John Clay’s Sidelines

(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

SEC links for Monday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama is playing like a team that can do it all.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower is out with ligament damage.
• Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times reports that Auburn is facing a difficult October.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Gene Chizik has provided no promises, just wins.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun has details on Tim Tebow’s release from hospital.
• Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Tebow’s concussion listed as mild.
• Ray FitzGerald writes for the Gainesville Sun that Nick Calathes is enjoying his time in Greece.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes on loss of Tennessee’s Nick Reveiz.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss took quite a tumble in the polls.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia wants improvement from its offensive line.

SEC links for Friday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that NCAA has delayed interviews in case of Mississippi State basketball recruit Renardo Sidney.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that LSU coach Paul Mainieri shares CWS title with family and friends.
• Gainesville Sun reports Timberwolves could pay $500,000 buyout to get Nick Calathes out of his Greek contract.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that a massive clean-up project awaits ex-Tennessee coach Kevin O’Neill at Southern Cal.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News on whether Nick Saban deserves a new deal.
• Joe Person of The State writes that a new conditioning coach has brought a different approach to South Carolina.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Interviews delayed in case of MSU’s Sidney’

SEC links for Friday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT’s Scotty Hopson is working on his shot.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that ex-Gator Nick Calathes could still be picked in NBA’s first round.
• Brockway also reports that Florida freshman-to-be Kenny Boynton was cut from U.S. National Under-19 team.
• Rick Fires of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that Razorbacks will throw it all into rematch with LSU at CWS.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that beating LSU twice is a tough feat.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Florida has replaced Georgia as the summer focus of off-the-field problems.
• Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline writes that wins shouldn’t exacerbate Florida’s sins.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that MSU’s Jarvis Varnado makes the World University Games team.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Scotty Hopson working on his shot’

Florida is losing star point guard Nick Calathes is pulling his name out of the NBA draft.

But the Gator isn’t returning to Gainesville.

He’s headed to Greece.

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Calathes has decided to play professionally in Greece.

An excerpt:

Calathes, the state’s two-time “Mr. Basketball” from Lake Howell, agreed to terms Friday to play for powerful Panathinaikos, the reigning Euroleague Basketball champion club based in Greece, according to sources close to the former Gators playmaker.

Neither Calathes nor his family would comment on the development, pending announcements from Panathinaikos and UF. Gators Coach Coach Billy Donovan apparently was informed of his player’s decision Friday night, with at least one source saying a contract was signed.

The deal, sources said, will pay Calathes around $1.1 million per year, in addition to providing him with a home, car and tax credits, making for a total package commensurate to what the NBA rookie salary scale provides a late-lottery selection. Golden’s State forward Anthony Randolph, the final lottery pick of 2008 at No. 14, made $1.424 million as a rookie.

SEC links for Friday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida guard Nick Calathes faces tough NBA decision.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Vanderbilt is a win away from SEC baseball final.
• In the Tennessean, Evan Drexler writes that bases-loaded walk helped Vandy cause.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that bad news outweighed good for Ole Miss at tournament.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports on Ole Miss’ 12-2 loss to Florida.
• In The Advocate, Randy Rosetta reports on LSU baseball win that eliminated Alabama from tourney.
• Neil White of The State writes that tough loss puts South Carolina baseball in tough position.
• Darryl Maxie of the AJC reports that Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt is happy with Georgia’s gift.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes on the Georgia-Florida football site buzz.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that fans blindly support Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT’s Lane Kiffin has placed strength coach under strict review.
• The News-Sentinel has more on the troubles of ex-Vol basketball player Ramar Smith.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Arkansas could be facing a loss of scholarships over poor APR scores.
• Darryl Maxie of the AJC reports on Auburn coaches using limos in recruiting.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that kids think the limos are cool.
• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas times reports that Andre Clark is leaving the Razorback basketball team.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Nick Calathes is at IMG preparing for NBA workouts.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes on Buzz Peterson’s return to Appalachian State.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Arkansas basketball could lose scholarships’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• My column on Billy D. and Billy G. going from hot properties to ice cold in a span of two years.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that, as usual, UK-Florida is huge.
• Tipton’s notes lead with Nick Calathes struggles with the team concept at Florida.
• Audio of Billy Gillispie’s press conference from Friday discussing the Florida game.
• Or maybe you’d prefer to watch the video.
• Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal has a note saying it serves Kentucky right after running off Tubby Smith. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Gillispie believes there are good things ahead.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that it’s not all that simple for the Cats.
• Vaught also writes that the Cats are living on the edge.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida’s Walter Hodge wants to leave the O-Dome a winner.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky-Florida preview links’

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Billy Gillispie doesn’t think the season is over yet.
• Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story writes that firing Billy Gillispie would only fan the flames.
• The H-L has the report on UK women’s first-round loss in the SEC Tournament.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes on Kentucky’s slipping NCAA chances.
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal says those wearing blue aren’t Cats.
• At the Bleacher Report, Trey Bradley writes it’s time to get Gillispie out of Kentucky.
• Tom Leach talks to Larry Conley after UK’s loss to Georgia.
• Ben Jackey at WLKY writes that the fans are after Gillispie’s head.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun on why Billy Donovan benched Nick Calathes.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky basketball on red alert’

Update: Blog commenter wanted me to add Patterson to the mix, so I did.

Update II: Jeff Goodman at Fox Sports has Meeks No. 7 and Thornton No. 10 in his national Player of the Year rankings.

I still think Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks will be named the SEC’s Player of the Year. But in my column this morning, I note that Kentucky’s point machine has more competition than we once might have expected. Here’s a chart comparison of the top contenders:

Conference and non-conference games included. Leader in each category marked by gold box.

Calathes

Good, aggressive e-mail from Mike concerning a note in this morning’s column contending that Nick Calathes may be the best all-around player in the SEC:

Mike from Jackson writes:

Mr. Clay,

In what world of delusion is Nick Clathes the “best all around performer in the SEC”?

If you wanted to make the argument that he had the best all around performance in Tuesday night’s game, who could argue. But if you’re looking at the season as a whole, that’s a ridiculous contention.

Meeks is as good or a better shooter, as good or a better scorer, as good or a better free throw shooter. And Meeks does all this with MUCH more intense focus from opposing defenses. But if you go no further, the MOST you could claim is that it is a push.

But Meeks is so much better as a rebounder, and so VASTLY superior as a defender, that he leaves Calathes in the dust. Calathes is a very good player that any team would love to have. But I doubt you’d
find 10 coaches in D-1 that would take him ahead of Meeks on their team. INCLUDING Billy D.

Meeks

My reply:

Mike,

Thanks for the e-mail. I would debate you on one point — rebounding.

Going into the UK-Florida game, Calathes was 11th in the SEC in rebounding (conference games only) at seven per game. Meeks wasn’t in the top 30.

Meeks is the better scorer, even though Calathes did get 33 on Tuesday. And Meeks made the clutch shot at the end, while Calathes couldn’t knock down any of his three throws when Florida had a chance to send the game into overtime.

Calathes is the better passer. And you’re probably right, Meeks is the better defender.

Believe me, I love Jodie. I think he’s had a tremendous season, and he’s one of the better kids I’ve ever been around. I didn’t mean to knock Jodie. I’m just saying that I think Nick can do a few more things, even if his greatest strength is not as pronounced as Jodie’s greatest strength. (If that makes sense.)

It’s a fun debate to have, by the way.

By the way, the most recent nbadraft.net projections doesn’t list either Calathes or Meeks. It does have Patterson at No. 19.