John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Monday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy is expected to plead guilty today in a Cincinnati court.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that the hard part starts now for Florida football.
• Mark Schlabach of espn.com writes that Florida is focused on a repeat.
• Gentry Estes of the Huntsville Times reviews Alabama’s spring game.
• News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that first start is a good start for Bama’s new quarterback.
• Aaron Suttles of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Greg McElroy made a convincing case.
• Tuscaloosa News columnist Cecil Hurt writes there were no big surprises in Bama’s spring game.
• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that Auburn coach Gene Chizik gives them something to talk about.
• Montgomery Advertiser’s Josh Moon writes that Auburn made big plays in its spring game.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that eager Tennessee fans got a grip on Lane Kiffin.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Kennedy to plead guilty; Spring wrap-ups’

Here’s a video from The Shiver, which covers Kansas, with interviewss with Xavier Henry after the Jordan Brand Classic last night. He says he does not have a visit scheduled to UK, but expects to visit Kentucky. He said he will make a decision soon after his visit.

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

This is the most bizarre story in Kentucky sports in years:

• New: Deadspin’s take on the Pitino story.
• Fox 41 video of the story, including video of its interview with Karen Sypher, the estranged wife of U of L equipment manager Tim Sypher. Karen Sypher has been idenified as the one making the alleged extortion attempt against Pitino. Fox 41 says it is holding the interview with Sypher.
• Eric Crawford’s C-J blog with a statement this morning from Tim Sypher.
• The Courier-Journal’s original story on Pitino’s statement saying he had contacted the FBI about an extortion attempt.
• Here’s the AP story on the Pitino case.
• A picture of Karen Sypher which ran in the AJC from last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Here is Rich Brooks talking to the media after this morning’s spring football scrimmage at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Cats close the spring with the Blue-White game next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Richard Pitino

Forgot to include this with the SEC links: Pat Forde over at espn.com reports that Richard Pitino is leaving his father’s staff at Louisville to join Billy Donovan at Florida.

Excerpt:

A source close to the Louisville program said Richard Pitino could one day be considered head-coaching material, and going to work somewhere else could enhance his resume. Richard Pitino previously worked at Providence, Northeastern and Duquesne.

Update: I’ll be at UK football scrimmage this morning, sending updates via Twitter at jclayiv.

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports on UK baseball’s 5-4 win over its former coach John Cohen at Mississippi State.
• Chris Lawlor of espn.com writes that insiders believe John Wall will come to UK.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that UK football coaches are excited about the secondary.
• Tom Leach reports that the Boyd brothers have been working together.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that the Johnson brothers are ready for their football finale.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that ex-UK commitment Michael Avery is looking at Indiana.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that John Calipari likes Darius Miller.
• Vaught also writes that Matt Pilgrim is adjusting to changes.
• Straitpinkie has a link to a video interview with John Wall.
• Bluegrass State Basketball thinks Calipari is formulating a backup plan.
• Joey Fosko writes that Calipari ain’t Pitino Lite. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)

SEC links for Saturday:

• With Alex Tyus leaving Florida, Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley wants to know if Billy Donovan is taking control, or losing control?
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that spring football is a tiresome activity.
• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn has lost a quarterback to a torn ACL.
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that spring game is important to Vols.
• News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes that UT fans can celebrate progress.
• News columnist Ray Melick writes that A-Day allows Phil Savage to have a unique perspective.
• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times reports that four Razorbacks will be double agents in spring game.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Is Donovan taking control, or losing it?’

At a morning press conference, Florida coach Billy Donovan announced that Gators’ center Alex Tyus intends to transfer.

The Gainesville Sun has a brief here, but should follow with more later.

Jeremy Fowler has a little more in the Orlando Sentinel.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that John Calipari is confident Demarcus Cousins will deliver.
• Tipton reports that Calipari says he is not a lifer.
• Calipari confirms that Scott Padgett and Tony Delk will be on his staff.
• Beverly Fortune of the H-L broke the story on Calipari’s house.
• John Wall tells Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger that he’s not interested in the NBA.
• Christopher Lawlor of espn.com writes that Xavier Henry’s decision could come soon.
• Casey Keefer of the University Daily Kansan also reports on Henry’s recruitment.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes on Calipari’s journey to the top.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari, Calipari and more Calipari’

SEC links for Friday:

• Ron Morris of The State wonders if empty seats might be looming at Williams-Brice Stadium.
• In the Huntsville Times, Tommy Hicks reports that Ken Stabler will no longer work the Alabama radio booth.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that the son of Georgia coach Mark Richt has picked a new school.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee quarterback Jonathon Crompton has found it a challenge to keep his edge.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Alabama running back Roy Upchurch is back.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Mike Slade has shown well in the Auburn secondary.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Could empty seats be looming at USC?’