John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

At his day-before press conference on Friday, John Calipari went to canine lengths to describe the difference between Kentucky basketball and basketball at other schools. The coach talked about receiving a letter that had dog paw prints on it, and then imitated a conversation with the dog, in bark.

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader: “Of course, Kentucky will try to be ruff and ready in Saturday’s game at LSU. But in assessing the game, Calipari stressed that he wants UK players to concentrate on what UK must do. Opponents will compete and play well. “I expect LSU to come out and play a good game,” Calipari said. “I expect them to play better than they have all year.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Teague vs. Hickey gets the UK-LSU pre-game focus’

Paul Finebaum

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Paul Finebaum is the leader in “Most Hated Man in SEC” poll [Birmingham News]
• Is the SEC the nation’s dirtiest conference? [Gainesville Sun]
• Vegas oddsmakers like Oklahoma over Alabama and LSU for BCS title [Mr. SEC]
• Twitter and Facebook lead to minor infractions for Mississippi State [Clarion-Ledger]
• LSU’s Trent Johnson denied bid for contract extension [Shreveport Times]
• New Tennessee baseball coach facing academic scrutiny [Knoxville News-Sentinel]
• Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin in line for new contract [Tennessean]
• Former Georgia lineman confirms dispute with new strength coach [AJC]
• Caleb King says he will enter NFL supplemental draft [Athens Banner-Herald]
• Bryce Sherman confirms departure from South Carolina football team [Charleston Post and Courier]
• Ex-Alabama stars reunited as All-Star battery-mates [Montgomery Advertister]
• Is Jordan Jefferson poised for a big season at LSU? [Scott Hotard]
• Arkansas athletics has seen a major increase in fund-raising [Whole Hog Sports]
• Florida athletics is one of few programs that could pay its athletes [ESPN]

(AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• Alabama pulls away late to beat LSU 67-56, reports Don Kausler of the News.
• Bama can clinch share of West title Saturday, writes Tuscaloosa News’ Cecil Hurt.
• LSU plays well, but falls at home, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• Toomer’s trees just latest SEC debacle, says Seth Emerson of the Ledger-Enquirer.
• Poison has filled the air in Alabama, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the News.
• Time for the voice of reason to speak up, says Joe Medley of the Anniston Star.
• Air of sadness at Toomer’s Corner, reports Christian Boone of the AJC.
• Could the SEC be destroying itself, a la the SWC? asks Mr. SEC.
• A new low in Iron Bowl rivalry, writes Mark Schlabach of espn.com.
• Lady Vols roll over South Carolina 82-60, reports Dan Fleser of the News-Sentinel.
• Alabama women win at Auburn, reports Evan Woodbery of the Press-Register.
• Bats with less pop bode well for college baseball, writes Rick Cleveland of the C-L.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Alabama beats LSU; Air of sadness at Auburn’

Florida's Patric Young fouls Georgia's Trey Thompkins in last night's game.(AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

Paul Newberry of the AP: “Chandler Parsons took control in the second overtime after the teams traded tying last-second shots, leading No. 24 Florida to a 104-91 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night. Trey Thompkins put back a missed shot just ahead of the buzzer at the end of regulation, capping the Bulldogs’ rally from an eight-point deficit in the final 3 minutes. Florida (16-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) forced a second overtime when Erving Walker raced down the court and hit a long 3-pointer with 1 second remaining.”

Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun: “Since Florida junior point guard Erving Walker was a kid, he’s been used to taking a step or two back when shooting 3-pointers. That advice came from his dad, who used to coach the 5-foot-8 Walker in youth basketball leagues. On Tuesday night against Georgia, Walker hit the biggest of his deep 3-pointers to date. With Florida on its way to a potential heartbreaking overtime loss at Georgia, Walker drained a miracle 30-footer with one second left to tie the game at 85 and send it to a second overtime. From there, Florida dominated the next five minutes to beat Georgia 104-91 before a stunned sellout crowd of 10,523 at Stegeman Coliseum.”

Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register: “Auburn set a breathtaking new standard for futility in a miserable start to the second half before nearly pulling off an equally incredible comeback. Auburn’s 73-64 loss to Arkansas Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena was another chapter in what might be a historically bad season that has produced its share of games that are both bizarre and riveting. The Tigers (7-13, 0-6 SEC) missed 22 consecutive field goals and failed to score a basket for almost the first 12 minutes of the second half.”

John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel: “When Tyler Summitt joined the Tennessee men’s basketball team as a walk-on this season, I wondered, “What’s the point?” Having grown up in the same house with Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, he already had an advanced degree in the sport. When other children were cutting out paper dolls, he was cutting down nets. He learned more about the game in dinner conversation than most kids did in a childhood full of pricey basketball camps. No wonder, he wants to be a basketball coach. He has a lifetime head-start on his contemporaries.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida now 5-1 after double-OT win at Georgia’

(AP photo/Mark Humphrey)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Vanderbilt could not have worked a better late-game play, getting an Andre Walker bucket with 4.1 seconds left to beat visiting Marquette 77-76 last night at Memorial Gym, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean. It was also fun watching the bald Kevin Stallings match wits with the bald Buzz Williams.
• Tennessee men’s basketball team held off UT-Martin 68-62 last night, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Vols needed to hit nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to win it. Scotty Hopson led the way with 17 points.
• Meanwhile, LP Field has become Knoxville West for tonight’s Music City Bowl game between Tennessee and North Carolina, reports Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean. It’s a 6:40 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Remember the bowl days when it was Lexington South?
• Back to basketball, where Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel writes that close scares are the norm for Tennessee hoops. Bruce Pearl said afterward, “”I was hoping all the media was in Nashville with the football team. “Unfortunately I’m disappointed to see you guys.”
• Mississippi State’s long nightmare of a road trip finally ended with a 94-72 loss at St. Mary’s, reports the AP. Rick Stansbury may be ruing the day he laid eyes on Renardo Sidney.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vandy gets big win, but Tennessee takes Nashville’

Lane Kiffin is losing a starting defensive end to his old school.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Southern Cal defensive end Malik Jackson transferring to Tennessee, reports the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Pedro Moura of ESPN Los Angeles also reports on Jackson leaving Los Angeles for Knoxville.

• Bruce Pearl travels to Germany to watch United States’ U-17 team, reports Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

• Scheduled to earn $550,000 a year, Damon Evans takes a $237,500 in resignation as Georgia AD, reports Lee Shearer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Mark Bradley of the AJC argues that Mark Richt’s position as Georgia football coach will be even stronger with new AD.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes on Damon Evans’ success and then miserable failure.

• Tommy Tuberville is raising some eyebrows in the Big 12, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.

• John Brantley is ready to take the reigns at Florida, writes Byron Saucer for the Gainesville Sun.

Continue reading ‘SEC: USC defensive end transferring to Tennessee’

SEC links for Friday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Tennessee clinching a share of the SEC East title, plus the No. 1 seed.
• Griffith also reports that UT’s Tyler Smith is considering returning for his senior season.
• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that suddenly Tennessee is looking like a champion.
• Seth Emerson of The State reports that Tennessee simply ran away from South Carolina.
• State columnist Ron Morris writes that Tennessee proved good to the last dunk.
• Mark Schlabach of espn.com writes on Tennessee’s recovery.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Vols clinch top seed in SEC East’

Big Blue Links for the UK-LSU showdown (4 p.m., CBS):

• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes that this is a nighmare matchup for the Cats.
• Here’s my column saying today’s game poses the biggest test of the young Billy Gillispie Era.
• Tipton’s notes packages leads with the off-and-on status of A.J. Stewart.
• All your UK audio needs are on this link.
• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that Rupp Arena awaits the Tigers.
• Laney also writes that LSU is counting on Garrett Temple to contain Jodie Meeks.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Meeks impresses Temple.
• Vaught also writes that LSU awaits a “talented” UK.
• Hoops Report gives some love to LSU’s Marcus Thornton.
• Kevin Lyttle of the Austin American-Statesman writes that LSU’s turnaround season has been striking.
• David Helman of the Daily Reville writes that LSU is shooting for the SEC crown today.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Patrick Patterson is the Cats’ insider.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK-LSU preview links’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate previews tonight’s LSU-Mississippi State clash.
• Also in The Advocate, Joseph Schiefelbein writes that rematches provide tests.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State doesn’t need any pep talks.
• Clarion-Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland writes that LSU’s Trent Johnson has been one good hire.
• In his Open Mike blog, Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi wants to know if its too early for Tennessee to fire Lane Kiffin.
• In the AJC, Mark Bradley writes that Vince Dooley says Kiffin has “a lot to learn.”
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean reports that Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton claims that Kiffin is contrite for overstepping his bounds.
• Meanwhile, in the AJC, Michael Carvell reports that Kiffin is blaming one recruiting loss on grandma.
• Also in the Tennessean, Maurice Patton reports that Vandy’s Jamie Graham has given up basketball for football.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register writes on Auburn’s Rasheem Barrett and his old-school jumper.
• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes that SEC may expect few NCAA basketball invites.
• In The State, columnist Ron Morris wants some baseball jerseys retired.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Tennessee must rebound against Georgia.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Mike Strange looks at the SEC’s top freshmen.

SEC links for Saturday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida’s defense will face a tough test in Tennessee.
• In the AJC, Tim Tucker reports on Georgia’s preparations for its first game without Dennis Felton.
• Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald blogs that erasing Felton’s memory is a bit premature.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News reports on the battle of the interim coaches.
• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that the home has not been sweet for Tennessee, of late.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that SEC wars continue over coaches, recruits.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Mike Strange writes that Tennessee is finally on the basketball map.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy is keeping spirits up despite losing streak.
• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that LSU hopes to continue its good play.
• Also in The Advocate, Joseph Schiefelbein writes that Trent Johnson is already a big part of LSU’s history.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida puts defense to the test’