John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes on Devan Downey: ” After leading South Carolina to an unprecedented three straight victories over Kentucky, Devan Downey has a good idea of the bad reception he’ll receive in Rupp Arena on Thursday night. ‘I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a not-too-warm welcome,’ he said with comedic understatement on Tuesday. ‘I know it’s all in fun. But I’ve gotten my share of hate mail and Facebook messages from Kentucky fans.’”

My column about how UK is nationall ranked in several sports: “I mentioned in Monday’s column that UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart had gotten one right in hiring Matthew Mitchell to head the women’s basketball program after Mickie DeMoss’s surprising resignation. Also wrote, “And that’s not the only one.” I wasn’t kidding.”

Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News shows DeAndre Liggins some love: “Let’s hear it for Kentucky’s DeAndre Liggins, who began the season outside John Calipari’s good graces and is ending it as an essential member of a title contender.”

Tom Leach makes John Wall’s case: “Kentucky’s John Wall was the early favorite to win some or all of college basketball’s player-of-the-year awards but Ohio State’s Evan Turner is coming on strong. If you make your choice based on numbers, then Turner’s case is as strong or stronger than Wall’s. But if you base it on impact, that’s where I think Wall gets the edge and Saturday’s 58-56 win at Vanderbilt was a good example of why.”

Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel on the bond shared by Matthew Mitchell and Pat Summitt: “The UK women’s basketball coaching staff is comprised of UK employees, but they all were Volunteers at one time. UK head coach Matthew Mitchell and his assistant coaches Kyra Elzy, Matt Insell and Shalon Pillow all share, in an ironic twist, a connection to one of UK’s most-hated rivals: the Tennessee Volunteers.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK men prepare for USC; UK women prepare for UT’

Five notes from Kentucky’s meeting with the media before practice today, in preparation for Tuesday night’s game at South Carolina:

• Bonus point: John Calipari said that with the team being No. 1, he will stress that people will look at them differently now. Some players will go from homely to handsome a hunk. “From Cutler to Clooney,” said one media member — think it was WTVQ’s Dan Rieffer — which brought a huge laugh.

• 1. Patrick Patterson said that it will take a team defensive effort to contain South Carolina’s Devan Downey. Eric Bledsoe, John Wall and DeAndre Liggins will get the man-to-man assignments in trying to stop the 5-foot-9 dynamo, but the rest of the team has to be concious of the way Downey gets the ball to the rim. That means big men have to help.

• 2. Zone? John Calipari says his team could play some zone on Tuesday night. Cal said that watching the tape he had seen other teams use a zone to try and keep Downey out of the lane. Calipari said don’t be surprised to see him use a litte of that, as well. But mainly Cal said he knows that Downey will get his points. The trick is to keep Downey from making the players around him better.

• 3. No. 1. Calipari repeated that the team wanted to be No. 1, and surely that explained some of the motivation behind the 101-70 rout of Arkansas. The trick now is to deal with the ranking. Calipari kept hammering home that the South Carolina arena will be full, that media requests will be through the roof, that the atmosphere will be charged. Daniel Orton said he didn’t think the atmosphere would be a lot different. Opposing crowds were charged up before, when UK was No. 2-4 in the rankings. Will No. 1 make that much of a difference? The Carolina crowd is a little different in that the students are right down near the floor. And they were camoflauge.

Continue reading ‘A 5-spot, plus a bonus, from UK basketball’

(Photo by The State/C. Aluka Berry)

Things to know about South Carolina super-guard Devan Downey:

• Scored 36 of his team’s 56 points in 58-56 loss at Florida on Saturday.

• Made basket with 5.1 seconds left to give USC at 56-55 lead before Chandler Parsons drained a three at the buzzer to give Florida the victory.

• Made a turnaround jumper with three seconds left to give South Carolina a 78-77 win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena last year, just the Gamecocks second win in 23 trips to Lexington.

• Scored 19 points in the second half of that game.

• Scored 21 points and made five assists in Carolina’s 77-59 win over UK in Columbia last year, completing the Gamecocks’ sweep of the Cats.

• Is averaging 31.6 points per game in five conference games.

• Has scored 30-or-more points in three of South Carolina’s last five games.

Continue reading ‘Things to know about Devan Downey’

(AP photo/Butch Dill)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Lane Kiffin’s hidden car wreck.
• Clay Travis of AOL Fanhouse on Kiffin’s comedy of eras.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register has the game story from Alabama’s loss to Tennessee.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel on the Tennessee victory in Tuscaloosa.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on the firing of Florida radio network coordinator after child porn charges.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that college coaches excel at the running game.
• Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel on Bruce Pearl.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press thinks Pearl’s team could be true contenders.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports that new Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s contract contains a big buyout.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Kiffin leaves the road, but UT wins on road’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Joe Person of The State reports that returnees Devan Downey and Dominique Archie are thinking big things for South Carolina basketball.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports on LSU’s extra-inning win over Texas in first game of CWS finals.
• Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune writes on the clutch hits that drove LSU to victory.
• ESPN’s SEC blogger Chris Low writes on the good and bad of covering recruiting.
• At the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes on a shock jock who ridicules Alabama fans.
• Also in the Press-Register, Tommy Hicks writes that Florida is the near unanimous pick to win a second straight BCS title.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that spread offense quarterbacks find it difficult to adjust.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: South Carolina basketball is thinking big’

SEC links for Monday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun examines whether Florida is getting a bad rap on crime.
• Seth Emerson of The State reports that Devan Downey has decided to return to South Carolina.
• In The State, Joe Person reports that Steve Spurrier thinks he has a team on the verge.
• In his AJC blog, Mark Bradley writes that ESPN likes the look of Georgia 2009.
• Brandon Marcello of the NW Arkansas Times writes that the Razorbacks’ second game in the CWS may be their toughest.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that Arkansas presents a challenge for LSU at CWS.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Is Florida getting a bad rap on crime?’

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’

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 Wednesday:

• Ron Higgins of the Commercial-Appeal reports that UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl thanked John Calipari for getting the Vols’ staff a nice raise.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Alex Tyus pulling a Billy Donovan and returning to Florida.
• The Athens Banner-Herald reports that new Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox has added his first oral commitment.
• The AJC reports that the NCAA has denied Georgia coach Mark Richt a waiver to attend ceremony.
• In the Birmingham News, Ian Rapoport writes that Bama coach Nick Saban is ready to battle for Memphis recruits.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum asks if Saban is on thin ice with fans?

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Pearl thanks Calipari; Tyus back at Florida’

Devan Downey

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Seth Emerson of The State reports that South Carolina’s Devan Downey will test the NBA waters.
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Lane Kiffin’s decision to give Demetrice Morley the boot.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes on Morley’s departure.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate writes that LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell mulls a draft decision.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida basketball recruit DeShawn Painter may be re-opening his recruitment.
• David Jones of Florida Today also reports on Painter’s problem.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports that new Georgia coach Mark Fox is thinking of hiring former Alabama interim coach Philip Pearson.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that even Nick Saban can’t contain expectations.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Downey testing waters, Morley out at UT’