John Clay’s Sidelines

AP Photo/Beth Hall

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that only two players from a highly-ranked John Pelphrey recruiting class remain with the Razorbacks.
• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times writes that Pelphrey’s revolving door is problematic.
• Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News writes that Florida is the unanimous No. 1 of the pre-season football magazines.
• But Paul Finebaum writes in the Mobile Press-Register that Urban Meyer will probably leave Florida after this year.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Dave Hooker reports that coveted quarterback prospect Jesse Scroggins will announce his college choice July 25.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Pelphrey’s defections a problem for Arkansas’

H-L photo/David Stephenson

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Gillispie’s attorney expects big buyout.
• Tipton’s notes writes that Mike Pratt will help UK swing for the fences in coaching search.
• My column on Gillispie’s final press conference.
• You can find the video of Gillispie’s press conference at Kentuckysports.com.
• Mark Story writes that now is not the time to throw stones.
• Chip Cosby reports that Rick Pitino pushes Travis Ford and John Pelphrey for the job.
• Rick Bailey reports on UK baseball’s doubleheader split with South Carolina.
• Jay Mariotti of AOL calls Kentucky job the worst in college basketball.
• Gil Lebreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Gillispie’s dream job was more of a nightmare.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press thinks that Tom Izzo would listen to UK, but not leave for UK. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Also in Free Press, Drew Sharp writes that Rich Rodriguez should take note of Gillispie saga.
• Thayer Evans of the New York Times writes that UK now spins the coaching carousel.
• Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes that hasty hiring of Gillispie hurt Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Billy G. farewell and what comes next’

SEC links for Monday:

• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes on Pat Summitt, who goes for her 1,000th win tonight.
• Also in the Tennessean, Mike Organ reports on the Vandy women’s win over Alabama.
• In the Birmingham News, Charles Goldberg writes on the Auburn women, who bounced back from their first loss.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Florida’s women race past Arkansas.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Scotty Hopson has emerged for Tennessee in the nick of time.
• Gary Laney writes in the Baton Rouge Advocate that LSU’s starters are logging plenty of minutes.
• In the Northwest Arkansas Times, Nate Allen reports that John Pelphrey cuts Arkansas no slack for play at LSU.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that State fans cut Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy some slack.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Dave Hooker reports that it was not good news for Tennessee football’s recruiting weekend.
• In the Montgomery Advertiser, Mike Gayle reports on Alabama’s recruiting.

Hoops links for Tuesday:

• Andrea Cohen of the Daily Oklahoman reports that OU’s Blake Griffin outrebounded Oklahoma State by himself last night. Cohen: “But Griffin’s dominance on the boards and OU outrebounding OSU by 20 was a factor the Cowboys couldn’t overcome, despite strong guard play and a run that brought the Cowboys within one with about seven minutes left.”

• Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers thinks that soon UCLA’s Ben Howland could have us all Buffaloed. Simers: “He has friends who address him as “Marv Levy,” and Ben Howland should be as good as the former Bills coach, which would mean taking UCLA to the Final Four for the fourth consecutive time this year. And then lose again. The Bruins have been working hard recently to get that losing part down pat, dropping two of their last three and tumbling to No. 17 in the polls — as low as they have fallen since about this same time three years ago.”

• Rush the Court thinks the SEC is wising up on its coaches. Rush: “Today in the era of million-dollar salaries and what-have-you-done-for-me-lately performance evaluations, even in the football-centric SEC (minus Vandy, Kentucky and Arkansas), “good enough” is no longer good enough.  Just last year, LSU canned John Brady, an Xs & Os charlatan who two years prior had parlayed a couple of great recruits into a very unlikely Final Four run.  They replaced him with a well-respected rising star in coaching, Trent Johnson (at $1.2M per, reportedly, of course).  At South Carolina, Dave Odom was invited to retire after he had taken the Gamecocks to two NIT titles and an NCAA Tournament in the last five years.  Darrin Horn already has matched the win total (14) of Odom’s last season with virtually the same roster.   Over in Athens at Georgia, Dennis Felton is currently walking the Bataan death march with his 310th most efficient offense and is expected to be replaced at the end of this season even after his unprecedented run in the SEC Tournament last year.”

• Today’s ACC Headlines looks at Tyler Hansbrough and the non-foul issue. Today’s: “Tyler Hansbrough’s habit of getting the ball in the paint and then putting himself clearly in the path of flailing arms and grabbing hands of opposing players in a manner (according to some fans) that causes referees to actually call fouls when those arms and hands make contact with various parts of his body as opposed to the ball has landed the former Player of the Year in the dentist’s chair.”

Continue reading ‘HL: Griffin’s glass work, Ben Howland and a wiser SEC’

SEC links for Saturday:

• In the Birmingham News, columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that some Alabama basketball boosters dream of Tubby Smith.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Kevin Brockway reports that Billy Donovan and John Pelphrey are ready for their rubber match.
• In the AJC, columnist Mark Bradley examines the pro chances of ex-Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford.
• Randy Rosetta of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that John Chavis is ready to shore up LSU’s defense.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Drew Edwards reports that Lane Kiffin has finished his first Tennessee staff.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Gentry Estes reports that Lance Thompson’s departure from Bama staff is just “business.”
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey reports that one new football assistant has ditched Mississippi State for Tennessee.
• Also in the Clarion-Ledger, David Brandt writes on Ole Miss’ high-flying Terrico White.
• In the Birmingham News, Ian Rapoport reports that with Ronald Steele out, Mikhail Torrance figures prominently in Alabama’s hoop plans.
• In The State, Seth Emerson writes that South Carolina will need energy in its matchup with Tennessee.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy faces a major roadblock in Mississippi State.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC gets Mark Richt’s thoughts on this and that.

AP Photo/Beth Hall

Just when we so-called experts were busy assuring the masses that SEC basketball was a dreadful dedication this season, all of a sudden, out of nowhere league team have turned into world-scarers, at least, world-beaters, at best.

Or, to put it clearer: Pig-Soooooooooooey.

Arkansas and John Pelphrey’s cringe-worthy red sports coat topped off the SEC surge last night as the Razorbacks rallied from eight down in the second half to topple No. 7 Texas 67-61 at a wild Bud Walton Arena.

It was the second Top 10 team that Pelphrey’s pupils have hauled off and popped in a week. Arkansas shocked superman Blake Giffin and visiting Oklahoma 96-88 just last Tuesday.

And that’s not all. Last Friday night, Lexington native Darrin Horn took his South Carolina Gamecocks to Waco and upset Baylor 85-84. Two days after Christmas, LSU held off a strong Washington State team 64-52 in Baton Rouge. Despite its loss at Kansas on Saturday, Tennessee owns wins over Georgetown and Marquette.

And you can’t discount Kentucky taking Louisville down to the final 2.8 seconds before losing at Freedom Hall on Sunday.

Through Monday’s games, computer whiz Jeff Sagarin’s numbers placed the SEC a lowly sixth among all college basketball conferences. Only Tennessee, at No. 24, cracked Sagarin’s Top 30. (Kentucky was 50^th, one behind South Carolina in Sag’s Tuesday ratings.) Even with its two impressive wins, Arkansas is no better than 76th in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings.(UK is 28th.)

But the SEC does seem to be improving. Just ask Big 12 members Baylor, Oklahoma and now Texas.

Links:

• In the Northwest Arkansas Times, Nate Allen writes that Arkansas serves notice with its second Top 10 upset in a week.
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Wally Hall writes that an ugly game was a thing of beauty for the Hogs.
• In the Times, Brandon Marcello writes that Michael Washington and Courtney Fortson bounced back from tough starts to propel the Razorbacks.
• In the ADG, Rob Keys writes that Texas paid for leaving Welsh wide open.
• In the Morning News, Harry King lauds Welsh’s defense on A.J. Abrams.
• Chris Bahn wraps up the win for Arkansas Sports 360.
• Razorback Expats has never been prouder of a Hogs team.
• At the AOL Fan House, Chas Rich writes that Arkansas restores the Home Hog Advantage.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• In the NW Arkansas Times, Terry Wood writes that John Pelphrey is putting passion back into Arkansas basketball with a capital P.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey reports on Mississippi State’s out of Western Kentucky.
• In the Orlando Sentinel, David Whitley writes on Tim Tebow.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Pat Dooley reports that Percy Harvin’s ankle is 90 percent for BCS title game.
• Also in the Sun, Robbie Andreu writes on Gator back Brandon James, who is looking to break out against OU.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama will look to a stable of capable quarterbacks in the spring.
• Also in the Press-Register, columnist Tommy Hicks examines whether Florida is too fast for Oklahoma.
• In the Tennessean, David Climer writes that Utah deserves votes for No. 1 after beating Bama.
• In The State, Joe Person reports that South Carolina defensive star Eric Norwood will return for his senior season.
• In The Advocate, Gary Laney previews LSU-Utah.

SEC links for Friday:

• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt writes that John Pelphrey feels Arkansas is right on schedule.
• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that on Christmas morning, everybody wins.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes on the Utah kicker who enjoys celebrity status heading into the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
• In The State, Seth Emerson writes that the Outback Bowl will make history for some South Carolina players.
• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that tough pre-conference schedule is preparing the Vols for future.
• Also in the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that Christmas travel pays off for Vanderbilt.
• In The Advocate, Joseph Schiefelbein writes on LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.
• In the Gainesville Sun, BCS bowl losses don’t bother Oklahoma.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, reports from the NFL say Lane Kiffin tried to hire Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates.
• Marc Weiser writes in the Augusta Chronicle that a shopping spree awaits Georgia.
• In the AJC, Michael Carvell writes that Matt Stafford’s NFL decision is impacting Georgia’s recruiting.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt previews Arkansas coach John Pelphrey’s return to South Alabama, where the Hogs play tonight. “At Gottfried’s suggestion, a clause was put in Pelphrey’s contract that if he left South Alabama to coach at a school in a major conference, he would schedule a home-and-home series with the Jaguars as a buyout clause rather than incur a financial penalty. ‘It’s tough for us to get SEC teams in our building, so this is much better for us than a buyout,’ Gottfried said. ‘But John easily could have bought his way out of this, and he kept his word.’”

• The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Bruce Pearl’s name has been mentioned in connection with the NBA opening for the Washington Wizards. Actually, the mention comes from the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonell, who wrote, “I heard an interesting name Monday as a potential candidate for the Wizards job down the road: Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl. Grunfeld is a Tennessee alumnus and was also around Pearl when he coached Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Grunfeld was running the Milwaukee Bucks.”

• In the Gainesville Sun, Kevin Brockway reports on Florida’s win over Washington in the CBE consolation game. “With No. 17 Florida struggling to hold on late against Washington in the consolation game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/CBE Classic, the Gators turned to an old standby to bail them out Tuesday. Senior guard Walter Hodge broke an 81-all tie with a 3-pointer with 1:01 left, allowing Florida (4-1) to hold on for an 86-84 win against the Huskies to salvage third place in the tournament.”

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that the odds are stacked against Auburn on Saturday. “Others have wondered if it’s true that Nick Saban has considered resting his starters against Auburn so nobody would get hurt before the SEC title game.Or will he simply let the seniors play for a series or two so they can get a standing ovation from the adoring crowd? What chance does Auburn have of pulling the upset? Two shots: Slim and none.”

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that Auburn’s challenge is to go down with a fight. “You know times are tough for the Auburn football coach when the best public compliment he’s gotten in ages comes from the Alabama football coach. And it comes five days before the Iron Bowl. We’re a long way from Ray Perkins vs. Pat Dye.”

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Pelphrey returns to South Alabama’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley predicts that Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford will outplay Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and that the Bulldogs will beat the Gators.

• But in the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu writes that since the Ole Miss loss, Florida has executed a total team turnaround.

• In the AJC, Tommy Stinson writes that Florida’s ground game presents a test for the Georgia defense.

• In the Orlando Sentinel, Jeremy Fowler writes that Florida return man Brandon James has something to prove.

• In the Athens Banner-Herald, Marc Weiszer writes that after what happened to Kentucky, Georgia is concerned about blocked punts.

• In the Palm Beach Post, Ben Volin reports that Gator cornerback Janoris Jenkins should be able to play Saturday.

• Kyle Veazey writes in the Clarion-Ledger that Mississippi State is trying to improve its pass rush.

• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that UT’s first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson is trying to shake off his critics as his players fail to shake off tackers.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports that the president of Auburn’s board of trustees still supports Tommy Tuberville.

• State columnist Ron Morris writes that South Carolina is now in the bad bonus business.

• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that Vanderbilt remains upbeat despite losing streak.

• In the NW Arkansas Times, Terry Wood reports that season ticket sales for Arkansas men’s basketball are down from a year ago.