LSU Sports Insider The Advocate

LSU beat writer Sheldon Mickles and columnist Scott Rabalais join sports editor Perryn Keys to discuss the highlights, lowlights and wildest moments of the 2023-24 season.
We start off with a look back at LSU's top moments from a memorable year. Sheldon picks Jayden Daniels' Heisman Trophy campaign as the top moment of the year, while Rab chooses a different moment for No. 1. 
Rab and Sheldon also discuss some of the uglier moments of the year — among them, LSU football's sloppy defense, LSU baseball's midseason nosedive and all the mini-controversies that surrounded the women's basketball team.
We also run down several other topics — including LSU's drive for one more championship in track and field. Sheldon gives us the lowdown on the best LSU athletes at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon. After that, we take a look ahead to the LSU stars who are likely headed to Paris for the Olympics — including Mondo Duplantis, Sha'Carri Richardson and Hailey Van Lith.
Then it's on to a little fun with a semi-random question: If all things were equal, which college football program is the most attractive in the nation?
Finally, Perryn says thank you to Sheldon, Rab, The Advocate staff and all our readers for 15 great years as he moves on to the next challenge in his life.
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0:00-Intro
4:50-LSU's Greatest Hits 2023-24
27:30-LSU's final push for a national title in track
46:00-Haley Van Lith is headed to Paris
49:00-Which college football program is most attractive?
1:08:00-Perryn's final sign-off

Advocate columnist Scott Rabalais joins sports editor Perryn Keys to discuss the Tigers' thrilling ride in the Chapel Hill regional and their heartbreaking defeat to North Carolina in the winner-take-all game Monday.
We start off with a look back at LSU's turnaround from disaster to the cusp of the super regionals — which the Tigers would have hosted at Alex Box Stadium, thanks to West Virginia's surprise win in the Tucson regional.
Rab also gives some perspective on Will Hellmers' star turn on the mound Monday, followed by Jay Johnson's semi-controversial decision to pull Nate Ackenhausen and keep in Gage Jump for the ninth and 10th innings. (We also discuss LSU's defensive miscuse and the offense, which went quiet after the fourth inning.)
We also run down who's likely to return for 2025, who's leaving and where the Tigers need an upgrade.
Rab then takes some time to discuss Lincoln Riley and USC attempting to duck out of the LSU game in Las Vegas, changes coming to the SEC and other fun and games with modern college athletics. 
Finally, we don't yet know about Livvy Dunne's potential return, but Rab has some other news on some other LSU gymnasts.
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0:00-Intro
5:20-How LSU went from disaster to postseason charge
9:50-A heroic effort by Will Hellmers in the final game
14:00-Should Jay Johnson have stuck with Nate Ackenhausen?
21:12-Is it possible to call this season a successful failure?
26:30-Who's leaving; who's returning; the transfer portal
33:00-Why did Lincoln Riley and USC want out of the LSU game?
40:40-Revenue-sharing and other items from SEC spring meetings
46:00-Full scholarships for baseball ... and teams getting cut?
51:00-News out of the LSU gymnastics program

LSU baseball writer Koki Riley joins sports editor Perryn Keys to discuss the Tigers' draw in the Chapel Hill regional.
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0:00-Intro
3:30-LSU's chances at winning the Chapel Hill regional
7:00-Comparing the resumes of the four teams
13:30-The opening game vs. Wofford's Zac Cowan
25:00-Can the Tigers win their first two games in Chapel Hill?
35:00-Why LSU could be such a tough No. 2 seed
37:30-Why it should be LSU vs. UNC for the regional title

LSU baseball writer Koki Riley checks in from Hoover, Alabama, for a recap of the Tigers' wild ride through the Southeastern Conference tournament — including that crazy catcher's balk on Brady Neal, that thrilling homer by Steven Milam and LSU's second straight win over South Carolina.
Koki starts off by asking simply: Are you not entertained? He recaps LSU's first four wins in the SEC tournament over Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina
We then break down the wild 18-minute exchange during Saturday's semifinal, in which umpires ultimately called a catcher's balk on Neal and also ejected coach Jay Johnson.
Koki then discusses Steven Milam's game-winning home run, the Tigers' win in an ultimate (and ugly) bullpen game and whether they could pull off a similar run in next week's NCAA regionals — wherever they go.
We then discuss Jay Johnson's availability in the SEC championship game and LSU's matchup against Tennessee.
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0:00-Koki Riley recaps LSU's first five days in Hoover
3:50-What happened during that 18-minute break?
6:45-Brady Neal, the catcher's balk, Jay Johnson's ejection
10:20-Jay Johnson: not exactly enthused
15:00-Steven Milam: the smallest guy, the biggest homer
18:00-LSU wins the ultimate bullpen game ... and what a week
20:00-Could LSU pull off a run like this in a regional?
24:00-Jay Johnson is in the dugout Sunday vs. Tennessee
25:00-LSU vs. Tennessee in the championship game

LSU baseball writer Koki Riley joins sports editor Perryn Keys to go over the Tigers' huge weekend sweep of Ole Miss in the regular-season finale and their trip to the Southeastern Conference tournament in Hoover, Alabama.
The guys begin by taking a fresh look at LSU's overall record, the Tigers' RPI ranking and whether they've done enough (yet) to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.
Koki then discusses why LSU's sweep was somewhat surprising; the relative dominance of the Tigers' top two pitchers, Gage Jump and Luke Holman, and the strongest, most complete weekend for LSU's bullpen against Ole Miss.
And then there's Tommy White. Koki breaks down Tanks' 8-for-13 weekend performance, why he's connecting on pitches and why the LSU lineup needed a performance like it had in the finale against Ole Miss.
We then take a look at all those missed opportunitues — against Missouri, Auburn, Alabama, etc. — and how they could still come back to haunt LSU, which is still very much on the NCAA bubble.
Finally, Koki takes a look at LSU's path in the SEC tournament, and just how much is enough to get the Tigers "safely" into the NCAAs.
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0:00-Where do the Tigers stand?
8:00-LSU has beein in this situation before
12:30-Why LSU's sweep was (somewhat) surprising
15:00-Quietly, a great 1-2 punch with Jump and Holman
17:30-The bullpen's most complete performance
24:00-Tommy White: Tanks is blowin' stuff up
23:00-Alex Milazzo and LSU's best defensive players
30:00-Thinking about those missed opportunities
37:00-LSU's path in the SEC tournament

Advocate columnist Scott Rabalais and football writer Wilson Alexander joins sports editor Perryn Keys to go over LSU's new addition at defensive tackle, a fresh look at Brian Kelly's NIL strategy and a potential LSU football game in Ireland.
The guys go through LSU's new addition to the defensive line, Grand Valley State transfer Jay’viar Suggs — who he is, how he became available and how this more or less completes LSU's search for more defensive linemen.
Rab also breaks down why LSU swung and missed with big-name defensive tackles in the transfer portal — and the guys give their 2 cents on whether Kelly's approach to the portal is the right approach. 
We then discuss what LSU might do with its two remaining scholarships and whether certain positions (DB, DE, P) are extreme areas of need.
Finally, Rab details his discussion with Kelly, including the revelation that LSU is looking into playing a neutral-site game in Ireland somewhere in the future.
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0:00-intro
3:50-Tigers add final defensive tackle to lineup
16:00-LSU's current approach to NIL
26:30-Filling the last spots on the roster
32:00-Tigers in Ireland?
38:30-Changes coming to college football