John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports on Tennessee’s 80-68 win over Marquette in the SEC/Big East Invitational.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes on the fine play of UT center Wayne Chism.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports on Vandy’s 71-52 blow-by of South Florida.

• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that the SEC isn’t ready to challenge the Big East.

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn has blown its big chance.

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky lists the no-shows at Gene Chizik’s introductory press conference.

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, the new coach at Mississippi State, will coach for the Gators in the BCS title game.

• Also in the Sun, Andreu has Urban Meyer claiming that Florida,  not Notre Dame, is his dream job.

• Joe Person reports for The State that South Carolina’s leading tackler, Emmanuel Cook, will miss the Outback Bowl because of grades.

• Gary Laney writes for the Baton Rouge Advocate that Marcus Thornton has embraced new LSU coach Trent Johnson’s system.

• Terry Wood of the NW Arkansas Times writes that the Razorbacks hoops schedule is about to get interesting.

• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Wally Hall writes that there was no excuse for leaving Tim Tebow off Heisman ballots.