John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

Mississippi State’s Dee Bost scored 15 points and dished a career-high 13 assist as No. 20 Mississippi State beat visiting Ole Miss 70-60 last night.

State hit nine of 25 three-pointers, compared to three-of-nine for the Rebels, and outrebounded Ole Miss by five. Arnett Moultrie led all scorers with 18 points. Ole Miss’ Reginald Buckner did have 15 points and nine rebounds.

Rick Stansbury’s Bulldogs are now tied with Vanderbilt for third place at 6-3  in the SEC. Of course, Kentucky leads the league at 10-0. Florida is second at 7-2. UK travels to Vanderbilt on Saturday for a 9 p.m. ESPN College GameDay event, and the Cats travel to Mississippi State on Feb. 21 for a 9 p.m. ESPN Super Tuesday affair.

• Dee Bost lets his game do his talking, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• These Dogs have a world of potential, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham argues that college basketball should start and end its season later to escape college football’s shadow.
• Austin Rivers’ shot to beat North Carolina is the reason he picked Duke over Florida, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.

Mike Slive (AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Thursday:

• SEC commissioner Mike Slive has too much to do to retire, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Joe Medley of the Anniston Star writes that the SEC commissioner started off the proceedings with some big talk about academic reform and NCAA rules.
• Slive shows he wants to be out in front of the debate, says my H-L column.
• Slive wants to alter the landscape, writes Mark Schlabach of espn.com.
• The commish has ideas and they’re not stupid, says Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel argues that Ron Zook left Urban Meyer a better program at Florida than Meyer left Will Muschamp.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC doesn’t think Muschamp is the next Zook.
• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has his old swagger back after winning division title, writes Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Spurrier knows that repeating won’t be easy, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
• With former UK associate AD Scott Stricklin at the helm, Mississippi State pulls in a record $37.6 million in private donations, reports the AP.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Slive’s big ideas, Spurrier’s swagger and Gators’ chip’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Cecil Hurt: Like it or not, rule changes are coming
• Joe Medley: More motivation than agreement at Destin meetings
• The oversigning debate has begun at SEC Spring Meetings
• Oversigning has support among league coaches
• Number is “in play” on oversigning issue
• LSU’s Les Miles says a change is underway
• Alabama coach Nick Saban defends Ohio State’s Jim Tressel
• David Climer: Gordon Gee hurt Ohio State more than Vanderbilt
• John Adams: For once, it’s Big 10 football that creates the intrigue

Continue reading ‘SEC: Like it or not, rule changes are coming’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Washaun Ealey is no longer a Georgia Bulldog, reports Seth Emerson of the Columbus Ledger-Enqurier.
• Ealey’s departure not as big as it might have been once, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Florida sets a high bar for SEC success, writes Antonya English of the Tampa Tribune.
• Charges reduced against Florida basketball players, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Phil Fulmer could get by as athletic director, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Mr. SEC looks at commitment lists for SEC football.
• Justice Department shouldn’t make a federal case out of the BCS, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Ealey departs Georgia; Florida sets the bar high’

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’

Charlie Weis taking his schematic advantage to Florida. (AP photo)

SEC links for Monday:

• Jeff Lockridge: Vanderbilt men overcome injuries to demolish Davidson 80-52.
• Kyle Veazey: Ole Miss escapes SE Louisiana’s upset bid, 68-59.
• AP: Virginia beats LSU men’s basketball team 64-50.
• Kevin Brockway: Billy Donovan and Gators determined to avoid letdown vs. Rutgers.
• Dan Fleser: Tennessee women use depth to win at LSU, 73-65.
• Tom Dienhart: D could still be the key in BCS title game.
• Ron Higgins: Arkansas defense wants to shut down Terrelle Pryor.
• Mike Bianchi: So long Urban Meyer, wish we could say we will miss you.
• David Jones: Will Muschamp’s first Florida staff starting to take shape.
• Jason Lieser: Chiefs confirm that Charlie Weis will join Florida coaching staff.
• Matt Hinton: Now Weis has the keys to the Florida offense.
• Post and Courier: Tori Gurley says he is leaving South Carolina for NFL draft.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Weis headed to Florida; Vandy, Ole Miss men win’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Ching: Georgia takes care of business, beats Charleston Southern 70-55.
• Veazey: Fate of fighters Sidney, Bailey hangs in balance at Mississippi State.
• Jones: Florida basketball game with Fairfield canceled because of weather.
• Black: Alabama buries Pepperdine 83-60 to give Grant 100th win.
• Tucker: Georgia and Ohio State agree to play home-and-home in football.
• Scarbinsky: It’s only Auburn’s biggest football game ever.
• Adams: What is the name of the new Vanderbilt football coach?
• Tate: Maryland may have reached out to Gus Malzahn.
• George: Urban Meyer says he may work for ESPN next year.
• Lockridge: Vandy doesn’t know if Goulbourne can play against Marquette.
• Woodbery: Auburn basketball meets Georgia Southern tonight.
• Jones: Another Florida football coach is hospitalized.
• Pennington: James Willis’ departure story gets a little weirder.
• Leiser: Meyer exit, Muschamp arrival has everyone at Florida antsy.
• Emerson: Georgia’s Sturdivant talks to media for first time in two years.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Georgia, Alabama win in hoops; Florida canceled’

SEC links for Monday:

• Mississippi State disputes blog report that Elgin Bailey is off team after fight, reports John L. Pitts of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Three Georgia Bulldogs will miss Liberty Bowl because of academics, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Off-the-field news marks memory of this Georgia season, writes Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that tracking tattoos has become NCAA role.
• Nick Saban addresses DUI of football signee, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Urban Meyer’s final Gators game might be fun, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Arkansas’ offense preparing for its final test, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Crimson Tide hits the field in Orlando, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Mississippi State starts its game week in Florida, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Bowl will gauge Tennessee’s improvement, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mississippi State disputes report Bailey off team’

Gus Malzahn. (AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC notes and links for Monday:

SEC BASKETBALL TONIGHT – LSU takes on a tough Coastal Carolina tonight, reports Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times. “The Chanticleers are 7-2 on the season under former Auburn coach Cliff Ellis after winning 28 games last season and reaching the NIT. Desmond Holloway leads Coastal Carolina with 18.4 points a game while averaging 7.2 rebounds a game. LSU, meanwhile, trailed by 11 points with 14 minutes to play Saturday before rallying to tie the game for the first of two times in the final 2 minutes. The game was won thanks to three late turnovers by Central Michigan and LSU making 12-of-12 free throws in the latter stages after starting the game 4-of-10.”

Mississippi Valley State, which comes to UK on Saturday, is at Ole Miss tonight. And Nicholls State is at Mississippi State.

GUS MALZAHN TO VANDY? – Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has been offered the Vanderbilt job. He writes: “A person close to situation said Malzahn is mulling over the offer from the Commodores and will decide either tonight or early in the morning. That person said reports that he has already accepted the job are not true. Malzahn was in New York on Saturday to watch his quarterback, Cam Newton, accept the Heisman Trophy.”

– Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean says reports of a Vandy agreement with Malzahn are false.

Continue reading ‘SEC news: Gus Malzahn not Vandy’s new coach — yet’

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon. His team meets Tennessee today. (AP photo)

SEC links for Saturday:

• Vols ready for Big East battle, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt targets Gus Malzahn, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Auburn OC has job options, writes Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
• Hesiman could be a runaway, says Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports.
• Media shouldn’t be Heisman story, writes Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal.
• Meyer a coaching cop-out, writes Mike Bianchi of Orlando Sentinel.
• It’s a pressure-packed job, writes Gene Wojciechowski of espn.com.
• Florida’s Foley keeps low profile, says Edward Aschoff of Gainesville Sun.
• Dan Mullen in rumor-deflecting mode right now, writes David Brandt of the AP.
• Successor speculation all around UF, writes Jason Lieser of Palm Beach Post.

Continue reading ‘Tennessee ready for Pitt; Vandy targets Gus Malzahn’