John Clay's Sidelines

When new North Carolina State athletic director Debbie Yow hired Mark Gottfried as basketball coach, some laughed. How could a coach fired at Alabama compete against the Tar Heels in the Blue Devils? Guess what. In the recruiting wards, Gottfried is competing. This afternoon, State picked up a commitment from T.J. Warren, the 6-foot-7 forward from Durham, North Carolina who at one time had Kentucky on his wish list. Warren joins Rodney Purvis, the 6-4 Top 20 prospect from Raleigh, as Wolfpack commitments.

Here’s an updated look at the Class of 2012 top 40 basketball commitments using Rivals, Scoutand ESPNU.

Continue reading ‘Mark Gottfried is getting it done at N.C. State’

(AP photo/Jim Mone)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• DeMarcus Cousins’ late-game calm helps Kings win opener, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
• Kentucky seventh in SEC in graduation rates, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• UK touts dramatic improvement in those grad rates, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• My Thursday column saying that in dealing with DUIs, UK’s Joker Phillips should remember the late Artie Steinmetz.
• Young basketball Cats adjust to growing process, writes Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Receivers back at practice, but Locke is questionable, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Starting isn’t lip service to linebacker Ridge Wilson, says Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel writes that Wilson is trying to do better than just good enough.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cousins’ debut, UK grad rate and dealing with DUIs’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bobby Johnson’s sudden retirement stuns Commodores, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean says Vanderbilt football claimed another victim.

• Suspended Georgia running back Dontavius Jackson will transfer, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Bobby Johnson did a lot with a little, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.

• 

  Jenn Brown

  New Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell is called intense, writes Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean.

• Some fans suspicious about timing of Johnson’s retirement, writes Maurice Patton of the Tennessean.

• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Johnson’s departure is puzzling.

• Wayne Chism is talking Turkey as a backup plan, reports Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

• Another report, another twist to the Vol Brawl, writes the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Erin Andrews’ replacement, Jenn Brown, has carved her own path, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Bobby Johnson’s retirement shocks Vandy’

SEC links for Friday:

• Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that Arkansas broke the ice with its win over Bama.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports on Alabama’s loss at Arkansas in Philip Pearson’s debut.
• In the Tuscaloosa News, Cecil Hurt reports that Arkansas freshman ripped the Tide.
• Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on the nail-biter that was Pat Summitt’s 999th win at Tennessee.
• In the AJC, columnist Terence Moore writes that Georgia should give Tubby Smith a call about replacing Dennis Felton.
• Also in the AJC, Chip Towers gets the player reaction to Felton’s firing.
• In the Athens Banner-Herald, David Ching writes that Felton’s firing was a necessity.
• Now former Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried tells Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News that he still loves his alma mater.
• News columnist Ray Melick writes that AD Mal Moore has a chance to define expectations for Alabama basketball.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that the chairs have been pulled from SEC hot seats.
• David Climer of the Tennessean checks in on the lack of security for SEC basketball coaches.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Arkansas breaks the ice’

Sorry for the delay, but here are SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Bruce Pearl is playing the must-win card.
• In the AJC, Tim Tucker writes that Georgia is looking for answers in midst of losing streak.
• In the Birmingham News, Kevin Scarbinsky writes his belief that VCU’s Anthony Grant is not coming to Alabama as basketball coach.
• Also in the News, Charles Goldberg reports that Auburn has picked up a commitment from a coveted dual-threat quarterback.
• In the Huntsville Times, Gentry Estes reports that Alabama AD Mal Moore believed the basketball program was losing ground.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Gottfried Era ended where it began, at the bottom.
• In The State, Seth Emerson writes that Austin Steed’s play has given South Carolina reason to smile.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin has rocked the rest of the SEC.
• Also in the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes that Bobby Maze has settled in as the Tennessee point guard.
• Randy Rosetta of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that LSU is excited about the upcoming baseball season.

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 Tuesday:

• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that while Mark Gottfried was a fiery player, he was losing his intensity as a coach.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Gentry Estes writes on Gottfried’s interim successor, Philip Pearson.
• On his blog, Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times tackles the question of what Alabama will do next.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that South Carolina coach Darrin Horn is breaking in new ground.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Pat Dooley writes that Chandler Parsons could be the key to the Florida season.
• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that A.J. Ogilvy’s health holds the key to Vanderbilt’s season.
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee faces a make-or-break week.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that defensive work is paying dividends for Auburn.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Gary Laney writes that LSU’s Marcus Thornton is thriving.
• Chip Towers of the AJC asks if Georgia is competitive with its checkbook.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel sits down with Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton for a Q&A.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Dan Fleser reports that Pat Summitt has lost her patience.

Updated at 4:58 p.m.

Two days after losing 61-51 to Kentucky, Mark Gottfried is out at Alabama, according to news accounts in Alabama.

Links:

• Here’s official press release from Alabama.
• Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com is catching up on the Gottfried news.
• You can listen to them talk about the Gottfried firing on Finebaum online.
• Updated at 4:24: It’s now official that Gottfried has resigned.
• Cecil Hurt has the news of Gottfried’s firing for the Tuscaloosa News.
• Gentry Estes has the story for the Mobile Press-Register.
• Earlier, Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News had that Gottfried was meeting with Alabama officials to discuss future.
• The Alabama Basketball Blog gives its take.
• Now Pat Forde has the news for ESPN.com.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• According to Columbus Ledger-Inquirer, UK’s Billy Gillispie has told top football recruit he can play basketball at Kentucky if he signs on to play football with the Cats. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK basketball blog.)
• Meanwhile, Jason Leiser of the Palm Beach Post reports that UK Has a commitment from Florida prep running back Donald Russell. (Also on Kentucky Sports Radio.)
• On his blog, Chip Cosby also reports on Russell.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports that St. X running back Deuce Finch has turned down UK in favor of Boston College.
• UK coach Billy Gillispie talks on the SEC teleconference about Saturday’s game at Alabama.
• Alabama coach Mark Gottfried talks on the same teleconference about Kentucky.
• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes that Perry Stevenson is leaving the praise to others.
• In the Herald-Leader, Mark Story writes that Jodie Meeks is showing the marks of a marked man.
• In the C-J, Brett Dawson writes on the beauty of Patrick Patterson’s beast.
• In the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught writes that Alabama’s athleticism worries Gillispie.
• In the Huntsville Times, columnist Bill Bryant writes that Ronald Steele is not to blame for his abrupt departure.
• Eric Lindsey of the Cat Scratches blog has a UK practice report.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, B.W. Jones writes that the Kentucky women are looking at LSU as a must-win.
• Also in the Kernel, Bobby Reagan has the diary of a UK walk-on, part 2.
• Adreaine Payne, a 2010 UK target, tells Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News that recruiters can wait. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

SEC links for Monday:

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  Scotty Hopson

  In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Tennessee freshman Scotty Hopson has picked a perfect time to step up.

• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times writes that Arkansas needs all-around improvement.
• Also in the Times, Brandon Marcello reports that Razorback forward is suspended after DWI arrest.
• Randy Rosetta of the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that LSU wide receiver Brandon LaFell has taken name out of the draft.
• In the News-Sentinel, Drew Edwards writes that Lane Kiffin’s first UT staff is built around recruiting.
• The Birmingham News’ Charles Goldberg reports that Auburn has hired a Colorado assistant to coach offensive line.
• Also in the News, Ian Rapoport talks with Ronald Steele’s father, who says his son is healing.
• News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that after loss to Auburn, Bama coach Mark Gottfried may have reached the point of no return.
• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that Florida freshman Kenny Kadji is making strides in SEC play.
• In The State, Seth Emerson reports on the South Carolina women’s loss at Tennessee.
• Mike Organ of the Tennessean writes on Vandy’s win over LSU in women’s hoops.
• The Clarion-Ledger reports on Ole Miss’ win over Alabama in women’s hoops.