Championship. The Tigers are looking very good down the stretch, and Bob Starkey has done a fantastic job as Interim coach keeping the focus on-not off-the court. Though he has publicly said he doesn't want the job, LSU would be making a mistake if they don't try to make this loyal Tiger the head coach. Starkey started at LSU as an Asst. basketball coach with Dale Brown in the 90's and deserves the opportunity to take the lead.

Glen Davis has decided it's time to move on. At a press conference on Wednesday he announced that he has signed with an agent and will enter this years draft, officially ending his LSU career. I think he shoulda stayed another year, but at least he is going to finish out his semester and help the university with NCAA "good standing" requirements. Good luck in the NBA, Big Baby!

"Baton Rouge is not just a place that I went to school and played basketball. It is where I was born and raised. It is where my family is and it will always be in my heart. I will forever be a Tiger. I will always think fondly of my years here. I plan on finishing this school semester. Being at LSU has molded me and changed me into the man that I am today. I believe if I went somewhere else, I would not be the man I am today. With all the adversity I have been through, I feel things happen to you for a reason. I want to give credit to everybody who has molded me into the person I am today. Particularly, coach Brady and the coaching staff who have helped me along the way. They all were a part of the reason I am ready to go."

Big Baby's Final Stats

Year	G-GS	Min/Avg	FG-A	Pct.	3FG-A	Pct	FT-A	Pct	Reb	Avg	F-DQ	A	TO	B	S	Pts/Avg
04-05	30-29	876/29.2	138-269	.513	3-12	.250	127-182	.698	263	8.8	94-2	31	50	41	29	406/13.5
05-06	36-36	1144/31.8	250-505	.495	6-23	.261	163-241	.676	350	9.7	89-1	50	96	41	47	669/18.6
06-07	29-28	1016/35/0	178-368	.484	17-49	.347	139-195	.713	303	10.4	67-1	66	82	28	32	512/17.7
Totals	95-93	3036/32.0	566-1142	.496	26-84	.310	429-618	.694	916	9.6	250-4	147	228	110	108	1587/16.7

Glen Davis’ Career High Games
1. 28 -- Vs. Vanderbilt (SECT), 3/11/06
1. 28 -- Vs. Kentucky, 2/25/06
1. 28 -- Vs. South Carolina, 1/12/05
4. 27 -- At Mississippi State, 2/3/07
4. 27 -- Vs. Southern Miss, 12/28/04
6. 26 -- At Ole Miss, 2/14/07
6. 26 -- Vs. Wright State, 12/27/06
6. 26 -- Vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 11/19/06
6. 26 -- Vs. Texas (NCAAT), 3/25/06
6. 26 -- Vs. Arkansas, 1/19/05

Glen Davis’ Career Highs
Points: 28 three times
Rebounds: 18 twice
Field Goals Made: 12 vs. S. Carolina (1/12/05)
Field Goal Attempts: 20 twice
3 Point Field Goals Made: 3 twice
3 Point Field Goals Att: 5 twice
Free Throws Made: 15 vs. Louisiana Tech, 12/23/06
Free Throws Attempted: 18 vs. Louisiana Tech, 12/23/06
Assists: 6 twice
Blocks: 6 vs. Iona (NCAAT), 3/16/06
Steals: 5 vs. UL-Lafayette, 12/17/05
Minutes Played: 45 vs. Texas, 12/10/06

Source LSUSports.net

From LSUSports.net

"Glen Davis and I met yesterday (Monday) for about an hour and a half. We are going to meet again next Tuesday (March 20) and probably set up a press conference next Wednesday (March 21) at some point that will be announced by the sports information department. Glen is gathering some information. I've called the NBA. I've called some NBA scouts. Glen's also, I think, talking to some people who may or may not represent him which is legal for him to do. He's just trying to get a grip on where he is in the draft and what he's comfortable with. Next Wednesday at some point we're going to sit down and have a press conference. He'll announce his intentions and what his plans are.

"My role in this as it has been for other players that have been here is to gather information for him, present him the facts and be supportive of him in whatever decision he makes."

This is not to surprising, most juniors do contact scouts to see what their draft prospects are. This year's lackluster season has definitely hurt Davis's stock. I expect he will still be with us next season.

The dream stays alive! In a tight over-time game that lasted into the wee hours of this morning, LSU pulled a huge upset against the #22 ranked Vols winning 76-67 . In a bloody, fast paced game, LSU was dogged all night by the Vols full-court press, committing 4 turnovers in the first four minutes, 23 for the game. The game was tied at 64 with less than a minute to go. Temple ran down the court and made a layup, but a HORRIBLE call sent Tenn. to the line where JaJuan Smith missed both shots to send the game to OT. LSU will next face Ole Miss in the last game of the night, scheduled tip 8:45PM

Game Stats

UPDATE 3/08: Pokey has now said she wont coach in the NCAA
Source: LSUSports.net

Wow, didn't see this one coming.

"LSU head women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman issued the following statement on Wednesday:

"I have notified the University today that I will step down as Head Coach of the Women's Basketball program in order to allow me to pursue other career opportunities.

"I will continue to serve as head coach until LSU's participation in the NCAA tournament is concluded.  That will allow this team to successfully enter and compete in the upcoming NCAA tournament.  I will continue on contract until April 30, 2007.

"I appreciate the opportunities afforded me at LSU and the cooperation of the University in allowing me to pursue other career opportunities.

"To eliminate any further distraction from our preparation for and participation in the NCAA tournament, I will have no further comment and answer no questions on this subject.  I hope you will honor that position.

"Thank you."

STATEMENT FROM LSU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SKIP BERTMAN

BATON ROUGE - LSU athletic director Skip Bertman has issued the following statement regarding the resignation of head women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman:

"We respect the decision that Pokey Chatman has made regarding her future career opportunities.  On behalf of LSU, I thank her for her athletic accomplishments as a player and as a coach, and for the community service work she has performed for Baton Rouge and Louisiana.  We wish her success in her future endeavors.

"In the best interests of the LSU women's basketball team as they prepare for post-season competition, I will make no further comment on Coach Chatman's decision"

Source: LSUSports.net

Next years recruiting class is already off to a good start. On Tuesday LSU recieved a verbal commitment from D. J. Wright, a Canadien forward who LSU has been recruting since last year. He had a great season at Toronto Academy Prep School last year, averaging 22.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 65% 3-point shooting, four blocked shots and four steals per game, and was voted the Canadian national player of the year. The 6-foot-7 1/2, 220-pound Wright will join the team in fall '07.

During a strange first round on Wednesday, Tyrus Thomas was picked fourth by Portland. About a hour later he was traded to the Bulls in what many say was a preplanned trade. He is now the 12th Tiger to be picked in the first round.

I wasn't pleased when Tyrus announced he was going pro, but I think this is a great fit for him. Chicago is a young team that did well last year, but they sorely needed a big man. If he adjusts well to the pro game, he could be the last piece the Bulls need to go long in the post season.

Read on LSUSports.net