John Clay's Sidelines

Post-game video from the two head coaches after Kentucky’s 69-44 win over Tennessee on Tuesday night.

UT coach Cuonzo Martin talked about how Kentucky set the tone early. He also referred to UK center Anthony Davis as a player who “comes along once-in-a-lifetime.”

When told of Martin’s comments, Kentucky’s John Calipari said he had already had one of those players — Marcus Camby at UMass — and he hoped to have a couple of more in his careers.

Click the continue line to watch the videos.

Continue reading ‘Videos: John Calipari and Counzo Martin post-game’

Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin quotes after his team’s loss to Kentucky:

Opening Statement: “First, I thought it was a great atmosphere, great energy. I thought our fans represented well. I thought Jarnell (Stokes) played real well. I thought he had great energy. He wasn’t intimidated at all. It was fun to see him out there. It’s tough, tough against that level of talent to be able to pick things up so quickly, the different schemes and not a lot of time to prepare for. I thought he did a tremendous job.

“I thought our bigs battled. They really competed. Jeronne (Maymon) had another double-double. I thought Kenny Hall played well on the blocks. Anthony Davis is just such a poised young man, knows how to block shots. He has a great feel for the game. The starting defenders love his maturity out there and it’s a pleasure to watch him play.

Continue reading ‘Post-game quotes from Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin’

(AP photo/Wade Payne)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Defense pays off as Tennessee surprises visiting Florida 67-56, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Cuonzo Martin changed his starting lineup and achieved the desired results for the Vols.
• Tennessee is buying into Martin’s defense-first philosophy, writes Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel. Florida hardly looked the 13th best team in the nation at Thompson-Boling.
• Arkansas upsets 15th-ranked Mississippi State 98-88 in SEC opener in Fayetteville, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger. Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury is now 4-10 in his 14 trips to Bud Walton Arena.
• Vanderbilt got a complete effort to crush Auburn 65-35, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean. Kevin Stallings’ team hit 13 threes on the way to the win.
• Trevor Lacey scored a career-high 19 points to lead Alabama past host Georgia 74-59, reports Andy Johnston of the Tuscaloosa News. Tony Mitchell added 17 for the Crimson Tide.
• Justin Hamilton and Storm Warren starred as LSU pounded Ole Miss 81-55, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate. The two combined for 38 points and 27 rebounds.
• Step aside little girls and watch the SEC play big-boy football, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. He’s talking about Monday night’s BCS Championship game between SEC teams Alabama and LSU.
• Running back Trent Richardson holds the key for the Crimson Tide in Monday night’s BCS title game, says Brad Zimanek of the Montgomery Advertiser. “I think it’s difficult for anybody to tackle him,” said LSU safety Brandon Taylor.
• Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart says he’s ready to make the jump to head coach, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC. The Tide defense allowed 191.2 yards per game this season.
• LSU’s Jordan Jefferson has gone from outcast to center stage, writes Yahoo’s Pat Forde. Jordan’s first game back from suspension was against Kentucky.

(AP photo)

SEC links for Thursday:

• A video with interesting comments made by Gus Malzahn didn’t keep Auburn offensive coordinator from becoming head coach at Arkansas State, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Does Malzahn’s exit mean that Auburn is imploding? asks Jeff Schultz of the AJC. The Tigers have lost both their offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator since season’s end.
• SEC is still working on its football scheduling for 2012, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel. With the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri, the league is working to try and get as much as it can done before Christmas.
• College of Charleston hands Tennessee its fourth straight loss, 71-65, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Bobby Cremins’ club improved to 8-1, while Cuonzo Martin’s first UT edition is now 3-6.
• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that the Vols are stuck in mid-major status right now.  After the game, Cremins thanked Martin for honoring the contract made with former UT coach Bruce Pearl.
• Auburn holds off South Florida 52-40, reports Jay Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser. Tony Barbee said afterward he wants his team to play at a faster pace, but was glad it showed it could win a grind-it-out game.
• Ole Miss basketball wins its sixth straight game, beating Louisiana-Lafayette 66-54, reports Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger. Dundrecious Nelson came off the bench to score 21 points for the Rebels.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain will be named the new head coach at Colorado State, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• After loss to Austin Peay, Tennessee basketball coach Cuonzo Martin is looking for leaders and defense, writes Beth Rucker of the Associated Press.
• Auburn talking to Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops about opening, reports Cole Harvey of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Florida fans are not exactly snapping up tickets to Gator Bowl game with Ohio State, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Even though it involves two SEC teams, the BCS title game will not have SEC officials, reports Ivan Maisel of espn.com.
• Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino doesn’t know why he was yelling at the LSU sideline last month, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.

Larry Munson (UGA photo)

A sad day for the SEC as the league loses two, one a legend, the other far too young.

Long-time Georgia play-by-play announcer Larry Munson passed away Sunday night from complications associated with pneumonia. Munson was 89. As Mark Bradley nails it in the AJC, “From property being destroyed on St. Simons after Belue-to-Scott to the Knoxville noses broken by the hobnailed boot, the Munson sense of imagery was a gale force unto itself. Nobody else sounded like him. Nobody else would choose the words he chose. The first time I heard Munson doing a Georgia game, I thought I had, by some trick of the ionosphere, tuned into some ham radioman having a nervous breakdown. The more I listened to the great man, the more I realized my first impression wasn’t far wrong, and I mean that in the best possible way.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: Legendary Larry Munson passes at 89′

Mark Richt (AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

- Georgia coach Mark Richt is a supporter of the non-kickoff idea for college football, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

- Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Georgia is pumped for its difficult 2011 start in football.

- The Bulldogs are dealing with raised expectations, writes Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.

- Compliance is a major issue for the NCAA, reports Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel.

- Ex-Alabama star Robert Horry’s 17-year-old daughter dies of rare disorder, reports Don Kausler of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mark Richt in favor of eliminating kickoffs’

Dan Werner

SEC links:

• Former Florida Gator basketball player Dan Werner offered a plea deal, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Georgia and Georgia Tech are battling over hoops prospect, reports Michael Carvell of the AJC.
• Stephen Garcia has a chance at being back at South Carolina, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Arkansas’ Marshawn Powell undergoes surgery on left foot, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• LSU to unveil bronze statue of Shaquille O’Neal, reports Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune.
• Auburn’s Gene Chizik has a book on the horizon, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• Auburn AD says he’s confident in Cam Newton case, reports John Zenor of the Associated Press.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Werner offered plea; Garcia may be back at USC’

SEC links:

• Kevin Ware will visit Georgia and Louisville, reports Michael Carvell.
• Cuonzo Martin’s challenge at Tennessee just got tougher, writes John Adams.
• Scotty Hopson says his game is ready for the NBA, reports Mike Griffith.
• Tennessee basketball looking to regroup, reports Patrick Brown.
• Georgia looks ahead at quarterback, writes Seth Emerson.
• APR scores headed in right direction at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer.
• UGA golfer wins on Nationwide tour, reports Jonathan Heeter.
• Caldwell committed to the LSU cause, writes Scott Rabalais.
• LSU football’s last four not as good as previous four, says Glenn Guilbeau.
• Stephen Garcia is a college graduate, reports Travis Haney.

Some morning notes and Big Blue Links:

- Here we go again. Peter Vecsey of the New York Post claims that the New York Knicks are interested in John Calipari as coach and GM. I thought Cal was going to take his talents to South Beach and try and keep LeBron’s mom out of trouble. Or maybe he was succeeding the retiring Phil Jackson with the Lakers. Or . . .

- Alabama prep star and Kentucky target Trevor Lacey says reports that he’s down to Kentucky and Alabama and will announce soon are incorrect. Kansas is visiting the scoring machine today.

- Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on the versatility of Kyle Wiltjer. The Kentucky signee is playing in this weekend’s Nike Hoops Summit on Saturday. Fox Sports South is scheduled to show the game, starting at 11 p.m. Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague are also playing in the game. Click here for the rosters.

- Meanwhile, could Duke be getting DeAndre Daniels?

Continue reading ‘BBL: Are the Knicks interested in John Calipari?’