John Clay's Sidelines

Shelvin Mack

Seth Davis pens an NBA draft scouting report for SI.com in which the media dual-threat combines the opinions of several scouts into the voice of one scout, he calls Finch.

Of interest is what “Finch” has to say about some prospects of local interest.

Here is one line from each analysis:

• On Brandon Knight: “To be honest, I think his agent is playing it right.”
• On Enes Kanter: “You love the way he plays.”
• On Shelvin Mack: “I’m a big fan.”
• On Tobias Harris: “He should have gone back to school and lost some weight.”
• On Scotty Hopson: “I just keep waiting for him. Waiting and waiting.”
• On Chandler Parsons: “I watched Florida a bunch this year, and I didn’t come away liking any of them.”
• On Trey Thompkins: “Boy, is he soft.”
• On Josh Selby: “Sheldon Mack would kick his but 10 of 10 times.”

Tobias Harris (AP photo)

The NBA Draft isn’t just for Kentucky and Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams and a slew of foreign players whose names we cannot pronounce.

In fact, there could be a decent SEC presence tonight on ESPN. The site nbadraft.net predicts Tennessee’s Tobia Harris will be taken with the 22nd pick. It has Georgia’s Trey Thompkins being taken by Boston with the 25th pick, and Travis Leslie going at No. 43. It has Florida’s Chandler Parsons being taken at No. 41.

The SEC domination of the College World Series takes a day off. Virginia takes on California tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The loser is out. The winner must then take two from South Carolina to advance in that bracket.

Click the continue line for today’s SEC links:

Continue reading ‘A few SEC players hope to hear their names called tonight’

SEC links:

• Kevin Ware will visit Georgia and Louisville, reports Michael Carvell.
• Cuonzo Martin’s challenge at Tennessee just got tougher, writes John Adams.
• Scotty Hopson says his game is ready for the NBA, reports Mike Griffith.
• Tennessee basketball looking to regroup, reports Patrick Brown.
• Georgia looks ahead at quarterback, writes Seth Emerson.
• APR scores headed in right direction at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer.
• UGA golfer wins on Nationwide tour, reports Jonathan Heeter.
• Caldwell committed to the LSU cause, writes Scott Rabalais.
• LSU football’s last four not as good as previous four, says Glenn Guilbeau.
• Stephen Garcia is a college graduate, reports Travis Haney.

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Today’s games will tell how important Sunday’s Kentucky-Tennessee tilt will be, as far as seeding goes, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal votes for Brandon Knight as SEC’s Player of the Year.
• Upon further review, Tennessee scraps idea to stay in hotel night before UK game, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Tennessee could still get the No. 2 seed in the East, reports Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Cats need help to snag the No. 2 seed, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Derrick Locke content, but not happy with showing at NFL Combine, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Three topics of conversation dominated Friday’s UK basketball media opp, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Kentucky gaining confidence heading into matchup with Tennessee, reports Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Scotty Hopson asks UT students for support, writes Nation of Blue.
• Video of John Calipari from Friday talking about the Tennessee game:

A leaking roof abbreviated the Tennessee-Ole Miss women

SEC links for Friday:

• Florida beats Georgia to clinch share of SEC East title, reports Kevin Brockway of Gainesville Sun.
• Georgia stumbles to lose 71-62, writes Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.
• Tennessee women beat Ole Miss 66-39 in odd game, reports Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• UT-Ole Miss women’s game shortened by weather and a leaky roof, reports David Brandt of the AP.
• Division is nice, but Gators want to win the entire conference, writes MIke DiRocco of the Florida Times-Union.
• No way Chandler Parsons was sitting this game out, writes Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun.
• Parsons provided the second-half spark the Gators needed to win, writes Rachel George of Orlando Sentinel.
• The NCAA tease continues with the Bulldogs, says Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• NCAA committee will decide UT’s fate, reports Andrew Gribble of News-Sentinel.
• Kidney failure forcing Jack Cristil to retire at MSU, writes Brandon Marcello of the C-L.
• Auburn beats Lady Bulldogs 63-58, reports Roger Clarkson of Athens Banner-Herald.
• LSU beats South Carolina women in OT, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida clinches; Rain shortens basketball game’

(AP photo/Mark Humphrey)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Big home game for Georgia tonight vs. Vandy, writes Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Vanderbilt values Taylor’s defense, writes Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Jenkins latest in long line of Vandy sharpshooters, writes Ron Higgins of the C-A.
• SEC stretch key to improving resume, says Marc Weiszer of Athens Banner-Herald.
• Mr. SEC looks at those NCAA tournament resumes.
• Defense has Alabama thinking tourney, says Mike Herndon of the Press-Register.
• Ross has become Auburn’s go-to guy, reports John Zenor of the AP.
• Arkansas players talk about critics, reports Robbie Neiswanger of Arkansas News.
• Sources say no NCAA bombshells on Newton, reports News’ Kevin Scarbinsky.
• NCAA prez’s comments sound good for Newton, says Anniston Star’s Joe Medley.
• Clowney takes some digs at Nick Saban, blogs Chris Low for espn.com.
• Scotty Hopson says Tennessee not done, writes Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Georgia-Vandy battle for second place in East’

(AP photo)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Pelphrey answers growing criticism, reports Robbie Neiswanger of Arkansas News.
• Florida could be without Parsons at LSU, reports Kevin Brockway of Gainesville Sun.
• Parsons could be out indefinitely, reports Mike DiRocco of the Florida Times-Union.
• South Carolina wins on Clowney Day, reports Barry Byers of the Rock Hill Herald.
• South Carolina students thrilled with choice, writes Jason Chisari of Rock Hill Herald.
• Clowney avoids father’s obstacles, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Does South Carolina now own SEC East? asks Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• Clowney exposes recruiting process, reports Thayer Evans for Fox Sports.
• Clowney’s impact stretches beyond field, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• UT safety allegedly tried to strangle woman, reports Austin Ward of News-Sentinel.
• Defense wins close ones in SEC, says Mike Herndon of Mobile Press-Register.
• Injury keeps Goins out at Tennessee, reports Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Pelphrey answers growing criticism at Arkansas’

(AP photo/Wade Payne)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Scotty Hopson likely limited tonight, reports Mike Griffith of News-Sentinel.

Hopson, who averages 16.5 points per game and is from Hopkinsville, Ky., has missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle suffered during a Feb. 1 practice.

Tennessee (15-8, 5-3 SEC) will try to become the first team to beat Kentucky (16-6, 4-4) at Rupp Arena since John Calipari took over as Wildcats coach prior to last season.

Bruce Pearl better be up to speed, writes Mike Strange of News-Sentinel.

After serving his eight games in timeout, as dictated by SEC commissioner Mike Slive, Pearl emerges rested and ready – and chastened – for the remaining eight games of the conference season.

And what a stretch run it will be. The SEC East standings are a logjam. Pearl had better be up to speed when he hits the court.

“I think when Commissioner Slive penalized me the eight games, he originally wanted to do 10,” Pearl said Monday. “But when he looked at the schedule and saw that we have to go to Rupp and the O-Dome, he decided to settle for just eight and make me go to those two places.”

Penitent Pearl makes his return, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.

Pearl accompanied the team to Arkansas for its first SEC game on Jan. 8. He stayed at the hotel and watched the game with his wife and an associate UT athletic director.

Bob Kessling, the radio play-by-play announcer for UT, noted how the team and traveling party did not see Pearl that day until they boarded the plane for the flight home after a 68-65 loss.

“He looked like a lonely, isolated figure,” Kessling recalled. “That was different for everybody.”

Tennessee women rally to beat Kentucky, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.

Kentucky came out swinging, but much bigger Tennessee refused to go down.

It was a Big Monday heavyweight fight and the No. 4 Lady Vols were rattled, but they found a way to win, 73-67, over No. 15 Kentucky in front of 7,126 in Memorial Coliseum.

Shekinna Stricklen led the Vols with 20 points, including 18 in the second half when the Volunteers used a 16-2 run to start the half to grab some momentum on the way to their 13th straight victory and 10th straight win in the Southeastern Conference. Stricklen had nine points in that spurt after what Coach Pat Summitt referred to as a bit of a “prayer meeting” with her swing player.

UK’s effort produced a classic, writes Mark Story of the H-L.

Former Kentucky coach Mickie DeMoss got a standing ovation from the Memorial Coliseum crowd when the Lady Vols assistant entered the court with the Tennessee coaching staff. It was a nice moment.

Once the game started, DeMoss got booed and good when she bounded on the floor to protest a first-half foul call during a TV timeout. That, too, was how it should be.

Continue reading ‘Bruce Pearl to return in Rupp; Lady Vols win in Memorial’

(Hat tip All Kentucky Hoops)

MSU players Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey fight in stands in Hawaii. (AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• MSU teammates Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey fight in stands, reports the AP.
• Sidney scores 19 in Mississippi State’s win over San Diego, reports the Clarion-Ledger.
• Scotty Hopson’s drive gives Tennessee a 66-65 win over Belmont, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Some timely holiday cheer just what Tennessee needed, writes Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel.
• Georgia hangs on to beat Mercer 56-53, reports Michael Lough of the Macon Telegraph.
• Colorado State holds off Ole Miss 68-61, reports the AP.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that Ohio State ruling by NCAA makes no sense.
• NCAA meets world, and world laughs again, writes Joe Medley of the Anniston Star.
• LSU awaiting NCAA’s response on Ridley, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Mark Richt on the hot seat at Georgia, writes Iliana Limon of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Video of Mississippi St players fighting in stands’

(AP photo/Keith Srakocic)

SEC basketball roundup:

• Scotty Hopson scores 27 to lead Tennessee over Pittsburgh, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Hopson is starting to live up to the hype, writes Gary Parrish of CBS Sports.
• Another Pearl from Bruce Pearl, writes Dana O’Neil of espn.com.
• Tennessee beat Pittsburgh at its own game, reports Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• East Tennessee State upsets Mississippi State 63-62, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Fast start leads Ole Miss to 84-70 victory at Arkansas-Little Rock, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Alabama loses at Providence 82-70, reports Mike Scandura for the Tuscaloosa News.
• Rutgers outlasts Auburn 63-54, reports the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Muldrow’s double-double lifts South Carolina over Wofford, reports the AP.
• Late free throws lift LSU past Central Michigan 59-55, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate.