John Clay’s Sidelines

Video by Jonathan Palmer.

John Calipari said Monday that it made him “sick to his stomach” to watch video of Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt.

Imagine how Crimson Tide coach Anthony Grant must feel.

The loss to Vanderbilt was just one of several tough, tough losses for the hard-luck Crimson Tide, which faces Kentucky at 9 p.m. tonight at Rupp Arena.

Examples:

• On Dec. 12, Alabama led visiting and then fourth-ranked Purdue 24-13 with 6:16 left in the first half, and 46-30 with 17:35 left in the second half. Purdue rallied to win 73-65.

• On Jan. 13, Alabama led Vanderbilt 60-55 with 4:55 remaining, and 62-59 with 2:56 left, and lost 65-64 to the visiting Commodores.

• On Jan. 16 at Arkansas, Alabama led the Razorbacks 34-32 at the half before losing 71-59.

• On Jan. 30, Alabama led host Auburn 57-53 with 2:23 to go, and ended up losing 58-57 to the Tigers.

• On Feb. 4. Alabama led Florida 65-64 with 44 seconds left, and lost 66-65. Inbounding the ball from its own basket in the final seconds, Bama couldn’t get a shot off as Florida batted the pass into the backcourt.

• Last Saturday, Feb. 6, Alabama led host Ole Miss 40-20 at the half, and then by 23 in the second half. The Rebels outscored Bama 54-27 in the second half to take a 74-67 victory.

• Alabama has led at halftime in each of its six SEC losses.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Kenny Colston of the Kentucky Kernel gives a running diary of the UK ticket lottery: “7:25 p.m. - One lone guy is pushing a car down Euclid Avenue while a girl steers inside. 6,000 people watch him. He fakes the turn up Lexington Avenue before stopping. 4 people offer to help, 5,996 keep watching. Eventually, they call a tow truck, a UK athletics member stops traffic on Euclid and four guys He-man the car into the Student Center parking lot. Only at the lottery.”

Jerry Tipton of the H-L writes that DeMarcus Cousins wasn’t a fan favorite in Alabama: ” While repeatedly insisting that playing against home-state Alabama on Tuesday night represents “just another game,” Kentucky forward DeMarcus Cousins acknowledged that many of his fellow Alabamans might be watching with special interest. ‘Probably the whole state,’ he said.”

Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register on Cousins and Bama: “Alabama really never showed Cousins the love deserving of a top in-state prospect, and that thought process seemed to stretch through two different coaching staffs. My understanding is that (unlike what was said on the above interview) the Crimson Tide’s past coaching staff didn’t really recruit Cousins. Obviously, that wasn’t because of talent. Not to put words in others’ mouths, but we can safely conclude it had more to do with attitude than ability.”

Tipton’s notes focus on Alabama’s adversity: “Grant has made defense a priority. The Tide lead the SEC in holding league opponents to an average of 60.1 points and 25.4-percent shooting from three-point range. Alabama also ranks fourth in overall shooting accuracy by SEC opponents (39.6 percent). Only Arkansas (71) and Ole Miss (74) have scored more than 70 points against Alabama.”

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that coming close and Anthony Grant: “Given the fragile mental and physical state of his self-proclaimed ‘undersized and underskilled’ team, bet on more suffering. And hasn’t the man suffered enough? The last three defeats have taken him deeper and deeper into Dante’s inferno. Losing by a point at Auburn in the final seconds. Losing by a point to Florida in the final minute. Losing a big lead at Ole Miss in the second half.”

Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that it doesn’t get any easier for Bama: “Even in the best of times, Alabama would not be favored to beat Kentucky on the road. And these clearly aren’t the best of times. The Crimson Tide has dropped three in a row and is coming off arguably its most disappointing result to date under first-year coach Anthony Grant, blowing a 23-point second-half lead Saturday to fall 74-67 at Ole Miss.”

Here are two videos of John Calipari before Monday’s practice, talking about UK’s tough schedule the rest of the season. Asked if that will help come tournament time, Cal says no, because they are not neutral site games. But then we the media inform Cal that UK in NCAA Tournament games are not neutral site games. Kentucky fans find ways to get tickets.

Continue reading ‘BBL: A trip through the UK student ticket lottery’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Tennessee keeping first place in women’s hoops.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean covers the Lady Vols win over host Vanderbilt.
• Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel writes that the Tennessee men start a big week tonight.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal writes about the Arkansas rebound.
• Seth Emerson of The State offers a mid-season SEC basketball report.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennnessean writes on the scoring spree by Vandy’s Jermaine Beal.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee women hold on to first’

Jay Williams

Former Duke star Jay Williams will be teaming with Rob Stone when ESPNU telecasts the Kentucky-Alabama game on Tuesday night. That makes it a good time to put Jay up for our Media Approval Ratings.

So what say you on Jay, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

Previously: Seth Davis, Greg Anthony, Clark Kellogg, Bill Raftery, Jimmy Dykes, Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale

Before practice today, John Calipari made his case that there is, in fact, parity in the SEC.

Before today’s practice, Kentucky coach John Calipari talks about Alabama’s tough losses, how the Crimson Tide is playing tough defense, and DeMarcus Cousins.

John Calipari on johnclay.bloginky.com from John Clay on Vimeo.