John Clay's Sidelines

Tennessee

SEC links for Thursday:

• Scotty Hopson scores 18 to send Tennessee to NIT final, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• LSU basketball whips Centenary 78-36, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• John Pelphrey must overcome attedance apathy at Arkansas, says John Pennington of Mr. SEC.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC takes his annual look at Georgia and Georgia Tech fans.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal gives thanks for a plate of SEC treats.
• Auburn is undefeated, and the underdog, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Mississippi State leader has a vocal critic in his wife, writes Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Gus Malzahn’s main focus is perfecting the Auburn offense, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Florida quarterback visits his namesake baby in hospital, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vols play big in Big Apple; Pelphrey problems’

(AP photo/Beth Hall)

SEC links for Thursday:

• John Pelphrey reels in an impressive basketball class at Arkansas, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Auburn appears to be placing its trust in Cameron Newton, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Joe Medley of the Anniston Star calls it Cam Scam 2010.
• Even by SEC standards, the Cameron Newton saga is bizarre, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Mississippi State confirms that it did blow the whistle on Newton earlier this year, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports wonders what took the NCAA so long to follow up on Newton.
• Georgia linebacker Justin Houston says he’s ready for Cameron Newton, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Florida preparing for South Carolina, the best third-down team in the SEC, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Tennessee basketball holds on to it two signees, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Bradley Beal sticks with commitment and signs with Florida, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Scott Dochtermann of the Cedar Rapids Gazette thinks Bruce Pearl will be on Iowa’s wish list.
• Rick Brown of the Des Moines Register has Pearl atop the Iowa search list.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee sees itself in San Diego State.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Tennessee’s big challenge.
• Vanderbilt is guarding against that unlucky No. 13 seed, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida’s Billy Donovan took special pride in this NCAA bid.
• David Jones of Florida Today writes that the Gators are giddy about return to tournament.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register wonders if Anthony Grant really wants to be the coach at Alabama.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that South Carolina is truly Darrin Horn’s team now.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that a still-steamed Mississippi State is preparing for its NIT game.
• Ole Miss wants to move forward, reports David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal writes that Mississippi State is trying to regroup.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia wants to start a football season with a game at the Georgia Dome.
• Chris Bahn of Arkansas 360 says comparing John Pelphrey to Nolan Richardson does a disservice to both.

(H-L photo/Ryan Alessi)

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader previews today’s UK-Arkansas game: “By beating Arkansas on Saturday, Kentucky will almost assuredly secure its first No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press poll since the final balloting of the 2002-03 season. After prodded by reporters, UK players acknowledged on Friday that they would enjoy scratching that seven-year itch.”

• Tipton leads his notes with Calipari saying players leaving is good news: “Kentucky Coach John Calipari welcomes the thought of a mass exodus of his freshmen to this year’s NBA Draft. The better to show highly regarded recruits that they can punch their tickets to the pros after only a brief stop at UK.”

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  (AP photo)

  Ryan Alessi of the H-L reports that legislators swooned over Calipari: “The state House honored Calipari with a resolution officially welcoming him to Kentucky and praising his work raising money for earthquake relief in Haiti. Calipari praised lawmakers, many dressed in UK sweaters or blue shirts, for challenging UK to become a Top 20 research institution and for funding that effort early on. And he told lawmakers he recognized and appreciated their work in crafting public policy.”

• Brett Dawson of the C-J says UK isn’t looking out for No. 1: “There have been 106 Associated Press college basketball polls since the last one that ranked the University of Kentucky No.1. A win against Arkansas on Saturday at Rupp Arena probably would snap that streak for No.2 UK (18-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) after top-ranked Texas lost to Kansas State on Monday. And the Wildcats admit it would be nice. But it’s not the No.1 the Cats have in mind.”

• Matt May of the Cats Pause has a scouting report on UK-Arkansas: “Bio Buzz: There is an old saying that everything works out for a reason but certainly things may have been much different for Rotnei Clarke had he cast his lot with Kentucky instead of Arkansas during the recruiting process. Clarke ultimately stayed closer to home and inked with the Razorbacks, probably a solid move considering the coaching change that took place at Kentucky last spring.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats-Hogs and Mr. Calipari goes to Frankfort’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Yahoo Sports national columnist Dan Wetzel gives John Calipari some well-deserved props for his Hoops for Haiti.
• Andy Mead of H-L reports that one donor spent over $108,000 on Hoops for Haiti.
• Ken Tysiac of the Charlotte Observer on how John Wall escaped North Carolina.
• Calipari tells Dan Patrick he wants John Wall to go pro if he’s No. 1 pick.
• Jennifer Smith Mark Maloney of the H-L reports that Rich Brooks gave UK women a helping hand in win over Arkansas.
• Mason Linker of the Winston-Salem Journal writes on UK target Quincy Miller. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• Mark Story of the H-L writes on former UK commitment Dakotah Euton.
• Danny Jett’s Inner Circle has a Calipari encounter at a middle school basketball game.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L writes that Saturday is another emotional hurdle for Arkansas coach John Pelphrey.
• High School Hoops says Ryan Harrow is backtracking on his C.J. Leslie statement. (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rex Chapman, Howard Stern, Quincy Miller & more’

Hat tip to Tom Leach’s blog.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• NPR’s Frank Deford works John Calipari into a screed on the turmoil in college sports.
• Andy Katz of ESPN on Calipari reaching out to John Wooden.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that some teams are sacrificing for SEC TV deal.
• Jen Smith of the H-L on UK women cracking the Top 25 in coaches poll.
• Rick Bozich’s blog reports that Rick Pitino doesn’t believe UK will go undefeated.
• Bozich also catches up with Tubby Smith.
• Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star reports that Arizona’s Sean Miller is headed to look at Josh Selby. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel reports that young Cats are trying to stay focused.
• Billy Reed has some praise for Coach Cal.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman believes John Wall’s POY lead is shrinking.
• Kentucky Sports Radio has a rumor that Rock Oliver is returning to UK, this time for football.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rick Pitino doesn’t see unbeaten Cats’

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’