John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee turned the tables on Vandy.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that UT showed moxy to stay in SEC race.
• Fellow Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle writes that Vandy lost its Memorial Magic.
• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes that out of the spotlight, Tennessee picks up a win.
• Also in the news-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes on the Vol victory at Vandy.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News writes that Ronald Steele’s once-promising career comes to an end.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss-Alabama is a misery match.
• In The State, Seth Emerson writes on South Carolina’s underrated Dominique Archie.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is trying to stay out of trouble.
• Chip Towers of the AJC reports that Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez may be on his way to Miami.

Breaking and bad news from Tuscaloosa where Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News is reporting that Alabama guard Ronald Steele is apparently giving up basketball.

Beset by injuries, Steele missed all last year after multiple knee surgeries. He had returned this season, but had missed the last two games for what Bama said was foot problems. Now comes the official word that Steele will miss the remainder of his senior season.

Earlier, the Huntsville Times reported that Steele was visiting famed Birmingham surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Here is the official release from Alabama.

Interesting college hoops links on this historic Inauguration Day:

• J. Brady McCollugh of the Kansas City Star reports that Kansas coach Bill Self admits that he greeted recruit John Wall, which could be a violation of NCAA rules.
• Steve Wieberg of USA Today writes that Self has some explaining to do.
• Allen Vaughn of the Springfield News-Leader first broke the Self-Wall story.
• Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski doesn’t think the Raleigh News and Observer appreciates Duke’s success.
• RNO columnist Caulton Tudor writes that in the long run poll numbers don’t mean much.
• ESPN’s Andy Katz on the high school hoops tourney ban.
• Jeff Walker of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports that Pat Knight is rather frustrated with his Texas Tech team.
• SI.com’s Andy Glockner gives his NCAA Tournament seed projections. (Spoiler alert: You won’t like where he has Cats.)
• Thoughts from CBS Sportsline’s Gary Parrish.
• Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Pitt’s win over Syracuse last night.
• Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World writes that Kansas’ pieces may be falling into place.
• Check out Kyle Whelliston’s Mid-Majority blog.

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald heaps praise on ex-UK center Jamal Magloire, who has played well since being picked up by the Miami Heat.

An excerpt:

Magloire, 30, is coming off his best game since he signed a conditional one-year deal last summer. The 6-11 journeyman had a season-high 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes in Sunday’s victory at Oklahoma City.

During the Heat’s seven-game trip, Magloire went from a spot-duty option to the team’s most reliable post player as he split time at center with starter Joel Anthony.

”I’m grateful that coach [Erik Spoelstra] and Dwyane Wade keep putting me in situations to help contribute to the team,” said Magloire, who has averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 16 minutes his past six games. “I told Coach when I got here that I wasn’t going to let him down. I have a lot more in the tank.”

Hat tip to True Hoop.

Jodie Meeks has quite the lead when it comes to scorers in SEC play only. But then a one-game, 54-point explosion has that affect on a scoring race. Here are the top 10 SEC scorers after three games:

College basketball on the tube for Tuesday, Jan. 20:

Surfing the net for UK news:

• Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette writes that Rajon Rondo has gone to the head of the Celtics class, and gets some comments from Rajon on Jodie Meeks’ 54-point performance.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that Kentucky and Auburn tell two different stories at the free throw line.
• Mark Story gives out his mid-season awards.
• A Sea of Blue looks at Kentucky’s fast starts and how it affects the rest of the game.
• The Cat Scratches blog gives a UK basketball practice report.
• Tom Leach says the coaches poll shows a lack of respect for the SEC.
• At the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught writes that Auburn could use a junk defense on Jodie Meeks.
• Vaught also writes that Kentucky’s defense impresses Auburn coach Jeff Lebo.
• And Larry also has a notes package that includes Auburn’s Korvotney Barber saying he almost came to UK.
• Brian Eldridge of Kentucky Sports Report says UK football has a commitment from former Iowa State commitment Ryan Mosby.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, Alex Risen writes that the vacation is over for UK men’s tennis.
• The Arizona Daily Star examines ex-UK coach Tubby Smith as a possibility for the open Arizona job.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• 

  Vandy coach Kevin Stallings took a seat at Rupp.

  Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy-Tennessee doesn’t have the hype this time.

• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes that Memorial Gym won’t help UT offense.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Tennessee expects Vandy to be physical.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida doesn’t want its return to the Top 25 to affect its play.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Gary Laney writes about LSU’s next foe Mississippi State and the Bulldogs’ four-guard lineup.
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Wally Hall writes that Texas coach Rick Barnes is a hit in the land of the Razorbacks.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Mike Herndon reports that ex-Alabama coach Mike Shula is reunited with former pupil John Parker Wilson.
• In the Huntsville Times, Gentry Estes reports on Bama’s newest assistant coach.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Nick Saban is shaking off his staff losses.
• The AJC plays 2009 College Football fact or fiction?

College hoops news:

• In The Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy writes that Louisville rises again.
• Inside the Hall reports that IU is lowering ticket prices to attract more people to watch the awful Hoosiers.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman reports that the ACC isn’t playing second fiddle this season.
• A little old, but who cares when its CBS Sportsline’s Gregg Doyel taking on Bob Knight.
• At SportsIllustrated.com, Kevin Armstrong writes on the evolution of Derrick Favors.
• Just for fun, here’s the AP Top 25 ballot for the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Dustin Dow. (UK at No. 21.)
• Mike Waters of the Syracuse Post-Standard gives his scouting report on tonight’s Syracuse-Pitt matchup.
• Dick “Hoops” Weiss of the New York Daily News on the NBA’s double dribble.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World writes on Mark Turgeon’s return to Kansas tonight, as coach of Texas A&M.

College basketball on the tube for Monday, Jan. 19: