John Clay’s Sidelines

Here is a little over a minute of Florida coach Billy Donovan talking to the media after his team’s 89-77 loss to Kentucky last night. Florida is now 0-2 in the SEC for the first time since Donovan came to Gainesville.

(AP Photo/Bill Feig)

Provided by Florida’s sports information department, here are Billy Donovan’s quotes about Kentucky heading into Tuesday night’s game:

On the match-up with Kentucky:
“Obviously we are playing against a team that is undefeated up to
this point in time. They are very gifted and talented - not only their
incoming freshmen class, but their players from a year ago that are
still there. They have great size, great length, great speed and
quickness, which will be a tremendous challenge for our entire team.”

On what makes John Wall a special player:
“He has great speed and athleticism, and he’s very long for a
guard. He has the ability to rebound and be explosive on the open floor,
has a terrific feel of how to play. He makes people around him better.
He’s a guy that’s a special player all the way around.”

On dribble drive and how much he has studied it:
“Kentucky has great speed and quickness in every spot. When you are
playing that way, you have the personnel that can really take you off
the dribble and I think John Wall has got it off the dribble. When you
have guys that can go off the dribble like that, shrinking the floor,
cutting down gaps, those types of things become very important. Kentucky
certainly thrives in a spread floor situation, where the floor is very
open, they can use their one-on-one ability.”

Continue reading ‘Billy Donovan talks about Kentucky’

Here is audio from today’s SEC teleconference:

• This is Florida coach Billy Donovan talking about the game with Kentucky on Tuesday.

• This is Kentucky coach John Calipari talking about the strength of the SEC, Patrick Patterson and John Wall.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Paul Gattis of the Huntsville Times reports on SEC admitting officials made another error.
• Alex Abrams of the NW Arkansas Morning News reports on the officiating error.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News reports on Alabama’s Nick Saban denying Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin’s request to wear orange jerseys.
• Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel writes about the jersey issue.
• John Adams of the News-Sentinel writes that Alabama’s defense makes life hard for quarterbacks.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida’s Billy Donovan is encouraged by his freshmen.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that winning ugly sounds pretty to Auburn.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register wants to just skip to the title game.
• Tony Barnhart of the AJC writes that there can be a Florida-Alabama rematch for BCS title.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Saban won’t let Kiffin get his way’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Bruce Pearl thinks Tennessee’s seniors have the talent for a great ending.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Tyler Smith has Vols excited.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Billy Donovan is looking forward to Florida’s season.
• Joe Person of The State writes on South Carolina’s now-star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that change will be tough for Mark Richt, but not for Paul Johnson.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports that some Bulldogs are in off-the-field trouble.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on a Florida gymnast arrested for storing nine guns.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Georgia’s Richard Samuel is having trouble meeting expectations.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News thinks the NCAA should leave its trash talk on the field.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee, Florida excited for hoops start’

Jeannine Edwards

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• UK Athletics says Jeannine Edwards will be at the UK Women’s Basketball Clinic, Oct. 7.
• Tom Leach calls that another shrewd PR move by UK.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader previews the UK secondary.
• Cosby reports that a foot injury has put E.J. Fields’ season in jeopardy.
• UK Football Fan did a Q&A with Chip about UK’s football fortunes.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L writes about the new UK women’s basketball schedule.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes on former UK receiver Steve Johnson, now learning from T.O.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports on Kentucky’s tight ends.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal World reports that Brandon Knight will visit Kansas. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Zagsblog reports that UK will make an in-home visit to Tobias Harris on Sept. 7.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jeannine Edwards to appear at UK women’s clinic’

Greg Byrne

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Mississippi State athletics director Greg Byrne, former associate AD at UK, is being treated for melanoma.
• Jay Greeson of the Chattanooga Times Free-Press writes that Lane Kiffin is on a record pace for violations.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that decision day is looming for Dominique Archie and Devan Downey.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports that a California point guard has committed to Vanderbilt.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Gators coach Billy Donovan is happy for the Magic.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports that Alabama’s textbook scandal involves 200 athletes.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Tommy Tuberville could be at the heart of the rumor mill.
• Daryl Maxie of the AJC reports that a top wide receiver prospect will commit to Georgia and Florida.

SEC links for Friday:

• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News details how the SEC will have wall-to-wall television coverage next seasons.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel predicts that an SEC basketball rebound is on the way.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Billy Donovan is excited for new Alabama coach Anthony Grant.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that togetherness won’t play in the SEC.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is preaching balance.
• Joe Schiefelbein writes for The Advocate that its time for new magic with LSU baseball.
• Ron Morris of The State writes about how South Carolina baseball turned around its season.
• Joe Person of The State has a Q&A with South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports that playing second fiddle is wearing on Vanderbilt baseball.
• Rick Fires of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that the Razorbacks are cautious heading into NCAA play.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss wants to break the CWS barrier.

SEC links for Thursday:

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Tommy Hicks reports that Mike Slive laid down the law to SEC coaches.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Slive wants tougher basketball schedules.
• Andreu also reports that UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl is taking up for new football coach Lane Kiffin.
• Tony Barnhart of the AJC says don’t expect more apologies from Kiffin.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Billy Donovan is about to take a dip in shark-filled waters, for real.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Mike Slive sets tone at conference meetings’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes on Billy Donovan vs. John Calipari.
• Paul Finebaum writes for the Mobile Press-Register that Steve Spurrier still has game.
• But Joe Person of The State reports that a South Carolina cornerback has been suspended again.
• State columnist Ron Morris writes that the SEC has steeled South Carolina for success.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has taught the SEC to stay on schedule.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports that Vanderbilt baseball is headed to Louisville.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Will Donovan and Calipari remain friends?’