| There were big noises coming from the transfer portal Monday at LSU, both good and bad for the Tigers. First, the good. The LSU men's basketball team picked up a big-time transfer in former UNLV point guard Dedan Thomas, a two-time all-conference selection at his previous school. Then, the bad. Women's forward Sa'Myah Smith surprisingly entered the portal just a day after the Tigers were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by UCLA in the Elite Eight — and no, that's not an April Fool's Day joke. Smith was expected to be a cornerstone for LSU in the low post with Aneesah Morrow completing her eligibility. The LSU men have made two big splashes early, having also picked up center Michael Nwoko. The LSU women will have to make just as big a splash in the post and at point guard in the coming days. Speaking of the LSU women, ESPN lead blowhard Stephen A. Smith was all over LSU coach Kim Mulkey for her sharp comments to a student reporter in Sunday's postgame news conference. Context is everything with Mulkey, and one needs to see the entire exchange as WBRZ's Michael Cauble posted on his X account before judging. If I may editorialize for a moment, the kneejerk Mulkey bashing is beyond old at this point. Turning to baseball, Koki Riley has an update on Tiger pitcher Chase Shores after he got hit near the eye by a bounding ball during Saturday's Mississippi State game. LSU hosts Louisiana Tech at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium. Five LSU gymnasts picked up a total of 14 regular season All-American honors Monday, led by five first- and second-team honors for Tigers' freshman phenom Kailin Chio. It's the first time an LSU freshman has ever been an All-American in the all-around and on vault, beam, bars and floor. The No. 1-seeded Tigers open regional competition at 6 p.m. Thursday at Penn State. Finally, LSU softball coach Beth Torina is none too pleased after her team, which had lost only one game before Sunday, got swept in a doubleheader by South Carolina. The Tigers are at McNeese State at 6 p.m. Tuesday. That's all for now, folks. Try not to fall for any April Fool's gags that cost you serious money, OK? Scott Rabalais | 