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SALT LAKE CITY -- If one play was indicative of the Hornets' struggles in Wednesday night's 116-90 loss to Utah, it came with 2:32 remaining in the third quarter.

Chris Paul executed the alley-oop pick-and-roll to perfection as Tyson Chandler zoomed skyward to catch the pass, received it with two hands and slammed it down.

The ball bounced wildly off the rim.

The Saints will begin their search for a new defensive coordinator with one of the most coveted candidates on the market, Gregg Williams, according to a league source.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- We'll get into a little later the wisdom, or lack thereof, of pulling on Superman's cape, poking him in the eye and kicking him in the shin before playing for the BCS national championship.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - Led by 27 points from forward Paul Millsap, Utah destroyed the New Orleans Hornets 116-90 here Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena.

Chris Paul led the Hornets with 26 points.

Hornets starters sat out the entire fourth quarter.

The Hornets finished 2-2 on their four-game West-Coast road swing and return home Friday night to host the Los Angeles Clippers.

In every job, there are things you like to do and things you have to do.

Sean Payton did the latter on Wednesday.

The Saints head coach didn't want to fire defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs.

But he had to.

There was no other option.

FIRST RACE
CHOICES: 1. Sara Bon Adeau. 2. Zarbs Blazing Wish. 3. One More Fapiano.
FORTUS FORECAST: Sara Bon Adeau finished fourth against somewhat tougher $5,000 claimers in her second start since July and might prevail in a confusing competition. Zarbs Blazing Wish takes a sharp drop in class in her third start after a layoff. One More Fapiano finished third against similar runners 10 days ago.

BATON ROUGE - LSU has hired Ron Cooper from South Carolina as its new secondary coach, Tigers head coach Les Miles confirmed Wednesday.

There's no need to apologize, though some people seem to feel that Bob Stoops owes one.

Yes, his Oklahoma Sooners have lost four consecutive BCS bowl games entering the BCS National Championship Game against Florida on Thursday night in Miami. Yes, embarrassing blowouts (48-28 to West Virginia in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, 55-19 to USC in the 2005 Orange Bowl), a shocking upset (43-42 to Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl) and a title-game collapse (21-14 to LSU in the 2004 Sugar Bowl) have given the impression that if there's a way lose a BCS game, Oklahoma will find it.

AP Photo / Danny MoloshokDavid West was huge for the Hornets in their upset road win.

The New Orleans Hornets made a major statement Tuesday night, taking down the Lakers in Los Angeles (and ending the Lakers' home winning streak in the process). But perhaps even more impressive than that were David West's 40 points.

West has been somewhat maligned this season, and with good reason as his numbers and overall game have taken a dip from his All-Star season of a year ago.

But did West's huge outing last night signal a return to dominance for him? Will he now revert back to the form that led the Hornets to their best season in franchise history a year ago?

Vote after the jump and let us know what you think!

The Associated PressFlorida Coach Urban Meyer and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops check out the trophy that goes to the winner of Thursday's game.

It is Sad Day Eve for college football fans, with the final game of the season happening tonight.

Then again, we might be headed for the first day of a little fun.

When Florida and Oklahoma play in the Bowl Championship Series title game to find a champion, it won't guarantee that that team will be the only champion.

With Southern California having one loss and Utah being undefeated and both teams had dominating wins in their respective bowls, we could be in for a split champion for the first time since 2003. And, well, local folks remember that one.

So with that in mind, let's chat. Times-Picayune columnist John DeShazier is in Miami to cover the BCS championship game and will take your questions beginning at 6 p.m.

The Associated PressDavid West had 40 points against the Lakers in a big win for the Hornets

LOS ANGELES - In a building where there were star-sightings with every turn of the head, it was the quietest superstar in the NBA who left the Hollywood glitterati shaking their heads as they departed the Staples Center Tuesday night.

Humbled twice on their own home floor by the Western Conference pacesetters, the New Orleans Hornets needed a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers here to reestablish themselves among the league's upper echelon.

And Hornets forward David West took it almost upon himself to make the difference.

West tied his career high with 40 points and added 11 rebounds, while his All-Star counterpart Chris Paul scored 32 points to go along with 15 assists as the Hornets whipped the Lakers 116-105.

Michael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneReggie Bush had difficulties with his left knee for the past two seasons.

Reggie Bush's knee surgery was more serious than the Saints initially indicated last month, but General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team still expects the running back to be ready for minicamp in early June.

Loomis said Bush had a microfracture procedure performed on his left knee after he was placed on injured reserve in mid-December. Bush's injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn't usually require surgery, but Coach Sean Payton indicated last week that Bush had an arthroscopic procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

Loomis did not give details about the surgery, but he said it was not a "major" procedure.

Michael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneDrew Brees was selected the NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday by the Associated Press.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees admitted he was "a little shocked" when he found out Tuesday morning he was chosen the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, especially after he hadn't received a vote for the league MVP award last week.

But that's the way Associated Press voters decided to solve the conundrum of Brees' prolific 2008 season, during which he became the second quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards, though his team missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

LOS ANGELES - David West scored 40 points while Chris Paul added 32 as the New Orleans Hornets held off a 3-point scoring barrage by Kobe Bryant to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-105 here Tuesday night in Staples Center.

Bryant was 6 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line and had 20 points in the third quarter. He finished the game with 39.

West's point total tied his career high. He also had 11 rebounds.

Tulane will meet Brigham Young in a nationally televised game Sept. 12 in the Superdome, it was announced Tuesday.

The Green Wave originally was scheduled to play host to Alabama on that date, but ESPN put together a game between the Crimson Tide and Virginia Tech in Atlanta on Sept. 5 with the agreement to find a replacement game for Tulane that it would air either on ESPN or ESPN2.

Jay Pittman

The Brother Martin football program received an unexpected shakeup on Tuesday.

Scott Threlkeld/The Times-PicayunePierre Thomas got his name in the record books this season.

I've spent the past few days reviewing the final statistics from the Saints' 2008 season.

There were some interesting numbers. Not surprisingly, most of the good ones were on the offensive side of the ball.

I'll extrapolate the numbers and make some deductions in a column in the Times-Picayune this weekend, but until then here are some of the highlights.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- I know, I know.

When teams advance to the BCS National Championship Game, the verbal offerings and exchanges are supposed to overflow with players having class and showing respect and biting their tongues even when they're sick and tired of hearing about the other guy, even when they know they can't stand his guts because they think he's a touch overrated.

Tulane freshman guard Kendall Timmons will miss Wednesday's Conference USA opener at East Carolina because of a lingering rib cartilage injury.

"Kendall started out trying to play through the pain, but it's flared up again," Green Wave Coach Dave Dickerson said. "We really don't know when he will be back."

With the news that the University of New Orleans is considering eliminating athletics from its operating budget, the question must inevitably be asked -- Is this a good move for the University?

Certainly it can't be good news for sports enthusiasts in the community, and it's even worse news for supporters of the Privateers in competition. But what does it mean for the school?

Would it be the right call? Or could it end up hurting more than helping?

Vote after the jump and let us know what you think!

Rusty Costanza, The Times-PicayuneDrew Brees was named AP offensive player of the year.

Drew Brees' prolific passing season earned him the Associated Press' 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday. The Saints quarterback received 22 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the league.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who won the league MVP award last week, tied with Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson for second place with nine votes apiece.

"It's a tremendous honor," said Brees, who became just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards this season.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneBesides NBA MVP Kobe Bryant, the Lakers boast an imposing front line and starter-quality talent coming off the bench.

Again it's those arrogant, talented guys bearing uniforms with an incongruous nickname, the club most Western Conference opponents love to dislike.

For the hoping-to-contend Hornets, tonight's game at the Staples Center against the conference-leading Lakers, named when the team resided in Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, provides the third test this season against the best not only in the West but, arguably, in the NBA.

Indygo Mountain is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered Monday for the Lecomte on Saturday at the Fair Grounds. Bret Calhoun trains Indygo Mountain, who hasn't raced since winning a mile maiden race at Churchill Downs by 6 ¼ lengths Nov. 19 in his second start. He was warming up to run in an allowance race Dec. 18 at the Fair Grounds but was scratched because of an apparent hoof problem.

The Lecomte is the first two-turn stakes prep for the Louisiana Derby. Here's the Lecomte field in post position order with morning line: Friesan Fire (5-1), Au Moon (8-1), Citizen (20-1), Patena (4-1), Big Push (8-1), Dynamic Force (10-1), Professor Z (6-1), Uno Mas (5-1) and Indygo Mountain (3-1).

BATON ROUGE - At last confirming what had long since been known, LSU Coach Les Miles announced Monday he has hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis for the same job with the Tigers.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although it is believed to be for at least $500,000 a year -- and Miles noted he prefers hiring assistants to multi-year contracts. Chavis, 52, was out on the recruiting trail and could not be reached for comment.

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Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneKobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers have beaten Chris Paul and his New Orleans Hornets twice this season. Paul and Co. will try again Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Hornets fans, the team is off to a .500 start on its West Coast road trip with two big games coming up against the Los Angeles Lakers (Tuesday) and the Utah Jazz (Wednesday).

The team hasn't looked good in two games against the Lakers earlier this season. So, this is an important game.

So, you know what that means, let's chat.

Hornets beat reporter Jimmy Smith will talk Hornets with you at 11:30 a.m

BATON ROUGE - While considerable uncertainty continues to surround the matter, LSU is expected to hold a press conference or make an announcement later today about new defensive coaches for its football team.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneHornets forward Sean Marks says rugby is the national pastime in his native New Zealand, but he fell in love with basketball 'because of the athleticism and showmanship.'

He emerged from the outback and is a class of one, the only man from New Zealand to play in the NBA, all because of a 30-minute, once-weekly highlight show that brought the athletic spectacle of pro basketball to his television set.

The Hornets' Sean Marks was drawn in by 1980s superstars such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which caused him to eschew the scrums of his country's national sport for one with more grace and less grit.

FIRST RACE

CHOICES: 1. Talon. 2. Troutdale. 3. Satyrs.

FORTUS FORECAST: Talon, who rallied past $25,000 maidens in his Fair Grounds debut, takes a logical step to $15,000 non-winners-of-two. Troutdale, who showed little in a two-turn race against $25,000 non-winners-of-two, cut back to the distance at which he defeated $15,000 maidens at Churchill Downs. Satyrs drops to his lowest level.

After settling close behind the early pace-setters, long shot Leestown Legacy made a strong stretch run and stormed between Willtosucceed and Pantara Phantom in the final yards to win a $48,000 allowance race for older Louisiana-breds Sunday at the Fair Grounds by a neck. James Graham rode Leestown Legacy for trainer James "Sweet'' Hodges and owner Phyllis Hodges, the trainer's wife.

Leestown Legacy ran a mile in 1:40.19 and paid $34.80. Willtosucceed finished second, a half-length in front of Pantara Phantom.

The list of potential NFL free agents has the star power to cause Saints fans to tremble with anticipation, visions of the Dome Patrol dancing in their heads.

Albert Haynesworth.

Julius Peppers.

Ray Lewis.

Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi Asomugha.

Terrell Suggs.

David Zalubowski, The Associated PressKenyon Martin looks for a shot against the Hornets' Hilton Armstrong.

DENVER -- Inserted in the starting lineup to replace suspended starter Tyson Chandler, Hilton Armstrong spoke before Saturday's game about the important of coming out aggressive.

After the opening six minutes against the Nuggets, Armstrong had 11 points. During a stretch, he scored on four consecutive possessions in the first quarter.

If only his teammates would have followed his lead and came out attacking as he did instead of waiting until the midway point of the third quarter.

DENVER -- After trailing by a 26-point deficit, the Hornets mounted a fourth-quarter rally that caused them to take a 100-99 lead after a 3-pointer by James Posey with 1:10 remaining, but the Denver Nuggets prevailed 105-100 in front of a sellout crowd of 19,614 at the Pepsi Center.

BATON ROUGE - Marcus Thornton hit a season-high 33 points and Tasmin Mitchell added 24 as LSU blew out Southeastern Louisiana with a strong second half, 90-61, at nthe Maravich Assembly Center Saturday night.