| We're in the thick of March Madness, and the NCAA tournaments tend to drown out everything else. But when it comes to one of LSU's most-anticipated season openers of all time, news about the game is big, noisy news. LSU on Wednesday released the kickoff time and TV network information on the Tigers' 2024 season opener in Las Vegas against Southern California. Ok, you might say. Big deal. Well, it is because with the SEC likely headed toward expanding to a nine-game conference schedule in 2024 with the early addition of Texas and Oklahoma, plus the fact USC will be joining the Big Ten next year, the game had a little doubt attached to it. Not any more. There is a kickoff time, there is a TV assignment. Roll the dice on this one. Speaking of football scheduling, LSU also announced it is moving a game with Rice from 2024 to 2029, another huge indication that LSU is making room for a ninth SEC game. An SEC schedule format is expected to be announced sometime between now and the SEC Spring Meeting in late May. Back to the Madness. Thursday is practice and news conference day at LSU for the four teams playing NCAA women's first-round games at the PMAC: LSU, Hawaii, Michigan and UNLV. We've got your pregame info on the Tigers and Rainbow Wahine, who play at 4:30 p.m. Friday after Michigan-UNLV at 2. We also have all your first-round info on the NCAA men's tournament, which begins Thursday morning. The very first game of the day is at 11:15 a.m. with Maryland taking on West Virginia in Birmingham. Why is that important, other than the fact that those 8-9 games can make or break your bracket? That's where LSU graduate and Baton Rouge resident Mark Grant will be, directing the telecast for CBS. Grant is the new lead director for the entire NCAA Tournament for CBS, a title that will have him in the truck from now through the Final Four in Houston. How to know which games Mark is directing? If Jim Nantz, who is in his last year calling the NCAA Tournament, is doing play by play, then Grant is in the production truck calling the shots. LSU spring practice is taking a spring break, but Wilson Alexander tells us what to watch for when the Tigers get back at it next week. Well, that's all from me. Got to finish filling out my brackets, which I know will be perfect this year (yeah, right). Enjoy the Madness! Scott Rabalais | 