John Clay's Sidelines

Here’s where the computers put the Cats:

• Real Time RPI has Kentucky in its No. 64 No. 65 slot. Niagara is at No. 61, followed by Nebraska, Rhode Island, UK, Western Kentucky and Miami of Ohio. Tennessee is 18th, but think that was before the Vols lost at Ole Miss last night. UK’s schedule is the 80th toughest in the nation, according to the RPI. Tennessee now 22nd.

• Jeff Sagarin’s computer has Kentucky at No. 47. Southern Cal is at No. 41, followed by San Diego State, UAB, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Notre Dame and the Cats. Sagarin’s numbers put the Kentucky schedule as the 96th toughest in the country.

• Ken Pomeroy’s numbers place Kentucky at No. 32. Pomeroy has Syracuse at No. 31, UK at 32nd, and Southern Cal at 33rd. Tennessee is next at No. 34. Pomeroy forsees a 10-6 conference finish for the Cats. And he ranks UK’s strength of schedule at No. 96.

Big Blue Links for Thursday.

• My column saying it’s too early to draw any lasting conclusions about the Billy Gillispie Era.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Billy Gillispie wants his Cats not to get on their boots (Jeannine Edwards did that), but to get on the boards.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that offensive mistakes are irking Gillispie.
• At Kentucky Sports Radio, Matt Jones discusses the “ill-conceived” UK football schedule.
• In A Sea of Blue, Ken Howlett gives his take on what happened at Vandy.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Gillispie doesn’t blame officials for Vandy loss.
• Vaught also writes that the Cats need more from Perry Stevenson.
• Tom Leach gives his post-game analysis.
• On his WLEX blog, Alan Cutler gives his take on the Cats.
• On his WKYT blog, Steve Moss writes on ex-Cat Derrick Jasper’s rehab.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, Metz Camfield writes on the UK baseball team.
• Also in the Kernel, Kenny Colston writes that John Cohen’s legacy remains at UK.

As Radiohead sings on 15 Steps, “How come I end up where I stared? How come I end up where I went wrong?”

After a brief separation, the SEC East is right back to where it was a week ago, locked in a four-way tie.

After Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt on Tuesday night, South Carolina and Tennessee both fell on Wednesday, while Florida triumphed to forge the four-way deadlock. South Carolina lost at Mississippi State. Tennessee lost at Ole Miss. Florida beat Alabama.

All four teams are now 7-4 in conference play. There are five games remaining.

Here’s who each team has left on the schedule:

If three or more of these teams end up in a three-way tie at the top, after head-to-head, the tiebreaker could come down to divisional record. If that’s the case, Tennessee has the upper hand now. The Vols are 6-1 in the division.

A breakdown of divisional play:

SEC links for Thursday:

• Seth Emerson of The State reports on South Carolina’s loss at Mississippi State.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger lays out the facts of the win from the MSU perspective.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, David Brandt has the report on Ole Miss’ win over Tennessee.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that it was a missed opportunity for the Vols.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s win over Alabama.
• Brockway also has news that Florida signee David Boynton is a McDonald’s All-American.
• The Advocate reports on LSU’s comeback win at Arkansas.
• Chip Towers of the AJC writes on Georgia’s home loss to Auburn.
• Georgia AD Damon Evans tells David Hale of the Macon Daily Telegraph, “We don’t need to cheat.”
• News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes that Johnny Majors is an underdog again.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes on John Cohen, preparing for his Mississippi State coaching debut.

Here’s what I’ve heard (so far) from local radio call-in shows:

• WLXG-1300: Chris Cross and Mike Cameron will have UK baseball coach Gary Henderson at 6:05 p.m. Fox 41 in Louisville’s John Lewis will be on at 6:20 p.m.

• WLAP-630: Billy Gillispie’s call-in show starts at 6. Statewide “Sports Nightly” follows at 7 p.m.

College basketball on the tube for Wednesday, Feb. 18:

Here are your Big Blue Links for Wednesday.

From the Herald-Leader:

• Jerry Tipton’s game story on the Cats’ 77-64 loss at Vanderbilt.
• My column on another bad memory for UK at Memorial Gym.
• Tipton’s blog states that ESPN decided before the game it would not interview Gillispie at the half.
• A slideshow from the UK-Vandy game.
• Audio from Billy Gillispie’s post-game press conference.
• Share your comments on the discussion board.

Elsewhere:

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy owns Kentucky at home.
• Patton writes on a surprise Vandy hero.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that Vandy threw a big net over Meeks.
• Courier-Journal columnist Eric Crawford calls it a frustrating evening for the Cats.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that Vanderbilt held down the Cats.
• In the Los Angeles Times, Robyn Norwood writes on Meeks before last night’s game.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Another maddening night at Memorial Gym’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Also in the Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that SEC’s spring bash may be must-see TV.
• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that surging LSU prepares for struggling Arkansas.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that big men are making sizable difference for South Carolina.
• But Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that the frontcourt is an issue at Florida.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Devan Downey has respect of Mississippi State.
• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times reports that Courtney Fortson is expected to play for Arkansas.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Spring bash might be must-see TV’

Updated at 8:05 a.m. with Meeks and Stevenson.

Audio from Billy Gillispie press conferences after UK’s loss 77-64 loss to Vandy:

• Gillispie’s post-game press conference.

• Jodie Meeks talks about his 26-point performance and the loss.

• Perry Stevenson talks about how he has to do better.

The view of the Memorial Gym floor from the press box. Photo by John Clay.

Updates and observations, without the chat, can be found on this post. If you wish to particpate in the chat, click on the Liveblog post below this one. Thanks — J.C.

• Vandy wins 77-64.

• Vanderbilt leads 65-55 with 3:29 left. Meeks has 19, but Cats don’t look like they can make a rally.

• Vandy stretches lead to 60-44 at 7:47 TV time.

• It’s 45-41 Vandy at 11:48 TV time. Meeks has 14.
  

• It’s 41-32 Vandy at the 15:50 TV time. Vandy has outscored UK 11-2 to start half.

• Meeks was 3-of-9 in the first half. UK committed 13 fouls in the first half. Cats trail 18-15 on boards.

• Halftime: Tied 30-30. Meeks leads UK with 10. Cats were up 24-18, but Vandy fought back to tie the game at half. A foul-plagued first 20 minutes. Not much continuity. Ogilvy has nine for Vandy.

• It’s 26-24 Kentucky at the 3:52 TV time. Meeks leads Cats with 10. But UK has been hurt by fouls. Galloway has four points.

Continue reading ‘Updates: UK-Vanderbilt’