John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee all won today to go 7-3 and lead the SEC East.

Florida was upset by Georgia and fell to 6-4.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up:

For some reason, Jodie Meeks is shooting much better on the road in conference play than he is at Rupp Arena.

Meeks on the road:

Meeks at Rupp:

Notes on Jodie Meeks after his 45-point performance today:

• It was the third time this year Meeks has scored 40-or-more points. He scored 43 46 against Appalachian State on Dec. 20 at Freedom Hall in Louisville. He scored 54 at Tennessee on Jan. 13.

• It was the seventh game this year that Meeks has scored 30-or-more points this season.

• It was the 17th game in which Meeks has scored 20-or-more points.

• It was the seventh game in which Meeks has made 10-or-more field goals. He was 17-of-24 from the floor.

• It was the ninth game in which Meeks has scored four-or-more three-pointers. Meeks was seven-of-12.

• Meeks has scored in double figures in 25 straight games, the longest UK streak since Tayshaun Prince did it 29 consecutive games in 2000-01.

• Meeks scored 22 points in the first half, the fifth time this year he’s scored at least 20 in the first half.

• Meeks broke the Bud Walton Arena record of 39 points scored by the Razorbacks’ Al Dillard in 1993.

• So Meeks also broke the arena record by an Arkansas oppponent. That was held by Nate Driggers of Montavello, who scored 37 in 1993. (UK sports information director DeWayne Peevy is a proud graduate of Montavello.)

Continue reading ‘Meeks by the numbers’

Post-game audio from Jodie Meeks and Billy Gillispie after Kentucky’s 79-63 win at Arkansas:

• Meeks talks about his 45-point performance against the Hogs. (4:24)

• Gillispie talks about Meeks and UK’s win playing without Patterson. (10:30)

Updates on the Kentucky-Arkansas game from Bud Walton Arena:

• Meeks scores 45 points as Kentucky wins 79-63. Cats shoot 51.9 percent. No other UK player in double figures. Arkansas shot 41.8 percent. Kentucky wons boards 35-30. Check blog later for post-game.

• Kentucky up 68-55 at 3:43 TV time. UK is shooting even 50 percent. Arkansas is shooting 44.9. Meeks has 38, one point away from Bud Walton Arena record.

• Kentucky up 62-49 with 7:54 remaining. Meeks has 36. Both teams have 12 turnovers.

• Meeks up to 33 as Kentucky leads 58-40 at 11:17 TV time. Cats are up to 51.2 percent for game.

• Kentucky leads 49-36 with 13:57 left in game. Jodie is 10-of-15 from floor, including six-of-nine from 3. Arkansas is shooting 37.8 percent. Hogs are 3-of-16 from 3.

• Meeks up to 28 points as Kentucky is in command 47-31 at 17:16 mark of second half.

• Arkansas shot 34.4 percent the first half. Rotnei Clark was 2-of-8 from the floor, but led Razorbacks with eight points.

• Kentucky committed 10 turnovers in the first half. Arkansas had 5.

Continue reading ‘Updates: UK-Arkansas’

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

• WLAP-630: Dick Gabriel will have a guess the score contest at 6 p.m., then preview UK-Arkansas in the 7 p.m. hour.

College basketball on the tube for Friday, Feb. 13:

It’s Big Blue Links for Friday.

In the Herald-Leader:

• Jerry Tipton reports that Arkansas has suspended starting point guard Courtney Fortson (and his hair) for Saturday’s game with the Cats.
• Tipton also reports that Arkansas is preparing as if UK’s Patrick Patterson will play, even though there is an excellent chance he won’t play.
• Listen to Billy Gillispie and John Pelphrey from the SEC teleconference.
• Mark Story writes on former UK quarterback Andre Woodson and that throwing motion.
• Auburn’s women hold off visiting UK in basketball.

Elsewhere:

• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times has details, or a few of them anyway, on the Fortson suspension.
• The Courier-Journal’s Brett Dawson also reports on the Fortson suspension.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that coaches forget that interviews are a part of their job. And you know who he’s talking about.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser reports on Auburn’s win over UK in women’s hoops, though at least part of it is about the new Auburn football coach.
• The Cat Scratches blog reports that Gillispie was not happy with Thursday’s practice and doesn’t mind saying so.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats won’t be seeing Fortson’

SEC links for Friday:

• Gary Laney of The Advocate reports that a sprained ankle will keep LSU guard Bo Spencer on the bench against Ole Miss.
• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that front four coaches in East not sure which team has the edge.
• Edward Aschoff writes in the Gainesville Sun that SEC transfers are thriving.
• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes on the Vandy women’s upset of No. 9 Florida.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi State women hold off Ole Miss.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that both Ole Miss and Mississippi State have revised their football schedules.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, John Adams reports that Sports Illustrated goofed by reporting that Lane Kiffin had fired his secretary.
• Meanwhile, Adams writes that Kiffin told a booster club, “I like to have fun with some things.”
• In the Huntsville Times, Evan Woodbery reports that top Auburn football assistants are settling into their jobs.
• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes on new Auburn coach Gene Chizik.
• Also in the News, Ian Rapoport reports that Chris Smelley’s baseball career has hit a snag.
• In the AJC, Chip Towers writes on some positive signs for Georgia football.