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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’

(AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

- Tennessee holds off South Carolina 73-69, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Vols are now 8-7 in the SEC, with Kentucky coming to Knoxville on Sunday.

- Road games aren’t the problem for Tennessee, points out Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel. Tennessee finished 5-3 in SEC play on the road. The Vols are 3-4 at home.

- Tobias Harris scored a career-high 25 points in the Tennessee win, reports Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. ”Tobias finished around the basket,” said UT coach Bruce Pearl afterward. “Tobias rebounded the ball in traffic. He was the only guy in there that had any kind of size – any kind of physical presence. That’s one of his best games. I played him at a lot of center. And as a freshman he’s a winner.”

- Shell-shocked Gamecocks can’t dig out of hole, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier. Sam Muldrow did score a career-high 24 points on his Senior Night for South Carolina.

- Auburn lost more than $600,000 on its BCS championship game appearance, reports Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News. That’s the dirty little secret about bowl games. For the teams, the game itself is not a money-making proposition.

- John Bond says the Cam Newton tape is a fake, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News. I’m not sure I care much about this, or know who to believe.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Tennessee tunes up for UK with win in Columbia’

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’

South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore. (The State photo)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mr. SEC reports that Phil Fulmer and Johnny Majors are actually saying nice things about the other.
• South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore is comfortable as center of attention, writes Neil White of The State.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun offers five storylines for Florida football.
• The Gators are moving on without All-Americans, NFL draftees, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Expect SEC quarterbacks to air it out, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• More quarterbacks gives Ole Miss more options, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Tennessee football players apologize for fight, reports Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Rucker also reports that Derek Dooley is pushing Vols early in camp.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Carolina’s Lattimore happy for the attention’

SEC links for Friday:

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Bruce Pearl is happy to welcome Tobias Harris to Tennessee.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Harris puts the Vols in real paradise.
• Chip Towers of the AJC reports on the sudden death of Georgia’s beloved mascot, UGA VII.
• Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama players are critiquing Nick Saban’s action abilities.
• Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun writes on Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, who could be in demand for head coaching spots.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Nabbing Tobias Harris puts Vols in paradise’

Heralded hoops recruit Tobias Harris signed with some school late last night, but won’t announce until today at 5:30 on ESPNU. Most think Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Syracuse, Maryland and Louisville (outside shot) were the top contenders for Harris, ranked No. 5 by Rivals. But no one seems to know for sure where the 6-8 forward out of New York will play his college basketball.

• Chip Towers of the AJC writes, “Speculation is that Harris is going to become a Vol because Jayvaughn Pinkston, 6-6 forward from Brooklyn, planned to announce his decision to play for Tennessee on Wednesday but abruptly canceled his press conference. So, the theory goes, the Vols must’ve gotten Harris and rescinded Pinkston’s scholarship offer.”
• Mike Waters of the Syracuse Post-Standard writes, “The Harris family has kept the decision a closely-guarded secret, limiting the flow of information regarding Harris’ schools, his visits and his favorites. So why take the trip to Knoxville? A last-minute face-to-face with Bruce Pearl before committing to the Vols? Or was this a red herring? Could Harris be ready to pick Syracuse or West Virginia or Maryland and the Tennessee trip was a ruse to throw everyone off the scent? “

Continue reading ‘More on the Tobias Harris mystery’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald talks to top guard prospect Brandon Knight, who is considering UK.
• Bluegrass State Basketball says Tobias Harris made his decision just before midnight. (He announces it today at 5:30 on ESPNU.)
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Harris sat in Thompson-Boling’s upper deck on Tuesday.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that John Calipari has found plenty wrong with his Cats heading into tonight’s game with Sam Houston State.
• Tipton’s notes lead with some info on Sam Houston State.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Darius Miller fits the dribble-drive.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports on Darnell Dodson’s spot in Calipari’s doghouse.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Kentucky isn’t fooled by Georgia’s sub-par football status.
• Chris Low of espn sings Rich Brooks’ praises.
• My column saying Kentucky’s best football efforts have come on the road this season.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris’ midnight decision’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on UK women’s 72-55 basketball triumph at Morehead.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader examines John Calipari’s statement that “we’re a post-up team.”
• My column arguing that Monday’s near-loss is actually a good thing for UK basketball.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes on UK’s old-school wide receivers.
• Herald-Leader photos from UK women’s win at Morehead.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that Tobias Harris was in Knoxville last night to see Tennessee’s romp.
• Josh Selby’s mother tells The Hoosier Scoop that her son is working on a visit to Kentucky. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Wildcat Blue Blog thinks Harris is looking more and more like a Volunteer.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches runs down the UK volleyball SEC title scenarios.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris watches Vols; Selby setting up UK visit’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader has the game story on Kentucky’s 72-70 win over Miami of Ohio.
• Jerry’s notes leads with John Calipari wanting DeMarcus Cousins to lighten up.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Wall can live up to the hype.
• H-L photo gallery from last night’s game.
• Chip Cosby writes that football Cats’ goals extend beyond goal.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on Wall’s winning shot in the “most-hyped debut in recent memory.”
• Matt May of the Cats’ Pause on John Wall’s unforgettable fire.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on the Charlie Coles/Dick Gabriel post-game show.
• Bluegrass State Basketball checks in with Tobias Harris on the eve of decision-time.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel says Wall’s shot “UK’s nightmare of a catastrophic upset loss at home for the third consecutive season.”
• James Pennington of the Kernel writes that “Monday night, John Wall hit the shot of his career. Thing is, his career to that point had only spanned one game.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: WonderWall, Tobias Harris update, Charlie Coles’