BATON ROUGE — A judge has temporarily blocked the SEC from punishing LSU if the school puts RJ Luis on its basketball roster.

According to David Fleshman, a temporary restraining order also blocks LSU and the SEC from keeping Luis off the court while the case moves forward. Fleshman described the fight as a broader question about who controls eligibility in college sports.

Fleshman added the NCAA had already been blocked in the case and the SEC announced its own eligibility rules the next day. He argued Luis and his lawyers told the court the SEC was trying to get around that earlier order by controlling who can play in the conference.

"LSU obviously will comply with a court order. I think the question is, will the SEC comply with that order as well, or will they try to put more pressure on LSU through their separate lawsuit or file a different lawsuit," he said.

Fleshman also noted the order does not require LSU to put Luis in a game. He explained the order only stops LSU and the SEC from taking action that would make him ineligible or keep him off the roster.

"That doesn't mean that they actually have to put him in the game. But they cannot take any action, nor can the SEC take any action that renders him ineligible or that prevents him from being on the roster and participating," he said. 

He also called a hearing in a couple of weeks very important and noted a second judge in Baton Rouge District Court would rule on the issues.

Franz Borgardt argued LSU is still tied up in a federal lawsuit in Alabama with the SEC. He added the state court decision appears to clear the way for LSU to roster and play Luis, but a federal ruling could still lead to punishment.

Borghardt warned that removing LSU from the SEC would affect every sport at LSU and put millions of dollars at stake. He predicted LSU will do nothing until the federal case is resolved.

"Every single sport at LSU would be affected by this. We're talking about millions of dollars at stake, economic ramifications, ramifications to athletes and future eligibility, all that stuff. So what in the world is LSU going to do?" he said.

Fleshman also pointed to a separate case involving Jack Pyburn, where a court blocked the SEC and the NCAA from stopping players from playing. He added LSU still decided not to put those players on the roster.