Tigers to the top: LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half as the Tigers pulled away for a 70-54 victory over Arkansas in the opening game of the SEC tournament in New Orleans today. Storm Warren scored 14 for LSU (18-13), which had ended its regular season with a three-game skid but rediscovered its offense in time to open the postseason with a convincing victory. Andre Stringer hit three of four 3-pointers and finished with 11 points for the Tigers, who shot 50% (25 of 50), tying their second-highest percentage all season. LSU went 6 of 12 from 3-point range. B.J. Young scored 13 points for Arkansas (18-14), which has lost six of seven and finished with its lowest point total of the season. With the win, LSU gets to take on No. 1 Kentucky at noon Friday. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
Putting their heads together: The NFL Players Association will do its own investigation of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty system and asked the league to help set up interviews with the team’s coaches and front-office staff. “If the facts prove that players voluntarily and willingly participated in conduct that jeopardized health and safety, we will work with them and the league to put in place additional safeguards to prevent this in the future,” the players union says. “Dangerous play and acts on the field by players intended to injure have no place in football. We must do better to ensure that this activity is not a part of our game.” There was no mention of possible punishment for players involved. The Associated Press has the full story here.
Golden glove: Kissimmee, Fla.-based National Pro Fastpitch team USSSA Pride selected LSU senior All-American pitcher Brittany Mack as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NPF College Senior Draft on Wednesday. “First off, I am extremely excited for the chance to play professional softball this summer,” Mack says. “I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and my teammates at LSU. It is such an unbelievable feeling to be honored with the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels in the sport, and I’m hoping that I will be able to contribute to help expand the NPF’s greatness throughout the country. Until then, I have unfinished business at LSU. My heart and my mind are focused on the path towards returning LSU to the Women’s College World Series and winning a national championship.” Read the full story at the LSU athletics website here.
