John Clay's Sidelines

Mississippi State may have played a couple of games, splitting the two, but SEC basketball starts in earnest tonight. Kentucky-Marist is not the only game on tap. Tennessee’s Cuonzo Martin makes his debut in Knoxville. Wofford at Georgia in Athens could be interesting. But the most compelling matchup tonight is probably Oregon vs. Vanderbilt. Expectations are high in Nashville, where Kevin Stallings has much talent and experience returning. After tonight, we get back to football on Saturday.

• Vandy’s fantastic five ready for season, writes Jeff Lockridge of Tennessean.
• Bama basketball eager to start, reports Don Kausler of Birmingham News.
• Florida opens with Jackson State, reports Kevin Brockway of Gainesville Sun.
• Roles reversed for Auburn, Georgia, writes Advertiser’s Jay Tate.
• Roles reversed for Hogs and Vols, writes John Adams of News-Sentinel.

• Georgia’s run defense faces test, reports Chip Towers of AJC.
• Grantham’s fire is what Dogs need, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Tommy Deas of Tuscaloosa News reports on what it takes to make a road trip.
• Can Rebels be ready? asks Hugh Kellenberger of Clarion-Ledger.
• Pinpointing Ole Miss’ problems not hard, says Daily Journal’s Parrish Alford.
• Protection part of USC’s problem, writes Daryl Slater of Post and Courier.