John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Friday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that USC’s loss could be Florida’s gain at point guard.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Alabama is placed on three years probation for textbook scandal.
• Mike Bolton and Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News write that NCAA sanctions shock former Alabama players.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Bama is debating a possible NCAA appeal.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News wonders if Bama president cares about integrity.
• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes that Alabama has no room for error.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida after point guard; Book thrown at Bama’

Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel is reporting that Tennessee foward Tyler Smith is pulling his name out of the draft and will return for his senior year at the school.

There were reports that Smith was considering possibly going overseas rather than return to Knoxville.

In his official statement, Smith said:

“It’s been a great past few weeks trying out for the NBA. But after talking with my family, coaches and teammates, I’ve decided to return (to Tennessee) for my senior year. I think we have a great chance to have something special next year with my teammates. They have been working extremely hard. I learned how to be a professional and what it takes to be at that level.”

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Nothing official from UK, but WLEX is reporting that Matt Pilgrim and Kevin Galloway will not be on the UK basketball team next season.
• WKYT is also reporting that Galloway and Pilgrim are out.
• Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton reports that Martin Newton is now officially UK’s director of basketball operations.
• Tipton also reports that Scott Padgett is happy to be a coach in training.
• Herald-Leader’s Mark Maloney writes on UK discus throwers Rashaud Scott and Chase Madison, who are among the favorites at the NCAAs.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that UK’s football camps are booming.
• Zagsblog writes that if Jodie Meeks does return, Kentucky will be loaded.
• In the Voice-Tribune, Earl Cox writes that Mike Pratt would be a TV winner.
• Bluegrass State Basketball writes it source says Meeks will reluctantly return to UK.

SEC links for Thursday:

• ESPN’s SEC blogger Chris Low rates the league’s non-conference football schedules.
• Seth Emerson of The State reports that Europe may now be an option for South Carolina’s Devan Downey and Dominique Archie.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that a Tennessee basketball redshirt is expected to transfer.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama needs to admit it has a problem.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Bama’s choice of Anthony Grant is looking better all the time.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Rating the non-conference football schedules’

Here’s what I’ve heard from the local radio call-in shows:

• WLXG-1300: At 5:45, Chris Cross and Mike Cameron welcome the Herald Leader’s Mike Fields. At 6:05, it’s letstalkbaseball.net and the Golf Channel’s Emilio San Martin.

• WLAP-630: At 6:05 p.m, Dick Gabriel will have Cory McCartney of SI.com, who wrote about Rich Brooks and the evolution of UK football. At 6:30, Tim Bray of the Kentucky Speedway will talk about the upcoming Meijer 300. At 7 p.m., Dick welcomes in Courier-Journal racing writer Jennie Rees.

Ralph Willard

Update: It’s official.

Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports is reporting that Ralph Willard has decided to resign as head coach at Holy Cross and join Rick Pitino at Louisville.

This development would throw water on rumors that Pitino would be interested in the opening at Southern Cal, now that Tim Floyd has resigned.

After all, why would Willard agree to come to Louisville if Pitino was on his way to Los Angeles?

It’s also a good hire. Willard is a terrific basketball coach, who was Rick’s assistant at UK before becoming head coach at Western Kentucky, then Pittsburgh and Holy Cross.

This is probably the best news Pitino has received in quite some time.

Now that Tim Floyd’s devil-deal with O.J. Mayo has led him to the unemployment line, Southern Cal is in the job market for a new basketball coach.

Name to watch: Rick Pitino.

It’s already started this morning with buzz that the Louisville coach could be a candidate to rescue the fallen Trojans. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but given the circumstances involved, I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility.

Circumstances such as:

• There is the ugly Karen Sypher extortion trial on the horizon, which promises to divulge many ugly and embarrassing details if it makes its way into the courtroom. There is a line of thinking that Pitino would rather handle those headlines from afar rather than right there in the city of Louisville.

• There were rumors throughout last season that Rick was interested in the open Arizona job, which eventually went to Xavier coach Sean Miller. And that was before the Sypher story broke.

Continue reading ‘Get ready for the Rick Pitino to Southern Cal speculation’

Rex Chapman

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Steve Austin of the Henderson Gleaner reports that Rex Chapman’s son is making noise.
• Dick Vitale says that John Calipari is being treated unfairly.
• Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Calipari will be featured speaker at Erlanger event June 22.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Mike Pratt has been amused at flak given Calipari.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports on Jon Hood’s showing with Kentucky All-Stars.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rex Chapman’s son making hoops noise’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports on Nick Saban’s visit to Southern Cal.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun has compiled the Florida football arrest list.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt can live with new football signee rule.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports on Vandy pitcher Mike Minor going to Atlanta in first round of MLB draft.
• Scott Hotard of The Advocate writes on LSU second baseman L.J. LeMahieu.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Gene Chizik claims there are no problems between coaching staff and Auburn administration.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Saban visits USC; Nutt can live with rule’

Here’s what I’ve been hearing from the local radio call-in shows:

• WLAP-630: Dick Gabriel will have former UK star Derrick Hord at 6:05, followed by Jeremy Jarmon in the 7 o’clock hour.

• WVLK-590: Larry Glover will have Jeff Drummond of the Cats Pause in the 7 o’clock hour.