SEC Season Recap

SEC Season Recap

by Rainer Sabin

If there were one word to describe the Southeastern Conference this season, it would be strange. In a league that was defined by parity and saw the emergence of schools that don’t claim a rich basketball tradition, it was Kentucky, ironically, that swept through its 16 SEC games with an undefeated record and maintained its position as king of the hill.

Despite receiving challenges from Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi State, the Wildcats proved that they were the team to beat in a conference that was considered by many analysts as one of the nation’s best. Using a suffocating defense and an offense that was predicated on unselfishness and the timely pass, Kentucky showed how far they had come from last season when it earned the moniker, “Team Turmoil.” Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the spectrum, Arkansas endured its worst season in 16 years. Under new coach Stan Heath, the Razorbacks posted a 9-19 record and landed in the cellar of the conference standings. With four incoming freshmen, Arkansas hopes for a rebirth as soon as next season. Georgia is hoping for the same after Jim Harrick was forced out when an internal investigation by the school’s athletic department revealed that former player Tony Cole’s accusations of academic fraud were bona fide.

Conference Tournament Recap

When it was all over, there was no surprise. Eleven teams had come to New Orleans, but only one seemed likely to take home the crown-Kentucky. And the Wildcats did not disappoint. In the SEC Tournament championship, Kentucky extended its winning streak to 23 games with a 64-57 victory over Mississippi State and made a little history in the process. Kentucky won its 24th SEC tournament championship and became the first team since the 1952 Wildcats to go undefeated in the conference. With Georgia absent from the four-day event and Florida losing to LSU in the second round, Mississippi State emerged as Kentucky’s biggest obstacle. But the Bulldogs were unable to overcome the Wildcats, who proved they were the SEC’s best.

NCAA Tournament Recap

No. 1 Midwest Region: Kentucky – Beat IUPUI 95-64, Beat Utah 74-54, Beat Wisconsin 63-57, Lost to Marquette 83-69 in Elite Eight.

No. 2 South Region: Florida – Beat Sam Houston State 85-55, Lost to Michigan State 68-46 Second Round.

No. 5 East Region: Mississippi State – Lost to Butler 47-46 in First Round.

No. 8 South Region: LSU – Lost to Purdue 80-56 in First Round.

No. 10 East Region: Auburn – Beat St. Joseph’s 65-53, Beat Wake Forest 68-62, Lost to Syracuse 79-78 in Sweet Sixteen

No. 10 Midwest Region: Alabama – Lost to Indiana 67-62 in First Round

After reviewing both divisions, it is time to hand out this season’s awards:

Player of the Year: Ron Slay, Tennessee

It is hard to argue that Slay does not deserve this honor. Without the 6-8 center, Tennessee would be nestled at the bottom of the SEC East standings and only dreaming of a tournament bid. Kentucky has Keith Bogans, Marquis Estill, and Jules Camara. Georgia has Ezra Williams and Jarvis Hayes. Mississippi State has Mario Austin and Derrick Zimmerman. Tennessee has Ron Slay.

Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky

After last year’s tumultuous campaign, Tubby Smith has established an esprit de corps like no other at Kentucky this season. A well-orchestrated offense, a stifling defense, and players who are unselfish—Tubby has it all and it shows. The Wildcats won all 16 of their conference games and have not lost since December. This pick was easy.

Freshman of the Year: (Tie) Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson, Florida

One of the best backcourts in the conference was comprised of two freshmen. Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson were brilliant from the outset and were the main reason why Florida’s inside-outside attack was so formidable. Both players finished the season averaging 12.8 points per game, second on the team in scoring, and first among SEC freshmen in point production.

Defensive Player of the Year: Marquis Estill

He didn’t lead the SEC in blocks or rebounds, but his presence was always felt. Estill’s ability to create havoc inside the paint and alter shots helped make Kentucky’s defense so stifling.

2002-2003 All-SEC Team

G Keith Bogans, Kentucky
G Marquis Daniels, Auburn
F Jarvis Hayes, Vanderbilt
F Matt Bonner, Florida
C Ron Slay, Tennessee

SEC East

Kentucky (32-4, 16-0 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Keith Bogans (Graduating), Jules Camara (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Gerald Fitch, Cliff Hawkins, Chuck Hayes, Erik Daniels, Marquis Estill
Leading Scorer: Keith Bogans, 15.7 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Chuck Hayes, 16.9 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Cliff Hawkins, 3.8 assists per game

Florida (25-8, 12-4 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Matt Bonner (Graduating), Brett Nelson (Graduating), Justin Hamilton (graduating)
Key Players Staying: David Lee, Matt Walsh, Anthony Roberson
Leading Scorer: Matt Bonner, 15.2 points per game
Leading Rebounder: David Lee, 6.8 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Justin Hamilton, 3.6 assists per game

Georgia (19-8, 11-5 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 1
Key Players Leaving: Jarvis Hayes (Junior declared for NBA Draft)
New Coach: After Jim Harrick resigned, former Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton took over.
Key Players Staying: Ezra Williams, Chris Daniels, Steve Thomas
Leading Scorer: Jarvis Hayes, 18.8 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Chris Daniels, 7.1 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Rashad Wright, 5.5 assists per game
Other News: Rocked by scandal, the Georgia basketball program has yet to be punished by the NCAA. It is a period of transition in Athens right now and Felton will have to put the pieces of the program back together again.

Tennessee (17-12, 9-7 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Jon Higgins (Graduating), Ron Slay (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Brandon Crump, C.J. Watson
Leading Scorer: Ron Slay, 21.2 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Ron Slay, 7.8 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: C.J. Watson, 5.5 assists per game

South Carolina (12-16, 5-11 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Chuck Eidson (Graduating), Tony Kitchings (Graduating), Chris Warren (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Kerbrell Brown, Rolando Howell, Carlos Powell
Leading Scorer: Carlos Powell, 12.6 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Rolando Howell, 6.3 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Chuck Eidson, 4.5 assists per game

Vanderbilt (11-18, 3-13 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 0
Key Players Staying: Matt Frieje, David Przybyszewski, Russell Lakey, Mario Moore, Brian Thornton
Leading Scorer: Matt Frieje, 17.9 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Brian Thornton, 5.7 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Russell Lakey, 3.4 assists per game

SEC West

Mississippi State (21-10, 9-7 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 3
Key Players Leaving: Mario Austin (Junior Entering NBA Draft), Michal Ignerski (Graduating), Derrick Zimmerman (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Timmy Bowers, Branden Vincent, Winsome Frazier, Ontario Harper
Leading Scorer: Mario Austin, 15.5 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Mario Austin, 7.7 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Derrick Zimmerman, 5.5 assists per game

Auburn (22-12, 8-8 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Derrick Bird (Graduating), Marquis Daniels (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Marco Killingsworth, Brandon Robinson, Kyle Davis
Leading Scorer: Marquis Daniels, 18.4 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Marco Killingsworth, 6.4 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Marquis Daniels, 3.3 assists per game

LSU (21-11, 8-8 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 3
Key Players Leaving: Ronald Dupree (Graduating), Collis Temple III (Graduating), Torris Bright (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Jaime Lloreda, Darrel Mitchell, Xavier Whipple, Antonio Hudson
Leading Scorer: Ronald Dupree, 15.8 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Jaime Lloreda, 9 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Torris Bright, 4.7 assists per game

Alabama (17-12, 7-9 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Erwin Dudley (Graduating), Kenny Walker (Graduating), Terrance Meade (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Maurice Williams, Kennedy Winston, Earnest Shelton
Leading Scorer: Maurice Williams, 16.4 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Erwin Dudley, 9.5 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Maurice Williams, 3.9 assists per game

Ole Miss (14-15, 4-12 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 2
Key Players Leaving: Emmanuel Wade (Graduating), Derrick Allen (Graduating), Trey Pearson (Transferring), David Sanders (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Justin Reed, Aaron Harper
Leading Scorer: Justin Reed, 15.4 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Justin Reed, 5.2 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: David Sanders, 3.1 assists per game

Arkansas (9-19, 4-12 SEC)

Starters Leaving: 3
Key Players Leaving: Dionisio Gomez (Graduating)
Key Players Staying: Jonothon Modica, Eric Ferguson, Kendrick Davis
Leading Scorer: Jonathon Modica, 11.5 points per game
Leading Rebounder: Dionisio Gomez, 6.6 rebounds per game
Assists Leader: Eric Ferguson, 3.2 assists per game

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

If there were one word to describe the Southeastern Conference this season, it would be strange. In a league that was defined by parity and saw the emergence of schools that don’t claim a rich basketball tradition, it was Kentucky, ironically, that swept through its 16 SEC games with an undefeated record and maintained its position as king of the hill.

Despite receiving challenges from Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi State, the Wildcats proved that they are still the team to beat in a conference that is considered by many analysts as the best in the nation. Using a suffocating defense and an offense that was predicated on unselfishness and the timely pass, Kentucky showed how far they had come from last season when it earned the moniker, “Team Turmoil.” Now, the Wildcats are one of the favorites to win the NCAA Championship.

SEC East

While Kentucky (26-3, 16-0 SEC) was nothing short of dominant during the conference campaign, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee were also able to establish comfortable niches in a difficult SEC Eastern Division. The Gators, who were projected to flourish this season, did just that. The freshman backcourt tandem of Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson teamed well with senior forwards Matt Bonner and Justin Hamilton–giving Florida (24-6, 12-4 SEC) the necessary firepower to win 12 league games and earn a favorable seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Georgia (19-8, 11-5 SEC), meanwhile, enjoyed a successful campaign despite being besieged by distractions as Championship Week approached. As the Tony Cole episode began to develop, and Coach Jim Harrick was placed under the spotlight, the Bulldogs were putting their finishing touches on a solid 11-5 conference record and an at-large berth to the Big Dance. But that all changed Monday, when Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley and university president Michael Adams declared the Bulldogs ineligible for the SEC and NCAA tournaments. The decision to end the Bulldogs’ season will increase the opportunity for bubble teams like Tennessee (17-10, 9-7 SEC) to make the Big Dance.

The streaky Volunteers, who recovered from a freefall in the final week by winning its last two games, were expected to finish near the bottom of the SEC East. However, after 16 league games, Tennessee is on the cusp of locking up an invitation to the Big Dance. Led by the conference’s top scorer, Ron Slay, the Volunteers were able reestablish itself as a tournament-worthy team. Slay, who recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee that he suffered last season, came back strong and scored 21.1 points per game in conference play.

While the SEC East had its share of surprises, it also featured two disappointments-Vanderbilt (10-17, 3-13 SEC) and South Carolina (12-15, 5-11 SEC). The Commodores, who have traditionally been cellar dwellers, faded as the season came to a close and returned to its familiar position at the bottom of the division. Despite the fact that forward Matt Frieje was the second leading scorer in the conference, Vanderbilt could not tally more points than its league-worst defense gave up.

Meanwhile South Carolina had an atypically poor season, because it was beset by injuries, could not rebound, and was forced to play Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky twice. Like Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks can only make the postseason if they win the conference tournament.

SEC West

While the SEC East standings had stabilized by the fourth week, its Western counterpart remained volatile throughout the conference campaign. In fact the division title was not decided until the final week, when Mississippi State (19-8, 9-7 SEC) defeated Auburn 67-45 Saturday and claimed the championship outright with an unimpressive 9-7 record.

The Bulldogs, who began the conference play with an 0-3 record, took advantage of the other teams’ inconsistency to take the top spot. As Auburn, LSU, and Alabama each experienced their peaks and valleys, Mississippi State climbed all the way to the summit and virtually ensured itself of a tournament bid.

While Mississippi State steadily improved, Auburn (19-10, 8-8 SEC) and LSU (19-9, 8-8 SEC) were a study in contrast during the last eight weeks of their seasons. Auburn, which began conference play with a 4-0 record, struggled the rest of the way and only beat four of the remaining twelve opponents it faced.

The Bayou Bengals, on the other hand, lost five of their first six league games, and were mired in last place in the SEC West in February. However, behind its trio of seniors-Ronald Dupree, Torris Bright, and Collis Temple III–LSU came back to win six of its last seven, earn an 8-8 record, and finish tied with Auburn.

As it made its run for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, LSU leapfrogged Alabama (9-18, 4-12 SEC) in the standings. The Crimson Tide, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation back in December, began its slide in conference play and has not been able to win consistently ever since. An erratic offense led by Maurice Williams and Erwin Dudley, contributed to Alabama’s strange conference campaign, which included a loss to Arkansas (9-18, 4-12 SEC) and wins over Mississippi State, LSU, and Auburn.

The Razorbacks, meanwhile, endured their worst regular season since 1986–Nolan Richardson’s first year at Arkansas. Under rookie coach Stan Heath, the Hogs fell to the bottom of the division. Plagued by an inexperienced freshman backcourt, a senior class with limited offensive skills, and the second toughest schedule in the nation, the Hogs were placed in a disadvantageous position from the outset. While Heath refused to admit that the 2002-2003 campaign would be a rebuilding season, it, in fact, was.

However, as bad as Arkansas’ season was, Ole Miss (13-14, 4-12 SEC) saved the Hogs from occupying the basement of the division alone. After jumping out to a 3-2 start in the SEC, the Rebels were unable to maintain any momentum. Ole Miss endured a 10-game losing streak before winning the season finale against Arkansas 64-54 on Saturday. The decline in Aaron Harper’s output contributed to Ole Miss’ decay and magnified the disappointing seasons of the other members of the Provine Posse-Justin Reed and David Sanders. While Reed was the leading scorer for the team, he averaged just 14.8 points per game and was unable to carry the load for the Rebels.

SEC Honors

After reviewing both divisions, it is time to hand out this season’s awards:

Player of the Year: Ron Slay, Tennessee

It is hard to argue that Slay does not deserve this honor. Without the 6-8 center, Tennessee would be nestled at the bottom of the SEC East standings and only dreaming of a tournament bid. Kentucky has Keith Bogans, Marquis Estill, and Jules Camara. Georgia has Ezra Williams and Jarvis Hayes. Mississippi State has Mario Austin and Derrick Zimmerman. Tennessee has Ron Slay.

Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky

After last year’s tumultuous campaign, Tubby Smith has established an esprit de corps like no other at Kentucky this season. A well-orchestrated offense, a stifling defense, and players who are unselfish—Tubby has it all and it shows. The Wildcats won all 16 of their conference games and have not lost since December. This pick was easy.

Freshman of the Year: (Tie) Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson, Florida

One of the best backcourts in the conference was comprised of two freshmen. Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson were brilliant from the outset and were the main reason why Florida’s inside-outside attack was so formidable. Both players finished the season averaging 12.8 points per game, second on the team in scoring, and first among SEC freshmen in point production. If not for them, Florida would not appear as dangerous going into the Big Dance.

2002-2003 All-SEC Team

G Marquis Daniels, Auburn
G Jarvis Hayes, Georgia
F Matt Frieje, Vanderbilt
F Matt Bonner, Florida
C Ron Slay, Tennessee

SEC Tournament Preview

For the first time since 1991, 12 teams will not be competing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in New Orleans. On Monday, Georgia declared itself ineligible for the four-day event, when an internal investigation conducted by the university uncovered academic violations that occurred under Coach Jim Harrick’s stewardship. As a result, the SEC main office adjusted the tournament brackets Monday to account for the Bulldogs’ absence—something it had to do when Auburn was ruled ineligible 12 years ago.

With Georgia no longer participating, the tournament changes drastically and teams that previously had no shot of winning the conference championship now have a glimmer of hope. The Bulldogs, who assumed the No. 6 seed in the SEC East division after it withdrew itself from the postseason event, allowed Auburn and Tennessee to join Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi State as teams that receive first-round byes. Moreover, Ole Miss and South Carolina-two teams that had dismal campaigns in conference play-will have the opportunity to play each other, and hence, better odds of moving on to the second round. After originally having to battle with Tennessee and Alabama, respectively, South Carolina and Ole Miss were given somewhat of a reprieve in the first round.

“While it is hard to say that I am surprised by today’s announcements released out of the SEC office and the University of Georgia, it is still very difficult to digest given the fact that I do not have all the details that went into the decision.” South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. “Thus, we will turn our attention immediately to Ole Miss and hope that we can focus only on that assignment. I have total confidence that our team will make the adjustment quickly.”

While Odom refrained from expressing his excitement at the turn of events, Alabama’s Mark Gottfried expressed concern when he learned that the Crimson Tide will meet Vanderbilt, instead of South Carolina, in the opening round. “We literally switched in the middle of practice, changing notes, changing preparations,” Gottfried said. “That’s the first time in my career that that’s ever happened. But again, Vanderbilt always poses problems. They beat us the only time they played us this year, so obviously our guys have a lot of respect for them.”

Like the Crimson Tide, Arkansas did not receive any benefit from the changes when the new seeds were announced. The Razorbacks, who were originally supposed to play Georgia on the opening day of the tournament, will now be pitted against LSU-a team that has won five consecutive games and split the season series with the Hogs.

“We’re playing a team that beat us convincingly (75-56 at Baton Rouge on Feb. 22), but we did split with them, Arkansas coach Stan Heath said. “They’ve put themselves in a position where it looks like they’re an NCAA Tournament team. We have to get ourselves mentally prepared to play. They’re playing awfully well. It’s to their advantage that we’re playing in the Superdome.”

So what do all these changes mean? Not a whole lot. Mississippi State, Florida, and Kentucky will still be the teams to beat. The Wildcats, who have a 20-game winning streak, went undefeated in the conference campaign and will have a clear path to the championship game now that Georgia is gone. Auburn or Tennessee will provide the biggest challenge for the Wildcats, who have won 23 SEC Tournament titles. Meanwhile, Florida or Mississippi State will likely move on from their side of the bracket, which remained virtually unaffected by Georgia’s ineligibility.

With the absence of the Bulldogs, the SEC Tournament has been presented with a new twist. But what else is new in a conference that has seen it all this season?

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

Former Georgia forward Tony Cole may no longer be a Bulldog. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made his presence felt in Athens since he was dismissed from the team in August. Just this past week, Cole, who averaged 5.4 points per game in the 2001-2002 campaign, claimed that basketball coaches Jim Harrick Sr. and Jim Harrick Jr. gave him money and helped him commit academic fraud.

In an interview last Thursday with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, the former Georgia Bulldog said that Harrick Jr. sent $300 to a friend of Cole to help pay Cole’s phone bill; paid for Cole’s lodging at two Athens hotels; did correspondence work in a course that Cole enrolled in Lincoln Trail Community College in Illinois, and gave Cole an A in a course that Harrick, Jr. taught and Cole never attended.

If all these claims were found to be true, Georgia would probably be handed serious sanctions from the NCAA Infractions Committee. That is why Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley promptly suspended Harrick Jr. the next day, pending the completion of an investigation into possible misconduct by the basketball program.

Georgia hopes that Cole’s checkered past will help render his allegations untrue. Cole was kicked off the team after he was charged with aggravated assault with attempt to commit rape at a campus dorm early last year. Although the charges were dropped, Cole was sent packing, because he had been disciplined on more than one occasion and had threatened to “get” Harrick Sr.

ESPN reported that Cole had been charged with sexual assault by three different women in the last three years and was recently arrested for trespassing.

Schaap’s interview with Cole came the day after Georgia (17-8, 9-5 SEC) beat Ole Miss 89-82 last Wednesday night. On Sunday, the Bulldogs played Kentucky (24-3, 14-0 SEC) close, but lost 74-66 in Athens.

Hog Heaven for Arkansas

What a difference a week makes. Seven days after putting forth one of its worst performances of the season in a 75-56 loss to LSU, Arkansas (9-16, 4-10 SEC) upset Mississippi State 53-51 on Saturday and completed its first 2-0 week in SEC play in the Stan Heath era. Three days after beating Vanderbilt 60-50 in Nashville to earn its first road victory of the season, Arkansas returned to Fayetteville and outlasted one of the better teams in the conference.

Using a combination of a 1-2-2 zone, a 2-3 zone, and man-to-man defense, the Hogs were able to stifle Bulldog center Mario Austin. Austin, who averaged 15.6 points per game going into the game with Arkansas, was limited to just five points against the Razorbacks. Nevertheless, Mississippi State (18-7, 7-6 SEC), which had beaten Alabama last Wednesday, led for almost the entire game. That is – until Arkansas freshman guard Kendrick Davis converted a three-point play to put Razorbacks up two, 53-51, with 25.9 seconds left. A last-second jumpshot by Timmy Bowers, who scored a game-high 24 points, bounced off the rim and Mississippi State remained winless at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas improved significantly from the last time both teams met. On Feb. 8, Mississippi State won 84-54 and all the Razorbacks could do was hang their heads. Three weeks later, the Bulldogs were the ones that left defeated. “It feels good to get a win against a good team like Mississippi State,” Davis said. “They beat us pretty bad the first time we played them, but we got the victory this time.”

Florida Survives Late Scare in Auburn

Leading by 14 points at Auburn (18-9, 7-7 SEC) with 6:28 remaining in regulation, Florida seemed to be well on its way to a school-record 24th regular season victory. But the Tigers had other plans. In a matter of minutes, Auburn was able to slice the double-digit deficit with some sharp shooting from the outside. With 2:43 left in the game, Marquis Daniels hit a three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run that changed the score to 63-57 in favor of the Gators.

At that point, Auburn seemed on the cusp of a major comeback. But the Tigers could not surpass Florida (24-4, 12-2 SEC) after they closed within three, 70-67, with 54 seconds left in the game. As a result, Florida went on to win 73-70 and remain undefeated with a 6-0 mark against SEC West division teams. Forward Matt Bonner scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Gators, who have won six of their last seven games and seem to be on the verge of securing one of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

“I give a lot of credit to Florida,” Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said. “They just did a great job. Florida and Kentucky are the best teams that we have faced. Florida walks with a swagger, and possesses the confidence that just makes things happen. They go into games never believing they are going to lose.”

Bayou Bengals in Search of March Madness

A week ago, LSU coach John Brady was talking about making the NCAA Tournament. At the time he seemed crazy. The Tigers (17-9, 6-8 SEC) were 4-8 in conference and hadn’t won a road game. Seven days later, the Bayou Bengals are starting make their case for a bid. On Saturday, LSU marched into Knoxville, blew out a struggling Tennessee team 88-67, and earned its first victory away from home.

The Tigers cruised to their third consecutive victory by riding the coattails of their senior trio – Ronald Dupree, Collis Temple III, and Torris Bright. Temple III scored a season-high 23 points, Dupree added 22 points, and Bright contributed 19. LSU set a school record by shooting a robust 17 of 27 from three-point range by besting the 16 of 25 mark it set in a 94-63 win over Auburn Wednesday night. “We’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Brady said. “We shot 63% from the floor, 78% from the 3-point line, and had 6 turnovers. Those numbers are pretty good for our team, and I am proud of them.”

LSU’s hot perimeter shooting staked the Tigers to a 10-0 lead and the Bayou Bengals never looked back. Meanwhile, Tennessee (15-10, 7-7 SEC) is having some serious issues on defense, which has contributed to their four-game losing streak and its relegation to bubble status for the Big Dance. Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson doesn’t know what is going on in Knoxville after losing to the Tigers and Kentucky in the last week, while also surrendering an average of 83.5 points per game in their last two contests. “We’re not playing defense with the energy and the intensity that we did two weeks ago,” Peterson said. “I’ve tried to motivate the team by pushing the right buttons, but I haven’t succeeded. I told them after the game that they’ve had too good a season so far to hang their heads now.”

Ole Miss Continues Freefall

Ole Miss (12-13, 3-11 SEC) hasn’t won a game since beating Arkansas 73-54 Jan. 25. That didn’t change Sunday, when Alabama defeated the Rebels 86-63 in Tuscaloosa. Guard Kennedy Winston scored 20 points, Antoine Pettway tallied 19 points, and Erwin Dudley added 18 in the victory, as the Tide got revenge for a 76-57 loss to Ole Miss Jan. 21.

Alabama (16-9, 6-8 SEC) took advantage of Ole Miss’ lax defense, which has given up more than 80 points in its last three games. However, the Tide did not take control of the game until there was 3:24 remaining in the first half. That is when Alabama finished off a 13-0 run. The Tide, which lost to Mississippi State 59-55, continues to hang on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, while Ole Miss is playing itself out of any postseason appearance.

South Carolina Cruises to Win over Commodores

South Carolina (12-13, 5-9 SEC) needs at least one more win to secure an NIT after beating Vanderbilt 76-64 in Columbia Saturday. The Gamecocks received a career-high 21 points and seven assists from forward Carlos Powell, as South Carolina sent Vanderbilt to its seventh consecutive loss. The Commodores have not won a road game this season and could not maintain a 36-30 lead early in the second half. Led by Chuck Eidson, who scored 18 points and Rolando Howell, who added 13, South Carolina soon embarked on a 22-7 run that gave the Gamecocks a nine-point cushion and control of the game. South Carolina will look to get to the .500 mark Wednesday against Alabama.

Meanwhile Vanderbilt (10-15, 3-11 SEC) faces the nation’s hottest team, Kentucky, Wednesday. The Wildcats have won 18 straight games, are firing on all cylinders, and are a lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. As a result, all’s well in Lexington.

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

It didn’t seem possible that one team would emerge as the king of the hill in the Southeastern Conference this season. But the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats (22-3, 12-0 SEC) sit atop the summit of the SEC with no challengers likely to dethrone them anytime soon. No. 19 Mississippi State (17-6, 7-5 SEC) was the latest team to try to knock them from their pedestal.

But like the rest of their SEC brethren, the Bulldogs capitulated. Kentucky’s 70-62 victory over Mississippi State Sunday only moved the Wildcats that much closer to a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where any team will be hard-pressed to beat them. Mixing a suffocating 2-3 zone with man-to-man defense, Kentucky thwarted the Bulldogs from the outset.

Behind Keith Bogans, who scored 18 points, and Cliff Hawkins, who added 14 points, the Wildcats built a 32-13 lead with 6:26 left in the opening half. While the Bulldogs were able to cut the lead to 10, 30-28, before halftime, Kentucky was never threatened.

In the second period, the Wildcats rebuilt its insurmountable advantage to 17, 56-39, when forward Marquis Estill grabbed a rebound and found a streaking Bogans for a lay-up. A desperate comeback attempt by Mississippi State cut its deficit to five, 60-55. But Kentucky answered the Bulldogs’ 16-4 run to secure its 16th consecutive victory. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith commented on the winning streak after the victory over the Bulldogs. “We’ve just been trying to concentrate on what we need to work on for that opponent,” Smith said. “Keep the same routine with drills in practice. And keep the players humble. Make sure they know that every day in practice they have to come out and earn it.”

They have. The Wildcats, which limited the Bulldogs to 42 percent, have emerged as the best defensive team in the conference, and perhaps, the nation. Kentucky leads the league in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding defense, rebounding margin, and turnover margin. If that wasn’t enough to substantiate Kentucky’s case for a No.1 seed, the Wildcats are one of two teams-the other being No. 1 Arizona-that have just one loss on the road. Unless the Wildcats have a late-season collapse, which is not likely, expect Kentucky to have a festive Selection Sunday.

Rising Alabama, Falling Tennessee

Two weeks ago, Alabama [15-8, 5-7 SEC] was lost and unable to be found. Fourteen days later, the Crimson Tide is back on track and on course for an NCAA bid. That is because Alabama has won two of its last three games-the last of which was a victory on the road. Despite a 74-69 loss to Georgia last Wednesday, Alabama rebounded Saturday with an impressive 76-71 victory over Tennessee (15-8, 7-5 SEC) in Knoxville last Saturday. Behind Erwin Dudley’s 18 points and Mo Williams’ 17 points, the Tide was able to withstand a late charge by the streaky Volunteers, who have lost two consecutive games.

Down by as many as 18 points, Tennessee made two separate runs to cut the lead to as little as five in the final minutes. C.J. Watson’s three-pointer with 13.8 seconds remaining in regulation pulled the Volunteers within two, 73-71. But Alabama was able to close out the game and earn its first victory away from home in seven attempts this season. “I was very disappointed,” Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson said. “We need to take better care of our home-court advantage than this. Alabama ran their offense without resistance from us in the first half by going after the loose balls and the rebounds. They played like a team that really wanted to win very badly. Give Alabama a lot of credit.”

Auburn Back on Track, Ole Miss Falters Again

In the coming weeks, Auburn (18-7, 7-5 SEC) wants to be considered worthy of a bid to the NCAA Tournament by the NCAA Selection Committee. A win over Ole Miss (12-11, 3-9 SEC) on the road should help. On Saturday, the Tigers vanquished the Rebels 80-75 in Oxford, as guard Marquis Daniels scored 29 points on 12 of 14 shooting. Despite having trailed throughout the game, Ole Miss battled to tie the score at 75 when Aaron Harper buried his fifth three-pointer with 1:25 left.

However, forward Marco Killingsworth responded with a dunk off an assist from Daniels that secured the victory. For the game, Auburn shot 65 percent from the field against a team that has fallen by the wayside in recent weeks. The Rebels have lost seven consecutive games and their schedule will not get any easier in the future. Ole Miss faces Georgia and Alabama this week, as it hopes to keep its dream of postseason play alive.

Florida Sneaks by Vanderbilt

Memorial Gym in Nashville has become a scary destination for ranked teams in recent years. Vanderbilt’s home arena, which features an elevated court, almost brought another visitor to its knees Saturday. However, Florida (22-4, 10-2 SEC) was able to outlast the Commodores 77-74 in overtime. Guard Anthony Roberson, who had 18 points, scored on a driving layup that tied the game at 66 at the end of regulation. Despite the late heroics, Florida struggled in the overtime.

The Gators were never able to pull away from the Commodores (10-13, 3-9 SEC) in the extra session. Trailing 74-73, freshman guard Matt Walsh scored on a lay-up and two free throws that gave Florida a 77-74 advantage with 4.7 seconds left. Nevertheless, Vanderbilt still had an opportunity to tie the game. Matt Przybyszewski’s three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark and Florida escaped with the win. Matt Frieje’s 24 points led Vanderbilt, which has lost five consecutive games and has fallen to the bottom of the SEC East standings-a place that has become all to familiar for the Commodores. “We’re very disappointed with the way this season has gone,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said Monday in a news conference provided by the SEC. “We’re under .500 and our league record is bad. We felt that we were better than this. But our players continue to fight hard, and that’s all that we can ask of them.”

Georgia Bites Gamecocks

For the first time in five games, South Carolina (11-12, 4-8 SEC) found itself on the losing end. In Athens, (Georgia 16-7, 8-4 SEC) outlasted the Gamecocks 79-66 on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who have won three consecutive games including a 74-69 victory over Alabama Wednesday night, improved to 11-0 at home this season. Behind Ezra Williams’ 16 points and Jarvis Hayes’ 26 points, Georgia led for the entire second half and the last 4:46 of the first.

The victory over the Gamecocks proved important for the Bulldogs, who are looking to solidify their status as a tournament team come March. Meanwhile, the loss proved devastating for South Carolina, who is just looking to surpass the .500 mark by the end of the season and qualify for the NIT.

Arkansas Hits Another Low

Arkansas (7-16, 2-10 SEC) continued its struggles on Saturday, when it lost its fifth consecutive game to LSU (15-9, 4-8 SEC) 76-55 in Baton Rouge Saturday. The Razorbacks, who have not won a game on the road all season, continued to play poorly away from home. Arkansas fell behind immediately in a game it never had a chance of winning. The Tigers pounced on the Razorbacks in the opening minutes, as LSU jumped out to a 20-2 lead with 13:15 remaining in the first period. By halftime, the Razorbacks trailed 49-19 against a team they had beat 73-65 Jan.22. As a result, the second period transformed into a mere formality and Arkansas was given another embarrassing defeat.

The Hogs shot just 32 percent for the game and the Razorbacks’ five seniors scored a combined 17 points, prompting Arkansas coach Stan Heath to criticize the play of his upperclassmen. Meanwhile, LSU received more than enough production from its seniors. Ronald Dupree scored 25 points and Torris Bright added 10 in the victory. The Tigers hope this victory will jumpstart a run to the Big Dance, where the Tigers haven’t been since the 1999-2000 season.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

If there was a game that could have stabilized the SEC West, last Saturday’s Alabama-Auburn match-up would have been it. Instead, the Crimson Tide’s 84-68 victory over the Tigers (17-6, 6-4 SEC) only created more havoc and complications in a division marked by chaos.

The Tide, which had lost five of its last six games going into its meeting with Auburn, seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. Alabama (14-7, 4-6 SEC) had trouble scoring from all areas of the floor, was hard pressed to earn a victory on the road, and had dropped out of the polls after being ranked No. 1 in December.

Meanwhile, Auburn had soared to the top of the SEC West standings in the opening weeks of conference play and continued to defy the prognosticators who picked the Tigers to finish near the bottom of the division. Before the Tigers marched into Tuscaloosa Saturday, Auburn still sat on top of the summit of the SEC West division’s mountain.

But all it took was forty minutes for that to change. Behind Erwin Dudley’s 20 points and 10 rebounds, the Crimson Tide was able to overpower its archrival. Putting forth its best offensive performance since an 89-61 victory over UNC-Greensboro Dec. 3, Alabama built a 26-point lead and never looked back. “We got good looks, Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said at a Monday news conference provided by the SEC. “It was just one of those nights where we didn’t hit shots. Alabama hit shots and we didn’t.”

The Crimson Tide, which was eleventh in the league in field goal percentage, shot 52 percent against a team that is second in the league in scoring defense.

As a result, the Tigers, who once served as the anchor in a division that sees turnover almost every week, are now in second place. Meanwhile, Alabama, which lost to Arkansas only the week before, beat one of the better teams in the conference and may return to its previous form. But that is the state of the Wild West, where stability and the expected are thrown out the window.

Rocky Top on Fire

Kentucky may be the hottest team in the league. But Tennessee (15-6, 7-3 SEC) is a close second. The Volunteers won their sixth consecutive game Saturday, upsetting No. 5 Florida 66-59 in Knoxville. Ron Slay, who leads the conference in scoring with a 21.8 points per game average, continued to dominate his opposition’s frontcourt.

The senior center scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, which helped complement sophomore forward Brandon Crump’s career-high 19 points. Crump, who had a bittersweet week after he pled guilty to an underage drinking violation last Tuesday, helped give Tennessee the edge it needed to beat a strong Florida Gators (20-4, 9-2 SEC) squad. “I thought that Brandon Crump was better than he was the last time we played,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said, referring to a 77-64 win over Tennessee earlier in the year. “He hurt us on transition, and on the offensive boards with his putbacks.” While Crump’s play definitely affected the outcome, poor shooting from Brett Nelson, Anthony Roberson, and Matt Walsh also proved to be the difference. The usually potent trio converted just three of 22 shots and scored a total of eight points. Tennessee, which beat Arkansas in Bud Walton Arena for the first time Wednesday looked impressive against a Florida team that was coming off a 74-55 beating of Ole Miss.

Battle of Mississippi Goes Overtime

This time Mississippi State (16-5, 6-4 SEC) did not need a last-second shot by Derrick Zimmerman to beat Ole Miss. It needed overtime. The Bulldogs, who outlasted Ole Miss 58-57 Jan. 29, survived another scare from the Rebels (12-10, 3-8 SEC) as they won 68-64 in Starkville. Center Mario Austin scored 19 points and converted a three-point play that put Mississippi State ahead for good in the extra session. His basket and free throw gave the Bulldogs a 64-62 lead that held up for the rest of the five-minute period.

However, a victory for Mississippi State was very much in doubt up until that point. Ole Miss forward Justin Reed’s two consecutive baskets in the final minute of regulation tied the game at 53 and sent the game into overtime. But the Rebels were unable to capitalize on their late surge and establish a definitive lead in the overtime session. As a result, the Rebels, who had never lost more than five games in a row in the Rod Barnes era, lost their sixth consecutive contest and also dropped the season series for the first time since 1995.

Wildcats Scratch Tigers

Kentucky (20-3, 10-0 SEC) has won 14 consecutive games. LSU (14-9, 3-8 SEC) has lost eight of its last 11 match-ups. Numbers usually don’t lie, and, in this case, they didn’t. On Saturday, in Lexington, the Wildcats scored a 68-57 victory over the Tigers. Guard Keith Bogans scored 20 points and his backcourt mate Gerald Fitch added 15 as Kentucky maintained the nation’s longest winning streak.

The Wildcats continued to play well on the defensive end, as they limited LSU to just 37 percent shooting from the field and Ronald Dupree, the Tigers’ leading scorer, to four points. However, LSU blamed itself more than Kentucky’s defense for the poor offensive performance. “They’re a very good defensive team, but I think we did it to ourselves today,” Tigers’ forward Collis Temple III said. “Not taking anything away from the way they play defense, but we got the shots we wanted and didn’t make them.”

Kentucky dominated the majority of the game, but suffered a letdown when the Wildcats built the lead up to 20 points. A series of mistakes allowed LSU to cut the lead to five in the final minute, prompting Kentucky to reestablish a wider margin in order to secure the victory. “We were trying to give them the knock-out punch,” Coach Tubby Smith said. “Cliff [Hawkins] threw the ball away and Antwain [Barbour] had a turnover right in front of our bench. We just needed to be more patient. The clock was our ally. Of course, we’ve not been in that situation this year, so we can learn from that.”

Georgia Gets Revenge, But it isn’t Pretty

Going into Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt, Georgia (14-7, 6-4 SEC) had suffered two consecutive defeats and was fourth in the SEC Eastern division. A win over the Commodores would not only get the Bulldogs back on track but would give them the satisfaction of revenge. That was all the motivation Georgia needed, as it made amends for a 94-91 loss to Vanderbilt (10-12, 3-8 SEC) Jan. 29 with an 83-70 victory Saturday. However, the win could not be characterized as pretty.

In forty minutes of basketball, 60 fouls were called-20 of which were accumulated by four players who were forced to leave the game. Moreover, Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings was ejected for the first time in his 10-year career after receiving two technicals. Despite the ugly circumstances, Georgia was able to prevail, as it limited the Commodores to a 33 percent field goal percentage for the game. Part of the Commodores woes could be attributed to the uncharacteristically poor performance of Vanderbilt forward Matt Frieje. Frieje, who averages 17.6 points per game, was plagued by foul trouble and finished with just eight points.

Nevertheless, the Commodores remained in the game and cut the deficit to four, 62-58, with 5:38 remaining in regulation. That is when Georgia finally pulled away for good and ended a game in which the officials made their presence felt.

South Carolina Earns Third Win in a Row

In a battle of the two worst teams in the conference, South Carolina (10-11, 3-7 SEC) outlasted Arkansas 72-65, as Chris Warren scored 23 points and knocked down six of the nine three-point field goals he attempted. South Carolina was never able to distance itself from Arkansas, as the Razorbacks would answer a Gamecocks’ spurt with one of their own.

In fact, Arkansas (7-14, 2-8 SEC) took a 57-56 lead with 5:18 to go and the crowd at the Carolina Center in Columbia became antsy. Nevertheless, South Carolina responded with a couple baskets by forwards Kerbrell Brown and Tony Kitchings that reestablished a cushion for the Gamecocks. Warren’s last trifecta with 39 seconds left provided the coup de grace for Arkansas, which has yet to win a game on the road this season.

Nevertheless, Stan Heath feels the team is playing better and is ready for Wednesday’s battle with Kentucky. “We’re still trying to turn the corner,” Heath said at a Monday news conference provided by the SEC. “The one thing that pleases me is that we’re playing better basketball. We’re putting ourselves in position to win the game, we’re just not getting over the hump. Now we have the best of the best in Kentucky. On paper it looks like a mismatch. But we’re going to give them a fight.”

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

They lead the SEC in every major defensive category, haven’t lost since Dec. 28, and are now ranked in the top five. The high-flying No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats (18-3, 8-0 SEC) have found a new formula for winning, and opponents are struggling to find its antidote. Since losing to in-state rival Louisville six weeks ago, Kentucky has won 12 consecutive games and maintained an undefeated record in the SEC.

Just this past week, Kentucky dominated then-No. 1 Florida 70-55 and manhandled Ole Miss 80-62. Both victories came as a result of their oppressive defense, which has held opponents to 55 or fewer points in five conference games this season.

In Lexington last Tuesday, Kentucky stuffed the Gators, who are second in the league in scoring offense. No. 4 Florida shot 34 percent from the field and converted just six of the 30 shots it attempted in the first half. The Gators (19-3, 8-1 SEC) struggled all night to outmaneuver the man-to-man defense and the match-up zone that Kentucky implemented. After the game, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith reflected of his team’s strongest asset.

“We have been playing very good defense of late,” Smith said. “It has been a focus of ours since the holidays. We’ve just gone back to the basics, like pressuring the ball, and now that we have the full complement of players it is really coming together.” Indeed it is, and a blowout victory over the Gators means that the Wildcats have established themselves as a potential No.1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament in March.

Four days after demolishing Florida, the Wildcats traveled to Oxford to face Ole Miss (12-8, 3-6 SEC). Normally the Tad Smith Coliseum is one of the more difficult venues to play in for visiting teams in the SEC. But Kentucky was unfazed by the hostile surroundings and quickly set the tone for the game.

The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-0 lead, as they limited the Rebels to just six shots in the first eight minutes. Feeding off what seemed to be an impervious defense, Kentucky’s offense shined. Led by guard Gerald Fitch and forward Marquis Estill, the Wildcats built a 44-20 halftime lead and never looked back. Kentucky shot 58 percent from the field, while Ole Miss converted just 44 percent of the shots it attempted.

There is an old and familiar saying that applies to all sports: Defense wins championships. Right now, Kentucky seems to meet the criteria necessary to cut down the nets in April.

Tennessee is Back

After a disappointing 2001-2002 campaign, Tennessee (13-6, 5-3 SEC) has reemerged as a forceful presence in the SEC. Buoyed by the SEC’s leading scorer, center Ron Slay, the Volunteers are making a serious run for an NCAA Tournament bid. Slay, who averages 21.8 points per game and earned SEC Player of the Week honors Monday, scored 33 against No. 20 Georgia (13-6, 5-3 SEC) in a convincing 78-72 victory in Knoxville. “Ron Slay had two shots from 28 feet,” Georgia coach Jim Harrick said. “I really didn’t expect Slay to be 4-for-5 from the three-point arc. He was incredible today. I thought Ron Slay was fabulous, and he shot the daylights out of the ball.”

On the shoulders of Slay, the Volunteers battled back from a small second half deficit to defeat the Bulldogs, who have struggled to find consistency in a competitive SEC East division. Georgia has lost two of its last three games and will face Kentucky Tuesday in Lexington. Meanwhile Tennessee has won its last four games including a 71-45 blowout victory over non-conference opponent Umass last Wednesday.

Alabama has Miserable Week

Alabama (13-7, 3-6 SEC) probably wishes it had never been ranked No. 1. Ever since it earned that distinction in late December, the Crimson Tide has taken a plunge in the polls. Alabama has lost five of its last six games, was manhandled by Arkansas (7-12, 2-6 SEC) and Florida last week, and now finds itself unranked. Against the Razorbacks, Alabama’s offense continued to flounder, as it suffered an ignominious 81-70 defeat at Bud Walton Arena last Wednesday. Three days later, the Gators pounded the Tide 75-56 in Gainesville. Florida forward Matt Bonner scored 21 points and David Lee added 12 to power the Gators over the sinking Tide, which missed 13 of its first 14 shots.

Alabama’s poor start was indicative of how it would play the rest of the afternoon. For the sixth consecutive game, the Crimson Tide failed to shoot better than 41 percent from the field, as Alabama coach Mark Gottfried scoured his bench in hopes of finding a solution to a problem that has plagued the Tide the entire season. He didn’t find one. As a result, the Tide will return home to Tuscaloosa in hopes of patching up a season that is quickly unraveling.

Bulldogs Back on Track

After losing to Georgia ten days ago, No. 19 Mississippi State’s season seemed to have taken a definite turn for the worse. But the Bulldogs (15-5, 5-4 SEC) came back last week and scored victories over Vanderbilt and Arkansas. As a result, Mississippi State, which started 0-3 in conference play, now finds itself in second place in the SEC West division.

Last Wednesday, Mississippi State beat up on Vanderbilt (10-10, 3-6 SEC), which was riding a two-game winning streak coming into the match-up with the Bulldogs. Led by the stellar backcourt combination of Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman, Mississippi State defeated the Commodores 82-60 in Starkville. Bowers and Zimmerman combined for 27 points, as the Bulldogs dominated every facet of the game.

On Saturday, Mississippi State continued to fire on all cylinders. The Bulldogs routed Arkansas 84-54 at home, as Mario Austin, who leads the league in field goal percentage, scored 19 points. Mississippi State overwhelmed Arkansas with a suffocating defense that limited freshman guard Jonathon Modica to just four points. As Modica struggled, so did the Razorbacks. Arkansas shot just 25 percent from the field, as it remained winless on the road this season.

Auburn Sneaks past LSU

To secure its third win in SEC play, all LSU (13-8, 2-7 SEC) needed to do was score three points in the last 3:07. But it couldn’t do it. Leading 54-53 over Auburn, LSU’s offense went cold in the final minutes of the game, as it failed to score a single point. Remarkably, Auburn (17-5, 6-3 SEC) wasn’t able to take advantage of the Bayou Bengals’ untimely scoring drought until four seconds remained on the clock. That is when Nathan Watson buried a three to lift Auburn to a 56-54 victory Saturday on the plains of Alabama. Despite shooting just 38 percent, Auburn was able to steal a win and maintain its lead in the SEC West.

Meanwhile. LSU, which was coming off a 71-58 win over South Carolina Wednesday night, continued to struggle. LSU is ranked near the bottom of the SEC in every major offensive statistical category, despite having two of the top 20 scorers in SEC. Forwards Ronald Dupree (15.9 ppg.) and Jaime Lloreda (12.2 ppg.) have not been able to compensate for the lack of production by fifth-year senior Collis Temple III (9.6 ppg.) and guard Torris Bright (10.0 ppg.).

Cellar Dwellers Battle it Out

The two worst teams in the SEC East met on Saturday in an uninspiring match-up. South Carolina (8-11, 2-7 SEC) ended its seven-game losing streak with a bland 84-72 victory over Vanderbilt in Nashville. The Commodores, who enjoyed victories over Georgia and Ole Miss two weeks ago, dropped its second consecutive game as they were unable to stop South Carolina’s offense, which shot 59 percent from the floor.

“We’re coming off our worst week of the season,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said at a Monday news conference. “We did not play well in the two games we had, after we had a good week the week before. We’re struggling right now. We’re not playing well defensively, and we’re not rebounding. Until we do those things, we will continue to struggle.”

Chuck Eidson scored 18 points, Carlos Powell added 16, and Kerbrell Brown poured in 15 to lead the Gamecocks to their second win in conference play.

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

Once considered a doormat by fans and sportswriters alike, Vanderbilt (10-8, 3-4 SEC) has emerged as a team that is not only competitive, but also dangerous. The Commodores, who are led by senior forward Matt Frieje, knocked off No. 15 Georgia and Ole Miss in Nashville last week as they moved out of the basement of the SEC East standings. Although Vanderbilt’s sudden rise from the bottom was not unexpected, it came at a time when the Commodores had been struggling on the offensive end and a resembled a sieve defensively.

Before winning two consecutive games, Vanderbilt had lost three straight to Kentucky, Florida, and in-state rival Tennessee. The losing streak and, in particular, the defeat to the Volunteers, prompted Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings to offer some negative comments on the state of his team.

But Stallings’ downtrodden demeanor quickly changed as Frieje began to heat up and ignite the Commodores. The senior forward, who is currently the league’s third leading scorer, tallied a career-high 31 points in a 94-91 victory over the Bulldogs Wednesday night as he converted five of the eight three-point shots he attempted. His stellar shooting contributed to Vanderbilt’s robust 57 percent field goal percentage at Memorial Gym, where visiting teams are now hard-pressed to earn a victory.

But Frieje, who garnered SEC Player of the Week honors, wasn’t finished when Georgia left town. Last Saturday, he scored 20 points, as Vanderbilt converted 52.2 percent of their shots against the SEC’s best defense in a 76-68 victory over Ole Miss (12-6, 3-4 SEC). The Rebels, who had not allowed an opponent to score 70 points all season, were unable to counteract the Commodores’ offense, which has suddenly become a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.

The Commodores’ potent attack could be the basis of a late-season run for a team whose postseason tournament aspirations were slowly vanishing only a week ago. “We’re coming off a good week for us,” Stallings said at an SEC news conference. “We’re happy to put back-to-back games together and get two wins.” Because of the Commodores’ recent surge, a trip to the “Big Dance” has become a possibility. What a difference a week makes.

Florida is Hot, Hot, Hot

Perhaps the hottest team in the nation resides in Gainesville right now. The Gators (18-2, 7-0 SEC), who defeated Arkansas (6-11, 1-5 SEC) 77-66 last Saturday, have won 14 consecutive games and have climbed the rankings in recent weeks. Coach Billy Donovan has finally assembled a team that can do it all-score inside, shoot well from beyond the perimeter, play strong interior defense, and lock down opponents in a full-court trap.

With a pair of freshmen guards, Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh, Donovan has more offensive options at his disposal than any other team in the conference. Teamed with senior forward Matt Bonner and sophomore forward David Lee, they form a lethal inside-outside combination. Against Arkansas, Roberson scored a team-high 16 points, while Bonner and Lee each contributed 13. Nevertheless, Roberson and Florida’s frontcourt were outshined by Arkansas freshman guard Jonathon Modica. Modica scored 26 points and converted five of six shots from behind the arc as the Razorbacks prevented the game from becoming a blowout.

Bama Rolls, LSU Collapses Again

Both Alabama (13-5, 3-4 SEC) and LSU (12-7, 1-6 SEC) needed a victory. But only one team would get what it wanted. In a match-up pitting two struggling teams enduring freefalls in the SEC West standings, Alabama and LSU met in Tuscaloosa Saturday to determine who would escape from the quicksand first.

In forty minutes, Alabama soon found itself on solid ground as it pulled out a 75-66 victory and broke a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, LSU was left gasping for air after dropping its fifth consecutive game and falling to 1-6 in SEC play. Feeling the impact of forward Jaime Lloreda’s suspension, which resulted from an incident in LSU’s 70-53 loss to the Florida Gators, the Tigers were unable to mount a comeback after falling behind by 18 points.

Alabama point guard Mo Williams, who had been ineffective in recent games, scored 27 points. Forward Erwin Dudley added 14 points and nine rebounds, as the Crimson Tide put forth an impressive performance in the wake of a dismal 63-46 loss to Kentucky ten days ago. “I just like how we played (against LSU),” Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. “We played a lot more aggressive. In the previous game against Kentucky, we played tentative, and that’s not how you want to play.”

Auburn Losing its Bite

Two weeks ago, Auburn (15-5, 4-3 SEC) was the darling of the SEC. Now, the Tigers are just one of the many inconsistent teams in the conference. Auburn, which had won its first four games against SEC opponents, dropped its third straight Saturday to Tennessee (11-6, 4-3 SEC) 60-57 on the plains of Alabama. Point guard Marquis Daniels tried to send the game into overtime with a three-point attempt at the buzzer. But it missed, and the Tigers continued its tailspin. “I am disappointed and it all falls on my shoulders,” Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said. “Some of it has to do with the week off. Some of it has to do with losing to Kentucky and Georgia while playing well. We need to do a better job.”

The Volunteers, who led the entire forty minutes, were powered by Ron Slay. The senior center, who is second in the league in scoring with a 19.2 points per game average, tallied 21 points in the win and continued his dominating season in a league that features several outstanding frontcourt players.

Slay’s performance helped Tennessee move towards its goal of a postseason appearance and gives the Volunteers the inside track in grabbing what may be the seventh invitation handed to an SEC team by the NCAA selection committee for the upcoming tournament.

Georgia wins Battle of Bulldogs

Georgia (13-5, 5-2 SEC) and Mississippi State (13-5, 3-4 SEC) have both traveled a rocky road this season. That didn’t change Saturday. Georgia, which had lost to Vanderbilt earlier in the week, beat Mississippi State 67-63 Saturday in Athens, as Ezra Williams nailed three straight three-pointers in the closing minutes to complete a comeback from a 5-point deficit.

Mississippi State, which was savoring its one-point victory over in-state rival Ole Miss Wednesday night, was unable to continue its two-game winning streak despite leading 59-54 with 3:50 remaining. It was just the latest setback in a season of disappointments for Mississippi State-a team expected to be one of the dominant forces in the conference.

Fourteen points by forward Mario Austin and thirteen by guard Timmy Bowers were not enough to stave of the Peach State Bulldogs, who received 17 from Williams, 16 from forward Chris Daniels, and 13 from forward Steve Thomas.

Cat Scratch Fever Continues

No distractions. Just wins. After last year’s tumultuous campaign that was highlighted by altercations between teammates and off-the-court incidents, Kentucky (16-3, 6-0 SEC) is enjoying a successful season without the disruptions. The Wildcats won their tenth straight game Saturday, disposing of South Carolina 87-69 in Columbia. Forward Marquis Estill scored 18 points and Keith Bogans added 16 in a victory that was never much in doubt.

Down 57-32 at halftime, South Carolina (7-10, 1-6 SEC) was faced with an insurmountable deficit and lost its fifth consecutive game. The Gamecocks were unable to counter Kentucky’s onslaught in the first period, as the Wildcats shot 57 percent against an overmatched South Carolina squad.

As the deficit swelled, South Carolina struggled to find an answer. It didn’t come up with one. As a result, Kentucky extended its longest winning streak since the 1998 championship season, when it won 13 straight. “We’re coming off a good win at South Carolina,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. “I thought we played a really good team down there. Hopefully it gave us some momentum. Now we have to play a really tough Florida team.” The Wildcats face the Gators Wednesday in perhaps the best match-up of the conference season thus far.

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

What is going on in Tuscaloosa? That is the question fans, reporters, and Alabama coach Mark Gottfried are trying to answer. On Saturday, No. 7 Kentucky (15-3, 5-0 SEC) walked in to Coleman Coliseum and handed the No. 23 Crimson Tide a 63-46 loss that highlighted Alabama’s offensive deficiencies. The Tide, which has lost five of its last seven ball games, produced its lowest output at home in 34 years. The last time Alabama scored so few points was 1969 when the Tide lost to Tennessee 70-43. Ouch.

In a nationally televised game broadcast by ESPN, Alabama (12-5, 2-4 SEC) put up a real stinker, as the Tide converted just 10 of the 42 shots it attempted against the Wildcats. Considering that forwards Erwin Dudley and Kenny Walker combined to miss all 13 field goals they attempted, it really is no surprise that the Tide were hard-pressed to light up the scoreboard.

During the first half, the Tide went twelve minutes between baskets, yet still was able to close within five, 26-21, before halftime. In the second stanza, Alabama’s offense continued to sputter, as the Tide was manhandled by Kentucky’s Marquis Estill inside the paint. Estill finished with 12 points, but more importantly, proved his worth on the defensive end where he repeatedly altered shots and disrupted the flow of Alabama’s offense. While Alabama continued to struggle, Kentucky pulled away in the second half and cruised to a comfortable win. “We had a pretty good effort down in Tuscaloosa,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said in a Monday news conference with the SEC. “I think our guys played pretty well. We didn’t shoot the ball well, but Alabama had a lot to do with that.”

The latest setback for Alabama showed just how far the Tide has fallen since it was ranked No. 1 in December. Since SEC play started, Alabama is tenth in the league in scoring offense and eleventh in field goal percentage. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s impressive victory in a hostile environment proved how much the Wildcats have risen since it lost to in-state rival Louisville in non-conference play. This was a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions.

Dogs Bite Tigers

Who needs a healthy Jarvis Hayes? Apparently, Georgia (12-4, 4-1 SEC) can survive without his full arsenal. With the All-American candidate hampered by a hip flexor that limited his mobility, Georgia was still able to earn an 85-79 victory over Auburn (15-4, 4-2 SEC) as Coach Jim Harrick sought contributions from his other players.

They didn’t disappoint. Guard Ezra Williams, who leads the league in scoring with 20.4 points per game in five league contests, tallied 19 points. Forward Steven Thomas added 16 points, as the Bulldogs were able to counter Auburn’s high-flying attack. Tigers’ forward Brandon Robinson scored a career-high 25 points and guard Marquis Daniels contributed 20 points. But it was not enough to outlast Georgia, which is currently first in the RPI rankings.

Auburn, which was ranked No. 24 last week in the Associated Press poll, has lost two consecutive games.

Bayou Bengals Broken . . . Again

LSU (12-5, 1-4 SEC) continued its tumble in the SEC West standings, as the Tigers fell into last place in the division with a 67-64 loss to No. 21 Mississippi State (12-4, 2-3 SEC) Saturday. The Bulldogs almost blew a 12-point advantage with 55 seconds remaining. Trailing 65-53, the Tigers made a trio of three-pointers, which proved more devastating as Mississippi State failed to convert the front end of two one-and-one opportunities.

After Bulldogs’ point guard Derrick Zimmerman hit two free throws, the Tigers were down 67-64. LSU guard Torris Bright’s last-second three-point attempt badly missed and the Tigers lost for the fourth time in five conference games.

The Tigers will return to the hardwood Wednesday, when they face No. 4 Florida in Baton Rouge. The Gators (16-2, 5-0 SEC) have not played since beating Vanderbilt last Wednesday and will be well rested. Florida is led by their two freshmen, Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson, who average 14.8 and 14.3 points, respectively.

Louisville Escapes with a Win

Eighth-ranked Louisville needed some last-minute heroics to pull out a 72-69 victory over Tennessee (9-6, 2-3 SEC) in a non-conference match-up in Knoxville last Saturday. Taquan Dean buried a three-pointer and Kendall Dartez hit a jumper that catapulted the Cardinals into the lead after coming back from a 12-point deficit. “I’m very disappointed,” Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson said. “Give Louisville credit for coming back in the second half with some big three-point baskets. We were completely worn out with about seven minutes left in the game. Give Louisville credit. They hit the baskets when they needed to”

For Peterson, it was just one of the many hard-luck losses he has suffered in his short career at Tennessee. In fact, it was second time in as many years that he watched the Volunteers succumb to the Cardinals in the final minute. Last year, Tennessee lost by one point, 73-72, when Reece Gaines nailed a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to cap a furious comeback that was aided by Louisville’s hot perimeter shooting. Coincidentally, it was Reece that led the Cardinals in scoring, with 22 points, in last Saturday’s victory.

Ole Miss Pulls Away, Beats Arkansas

Things fall apart. That has been the story for the Arkansas Razorbacks (6-10, 1-4 SEC) in close games this season. And it didn’t change Saturday. In front of 8,784 spectators at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford, Ole Miss defeated Arkansas for the sixth consecutive time, 73-54.

With 12:05 remaining in regulation, the Rebels (12-4, 3-2 SEC) embarked on a 12-0 run, which transformed Ole Miss’ precarious 47-46 lead into a sizable 59-46 advantage. Benefiting from Arkansas’ sputtering offense, which failed to score for nearly seven minutes, the Rebels created a margin too wide for the Hogs to close. The Razorbacks’ lack of productivity betrayed them late in the second half, as Arkansas was unable to convert a field goal for over eleven minutes. As a result, the Hogs could not sustain an early second half run that closed a 10-point halftime deficit to one. Instead, Harper and Ole Miss forward Justin Reed, the game’s high scorer with 17 points, helped stifle Arkansas and establish a wider gap.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

In a conference where Alabama was supposed to be at the head of the class, a school just a couple hours down the road is showing that it has upward mobility. Auburn, which sported a dismal 12-16 record last season, was predicted to finish near the bottom of the SEC West standings this year, and played a rather suspect non-conference schedule, now finds itself on top of the league.

The Tigers (15-2) improved to 4-0 in the SEC after beating archrival No. 10 Alabama 77-68 in Auburn Saturday. Three Tigers scored 13 points, including senior point guard Marquis Daniels, who is emerging as one of the conference’s most lethal offensive threats. “I would say that Marquis Daniels is as good a player as any player that we have faced,” Alabama (12-3, 2-2 SEC) coach Mark Gottfried said. “You always have to be aware of where he is on the court.”

Daniels, who averages 19.1 points per game, has emerged as a leader on a team that features several talented players, including senior guard Derrick Bird and sophomore forward Marco Killingsworth. Gottfried was impressed with the Tigers who helped hand the Crimson Tide its second loss in SEC play.

“Auburn is a legitimately good team,” Gottfried said. “They are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Auburn is playing very good defense. I would say that they are as good on defense as anyone that we have played. We have played some good teams this year, teams that were ranked pretty high, and Auburn is every bit as good if not better than all those teams.”

Auburn will look to continue its strong start this week against Kentucky and Georgia, while Alabama, which shot just 39.7 percent against the Tigers, will try to correct its offensive deficiencies against Ole Miss and the Wildcats.

Florida Survives Scare

Upsets were aplenty Saturday, and Florida (15-2, 4-0 SEC) coach Billy Donovan had heard about them all. Fortunately, for the No. 6 Gators, they did not fall victim to one. Duke, Missouri, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Connecticut all lost. However, Florida won – outlasting South Carolina 77-75.

The Gators, which had welcomed back freshman Christian Drejer Wednesday after the Danish sensation recovered from an ankle injury and subsequent infection, were pushed to the limit Saturday by the Gamecocks (7-7, 1-3 SEC). Nevertheless, freshman guard Matt Walsh scored 17 points and senior forward Matt Bonner added 19 in the win, as Florida survived the rowdy crowd at the new Carolina Center to eke out a victory that was ensured after South Carolina forward Carlos Powell missed a 30-footshot at the buzzer.

Kentucky Continues to Shine

If Kentucky (13-3, 3-0) is not the best team in the league, then it can be classified as good and getting better. The Wildcats manhandled No. 9 Notre Dame Saturday, and, in the process, showed that its frontcourt players can be a force to contend with inside the paint. Sophomore forward Chuck Hayes scored 17 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while senior forward Marquis Estill added 18 in the victory.

Kentucky came out firing from the outset, and quickly dismantled the Irish’s 2-3 zone, as the Wildcats built a 17-7 lead. Kentucky maintained a significant advantage throughout the game, as Notre Dame was never able to mount a run. The Wildcats currently have won seven in a row, including an impressive 74-52 victory over Vanderbilt earlier in the week. The Wildcats seem to be coming together to form one of the best teams in the SEC, and Coach Tubby Smith sees it happening before his eyes. “Now we have a pretty good feel for who is going to give us what in certain situations,” Smith said. We also have balance in our scoring. We have a very deep bench and we need the bench players to keep improving.”

Vanderbilt Struggles

Vanderbilt, which fell to Kentucky last Wednesday, lost to in-state rival Tennessee (9-4, 2-2 SEC) 71-66 Sunday in an ugly game in Knoxville. The Commodores (8-7, 1-3) are off to their worst start since the 1991-1992 season after the Volunteers pulled away in the final minutes of what had been a close game. Both teams combined to turn the ball over 35 times, and it was Tennessee’s 53.3 percent shooting from the field that proved to be the difference.

Volunteers’ forward Ron Slay, who averages 21.0 points per game, scored 14 points for Tennessee, which had lost to Florida 77-64 earlier in the week. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, whose team is mired in last place in the SEC East standings, was less than pleased after the loss. “Our problems are a lot worse on the defensive end,” Stallings said. “We were just as bad defensively as offensively. They shot 50 percent both halves. We had two starting guards who didn’t score, so we are really playing three on five. We’ve gone from being pretty good defensively to not being a good defensive team.”

Upset in Baton Rouge

Ole Miss (10-4, 1-2 SEC) may be struggling with its offensive productivity, but its defense has been outstanding. Using its best asset to its advantage, Ole Miss downed LSU 67-57 in Baton Rouge. The Rebels, which had scored just 49 and 65 points in losses to South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, came back Saturday and stymied a hot-shooting LSU (12-3, 1-2 SEC) team that had been averaging 91 points in its previous three games. Senior guard Emmanuel Wade scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half, as the Rebels pulled away. The Tigers, meanwhile, shot just 38 percent from the field and lost for the first time in 11 games at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Georgia Routs Arkansas

It had been seven days since Arkansas scored just 37 points and lost to Auburn. It had been eternity since Georgia (10-4, 2-1) won a game in Fayetteville. The Bulldogs, which had lost to the Razorbacks (5-9, 0-3) in five previous meeting in Northwest Arkansas, were finally able to pull out a win over an overmatched Arkansas squad, as No. 23 Georgia claimed an easy 77-64 victory.

While Arkansas converted just five of its first 22 shots, Georgia built an insurmountable 33-15 lead. A crowd of 17,766 witnessed the onslaught, Arkansas coach Stan Heath’s first-ever technical foul, and a 19- point performance by Georgia senior guard Ezra Williams. Georgia featured a press, which Arkansas’s new half-court oriented offense could not counter. “We were here two years ago and they pressed us really hard and came back and won,” Williams said. “It’s different coming back here and not seeing Arkansas press.”

Mississippi State Singing the Blues

Mississippi State fell to 0-3 in conference play and 10-4 overall after a heartbreaking 68-62 overtime loss to Alabama Wednesday. The Bulldogs have lost 16 consecutive games on the road. Mississippi State’s poor performance against SEC competition is just another of the many examples of the conference’s overall quality. The Bulldogs will face South Carolina Wednesday in Starkville, where they will look to break the losing streak.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

As the first part of the season drew to a close last week, it became apparent that one conference seemed to be slightly better than the rest. Featuring five teams in the Top 25 rankings, the SEC flexed its muscle, as its affiliated schools achieved success against teams outside of the conference. However, last week, when SEC play started, the nation really began to see how much quality existed within the conference.

“I think the best basketball league in the country is the league that’s best that year,” South Carolina coach Dave Odom said in a Monday news conference organized by the SEC. I don’t know if there’s a best basketball league every year. It always changes. If you look at RPI’s, Sagarin’s, then the SEC is the best league. Coming in, I knew that the SEC had great athletes. I didn’t know that they had great athletes with great talent.”

With the exception of Arkansas, which is undergoing a rebuilding year, parity defines the SEC. Any team can beat the other, and there really is no weakest link. Vanderbilt outlasted Alabama, No. 6 Mississippi State dropped its first two conference games, and Florida needed a game-winning three-pointer to beat Georgia at home. These were all headlines last week, and there are sure to be more as the season continues into March.

Strangely enough, one of the greatest eras in SEC basketball comes at a time when both Arkansas and Kentucky are not the top teams. The Razorbacks and Wildcats were once the cream of the crop in the conference. Now they must contend with Alabama, Mississippi State, Florida, and Georgia-not to mention up-and-coming teams like LSU and Tennessee. Currently, Arkansas has been forced to look up from the bottom of the standings, while Kentucky is realizing that its annual Eastern division crown is anything but a sure bet.

But that is what happens when a conference is as deep as the SEC is.

Florida Gets by with Buzzer-Beater

If he was not already a hero in Gainesville, he is now. Florida freshman guard Anthony Roberson did against Georgia what he has been doing all season—playing well in the clutch. Roberson buried a fall-away three-pointer as time expired to wipe away a 63-63 deadlock with the Bulldogs (9-4, 1-1 SEC) and gave the Gators (13-2, 2-0) an exhilarating 66-63 victory. Roberson finished with 23 points and canned seven trifectas, which proved to be enough to give him SEC Player of the Week honors.

For Georgia, it was the second time this season that a coup de grace was delivered via a game-winning, buzzer beating three-pointer. Georgia’s last loss before falling to the Gators Saturday came in the same fashion, as the Golden Gophers edged the Bulldogs 72-69.

Meanwhile, the Gators are off to their second best start in school history after they also downed Mississippi State last Tuesday in Starkville. And that could be partially due to the offensive foul called on Georgia that allowed Roberson to make his mark. With the game tied at 63, forward Jarvis Hayes, who finished with 25 points, was called for pushing off a defender. “We’re very, very fortunate,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “We’re very fortunate to win at Mississippi State, and we were very, very fortunate to win against Georgia. We’re very fortunate to be 2-0. Coming in, outside of Alabama, Mississippi State was the highest ranked team. But we know that we’re only two games in. We’ve still got 14 games to play.”

Vanderbilt Edges Alabama

Alabama (11-2, 1-1 SEC) hasn’t beaten Vanderbilt (8-5, 1-1) in Nashville since 1990. And that did not change Saturday. The Crimson Tide dropped its first conference game, as the Commodores pulled out a 70-69 victory. A tense final minute between both teams ended with students charging the floor at Memorial Gym. Matt Frieje scored 19 points in the win, while Russell Lakey hit three three-pointers that helped seal the victory.

His last trifecta gave Vanderbilt a 66-61 lead with 20 seconds left. Alabama was able trim the lead in the closing moments of the game, but failed to get over the edge. The Crimson Tide continued to struggle from the field, as it shot just 48 percent. Meanwhile, Alabama converted 7 of 15 free throws, and its poor shooting from the free throw line proved to be the difference. It is apparent that Alabama lacks a consistent scorer since guard/forward Rod Grizzard entered the NBA Draft after last season.

Tennessee Invades Oxford

In a wild conclusion to a thrilling game, Tennessee (8-3, 1-1 SEC) outlasted Ole Miss (9-4, 0-2) 66-64. Tennessee freshman Stanley Asumnu scored on a put-back with 2.6 seconds left to give the Volunteers their first win in conference play. The Volunteers, which had lost at home to Kentucky in its conference opener, forced Ole Miss into a shot-clock violation with 23 seconds remaining that set up the scenario that provided Tennessee with the win. C. J. Watson and Ron Slay, the SEC’s leading scorer, tallied 17 points each.

“Ron (Slay) has taken a business-like approach,” Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson said in a Monday press conference. “You can just tell that his approach is very different. He really worked hard in the summer to get his legs stronger. He’s just one of those guys who doesn’t mind putting the team on his shoulders.” Meanwhile, despite Aaron Harper’s 23 points and six three-pointers, Ole Miss’ streak of 20 victories at the antiquated Tad Smith Coliseum, also known affectionately as the “Tad Pad,” was ended.

LSU Pounds Bulldogs

No. 6 Mississippi State (10-3, 0-2 SEC) was flying high before conference play started. But since last Tuesday, when the Bulldogs faced Florida and lost 74-66 at home, they have come crashing down. LSU (11-2, 1-1) handed Mississippi State its most recent setback, as the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 85-72, and proved that its win over No. 1 Arizona was not an aberration. The Tigers, which were stomped by Georgia, 89-83 in its conference opener, came back and put forth an impressive performance. Junior college transfer Jaime Lloreda continued to thrive, as he scored 19 points, while guard/forward Ronald Dupree added 18 for LSU. Mario Austin was limited by a sore knee he suffered in a collision in the game against the Gators. However, he still led the team with 17 points.

Arkansas Woes Continue

It was perhaps the worst game ever played by the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. In two halves, the Hogs scored an average of less than one point per minute, as Arkansas (5-8, 0-2 SEC) lost to Auburn (13-2, 2-0) 52-37. The Razorbacks managed to tally just 15 points in the second period. Yet, despite their offensive troubles, the Hogs were tied at 32 with the Tigers after guard Kendrick Davis banked in a lay-up with 8:26 left in regulation.

Nevertheless, Auburn’s Derrick Bird, who scored 10 points, helped the Tigers pull away and earn the ugly win. Arkansas, which shot just 35 percent in a 61-51 loss to Alabama last week, has some serious issues as far as production is concerned. Meanwhile, Auburn continues to be a pleasant surprise after beating Vanderbilt last Wednesday.

Kentucky off to Good Start

Kentucky (11-3) is enjoying a 2-0 start in SEC play after beating South Carolina 62-55 Saturday. Junior forward Erik Daniels, who tied a career high with 19 points, ignited a 25-6 run that provided an insurmountable advantage for the Wildcats with some marksmanship from both the inside and beyond the perimeter. The win over the Gamecocks was the Wildcats’ fifth straight since losing to Louisville 81-63 at Freedom Hall.

Meanwhile, South Carolina (7-5, 1-1) suffered from poor shooting, as it converted just 38 percent of its shots. Led by Carlos Powell’s 17 points, the Gamecocks could not muster a comeback. Nevertheless, the disappointment from the loss was tempered by a win over Ole Miss earlier in the Gamecocks’ SEC opener.

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

In forty minutes on Saturday, Alabama laid to rest any fears its fans may have had after the Crimson Tide lost to Utah last Monday. That is because Alabama (10-1) conquered No. 19 Xavier 65-58 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide rebounded from its first setback of the season and earned its 26th consecutive victory at Coleman Coliseum, as Alabama converted 19 turnovers committed by the Musketeers into 26 points.

Erwin Dudley scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory, and outplayed his counterpart, David West, who was held scoreless in the second half. West has not fared well against SEC centers this season–having been dominated by Mississippi State’s Mario Austin when the latter played his first game in Madison Square Garden in December.

West’s woes, nevertheless, could not mask the troubles Alabama was having from the field. The Tide shot just 41.8% and appears to lack a true scorer like Ron Grizzard, the slashing guard/forward, who declared for the NBA Draft after last season.

Alabama will face Arkansas in its conference game of the season Wednesday. By then, the Tide hopes to cure its offensive maladies.

Bulldogs Still Clawing

Georgia (8-3) is back. The Bulldogs, which were ranked in the Top 25 at the outset of the season, were off to a miserable start at the beginning of the 2002-2003 campaign. Georgia lost three of its first five games, dropped out of both polls, and even had a player leave the team. But the Bulldogs have not lost since falling to Minnesota on a last second three-pointer. Georgia has beaten California, Gonzaga, and, most recently, Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve. It was the first loss of the season for the Panthers, which now know that the Bulldogs still have some bite.

Slay – A Beast in the East

While Tennessee is enjoying a 7-2 start after having beaten Western Carolina, Tennessee Martin, and New Mexico on Saturday, it is Ron Slay that is making the most noise. The senior forward, who enjoys inciting the opposition’s fan base with his on-the-court antics, is also causing an uproar with his dominating play. Slay is averaging 22.6 points and nine rebounds per game and most recently dropped 38 on the Lobos. This is all the more remarkable considering that Slay, who leads the conference in scoring, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last January.

Calipari and Arkansas: No Love Lost

Memphis coach John Calipari likely won’t return to Bud Walton Arena for a while. But that is his choice. Calipari, whose Tigers beat the Razorbacks (5-6) 72-67 last Thursday, said he has no desire to renew the series between the border rivals and wants to create a schedule that features more high-profile programs that will garner national television exposure. Arkansas coach Stan Heath took exception to those comments-much like his predecessor, Nolan Richardson, did when Calipari made his desires known in previous years. Heath, then, said he was going to recruit Memphis in a postgame news conference. And you thought Lewis-Tyson was good. How about Heath-Calipari at the Pyramid?

Kentucky Finishes off Non-Conference Schedule

Kentucky (9-3) will enter conference play with a three-game winning streak. After easily beating Tennessee State and Alcorn State, the Wildcats survived a scare against Ohio in Cincinnati Saturday. Kentucky watched as a 19-point advantage dwindled to three late in the second half, as the Bobcats forged a late run. However, guard Keith Bogans helped prevent Kentucky from losing the lead and the Wildcats pulled out an 83-75 victory.

Around the Rest of the SEC

Florida (11-2) ended its non-conference campaign with a 91-58 pounding of Florida A&M Dec. 30. Freshmen Matt Walsh, who leads the team in scoring with 16.8 ppg., and Anthony Roberson will lead the Gators into battle against Mississippi State, which also features a formidable backcourt duo of Derrick Zimmerman and Timmy Bowers . . . Vanderbilt (7-4) finished off a difficult non-conference schedule with a 70-53 rout of the College of Charleston Saturday. Matt Frieje and Corey Smith led the team with 17 points each in the win over the 10-3 Cougars . . . South Carolina (6-4) will face Ole Miss in its first conference game after beating the Citadel 66-50 last Thursday . . . Mississippi State (10-1) continues to roll over opponents. The Bulldogs beat South Alabama and Alabama-Birmingham in their last two games . . . Louisiana State (9-1) face Georgia this Sunday and are led by Ronald Dupree and junior college transfer Jaime Lloreda, who are averaging 15.2 and 12.7 points per game, respectively . . . The Ole Miss Rebels (9-2) finished off their non-conference schedule in lackluster fashion, as they beat Samford 57-49 . . . Auburn (11-2) will face Vanderbilt Wednesday after beating North Texas 90-65 last Thursday. Marquis Daniels leads the team in scoring with 19.8 ppg.

SEC Notebook

Southeastern Conference Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

A week after beating Indiana and witnessing the Mike Davis tirade in Freedom Hall, Kentucky returned to Louisville to face its in-state rival, the Cardinals, last Saturday. It didn’t take long for the joy reaped from the victory over the Hoosiers to be replaced with sorrow, as Louisville pounded No. 14 Kentucky 81-63.

Rick Pitino, who had won a national championship with Kentucky, earned his first win over his former team and did so in typical fashion. The Cardinals converted ten of 21 shots from behind the arc, while also receiving help from Kentucky transfer, Marvin Stone. Stone scored sixteen points and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory over the team for which he once played.

Stone’s performance served as a dagger in the heart of the Wildcats, which had climbed up the rankings to No. 14 in the Associated Press poll. Now, Kentucky must recover from a disappointing loss to its nemesis and finish up the non-conference schedule with a series of lightweights that include Tennessee State and Alcorn State.

Bulldogs have it Easy in Big Easy

The Bulldogs are good. Just ask Oklahoma. Mississippi State (8-1) took care of the No. 5 Sooners 54-45 at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans. Mario Austin, who is averaging 23.3 points per game, tallied 18 in the victory, as he helped the Bulldogs maintain their advantage despite poor shooting. Mississippi State shot just 36 percent from the field. However, Oklahoma was held to 31 percent in its first loss since its opening game against Alabama. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have not been defeated since dropping their season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Surprise, Surprise: Freshmen Lead Way in Victory

Freshmen Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson are making names for themselves, and the season is just 12 games old. The Gators (10-2) beat up on non-conference outpost Bethune-Cookman 99-64 Saturday, as Walsh and Roberson scored 29 and 22 points, respectively. Walsh, who seems a sure bet for the distinction of “SEC Newcomer of the Year,” hit all seven of his attempts from behind the arc. Florida seemed to be firing on all cylinders five days after it put forth a lackluster effort against Charleston Southern last Monday in a 74-62 win.

No Post-Upset Letdown for LSU

It had been a week since LSU upset the then-No. 1 Arizona Wildcats in Baton Rouge. The chances for a disappointing loss following the unlikely victory would seem to have increased. However, the Tigers were able to refocus their energy Saturday, as they defeated Tulane 74-62 in the aforementioned Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 1982, despite the fact that both institutions are just down the road from one another. Guard Darrel Mitchell scored 12 off the bench, while Ronald Dupree added a team-high 22 points for LSU in the win.

Around the Rest of the SEC

It was a slow week in the SEC, and a dearth of interesting games was apparent over the Christmas holidays. Ole Miss (9-2) beat up on SWAC lightweight Arkansas Pine Bluff 70-38, just five days after disposing of Evansville 87-69 . . . Arkansas (5-4) moved over the .500 mark for the first time since it won its season opener over Jackson State, as the Hogs beat up on Centenary 75-51. The Razorbacks play Oklahoma State Monday . . . Tennessee (5-2) has been off since last Monday, when it beat Western Carolina 79-61. The Volunteers will face Tennessee-Martin Monday and finish its non-conference schedule against New Mexico Jan. 4 . . . Auburn (9-2) faces Southern Miss Monday, a week after thrashing Troy State 94-60. Forward Marquis Daniels (20.0 points per game, 7.6 RPG) leads the team in scoring and rebounding . . . Georgia (7-3) put away Wisconsin-Milwaukee 89-69 Saturday, as Jarvis Hayes, Ezra Williams, and Rashad Wright each scored 16 points. The Bulldogs face Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve in their last non-conference game . . . No. 1 Alabama (9-0) has had a week off since it beat Morehead State 82-64 Dec. 23. The Crimson Tide travels to Utah to face the Utes Dec. 30 . . . South Carolina (5-4) is enjoying an eleven-day sabbatical since its trip out west went terribly wrong. The Gamecocks lost to Wyoming and Colorado State and will resume play Jan. 2 against the Citadel . . . Vanderbilt (6-3) will meet up with No. 8 Notre Dame Monday in South Bend. It will be the first game for the Commodores since losing to Michigan 70-66 on Dec. 21.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

Louisiana State coach John Brady received an early Christmas present Saturday night when his Tigers (7-1) upset No. 1 Arizona in Baton Rouge. But the 66-65 victory did not come easy. A chorus of errors committed by LSU in the final minutes almost transformed a sure win into an unbearable loss.

The Tigers, which led by as many as fifteen in the second half, saw their lead dwindle as a result of their own mistakes. With Arizona trailing 66-61, the Wildcats’ Channing Frye missed a free throw. The ball bounded off the rim and toward the baseline. LSU senior guard Ronald Dupree recovered it and signalled for a timeout as he was falling out of bounds. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they had no timeouts. Dupree’s Chris Webber-like gaffe sent Arizona’s Salim Stoudamire to the line to attempt two free throws that were awarded as a result of a technical foul. He made both, and Arizona trailed by three. But it did not stop there, because LSU was determined to shoot itself in the foot again.

On the subsequent possession, LSU turned the ball over. The mistake led to a basket by Arizona freshman forward Andre Igoudala with 36 seconds left that cut the lead to one, 66-65. Then, LSU guard Torris Bright threw the ball to Frye, and Arizona was given the last possession. If not for a strong defensive stand in the final seconds, LSU would have been dealt a cruel hand. Nevertheless, the Tigers walked away with a win over a top ranked team for the first time since LSU beat Kentucky 95-94 in 1978.

For now, the Tigers are on top of the college basketball world, where everyone can see them – including future SEC opponents, who will be wary of LSU.

Cat Scratch Fever

A back-and-forth game featuring border rivals No. 18 Kentucky (6-2) and No. 6 Indiana turned ugly Saturday at Freedom Hall in Louisville. With the Hoosiers down 65-64, Indiana’s Bracey Wright drove to the hoop, received contact, and missed a lay-up. Kentucky guard Keith Bogans recovered the ball with 2.6 seconds left. Meanwhile, Indiana coach Mike Davis charged the court and berated the referees for not assessing a foul to the Wildcats when Wright’s shot was altered. An animated Davis continued to accost the officials until he was ejected. After Davis retreated to the locker room, Bogans converted five free throws to seal the victory and give Indiana its first loss of the season.

Florida Barely Survives Hurricanes

One overtime period was not enough for the Florida Gators (8-2) to put away the Miami Hurricanes. But two proved sufficient. The Gators and Hurricanes traded punches in a battle royale at the American Airlines Arena in Miami in their first meeting since 1990. Freshman guard Matt Walsh continued to perform well in clutch situations, as he scored 33 points and sank all 14 free throws that he attempted. The Gators, which had a 17-point lead at one point in the second half, saw the advantage quickly slip away. Fortunately for the Gators, they had enough fortitude to outlast an average Miami team. Earlier in the season, Florida also escaped with a one-point victory over Florida State, 58-57, and, as a result, can claim supremacy in the Sunshine State.

Rollin’ Along with a Lawsuit

While Arkansas was putting away non-conference lightweights Sam Houston State and Southwest Texas State to improve to 4-4 under new coach Stan Heath, it was the Hogs’ former ringleader that was making the news. Nolan Richardson, who was fired last March after 17 years as head coach of the Razorbacks, has filed a suit that claims he was discriminated against and had his free speech rights violated by Chancellor John A. White and Athletics Director Frank Broyles. The lawsuit also asks that Richardson be restored to his previous position. However, the former coach says he does not want Heath to be removed. This is just the latest chapter in a saga that has no end in sight.

Alabama No. 1 in Basketball?

With Arizona falling to SEC West compatriot LSU, No. 2 Alabama will likely grab the top spot in the Associated Press poll when it comes out Monday. The Crimson Tide put away the Providence Friars 69-61 Saturday, despite falling behind 27-21. Staring at a six-point deficit, Alabama rolled off 20 straight points and never looked back. Alabama center Erwin Dudley scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while point guard Mo Williams contributed 19 points and six assists. The Crimson Tide will face Morehead State Monday and will battle Utah seven days later.

Rebels Routed

Ole Miss (5-2) suffered its second loss of the season when the Rebels fell to the Memphis Tigers at the Pyramid 58-51 last Thursday. The Tigers, who had lost three consecutive games in the series, overcame 37 percent shooting to defeat Ole Miss, which had won five straight after losing to East Carolina in its opener. However, the Rebels came back two days later to defeat Nicholls State 63-52, as Aaron Harper scored 21 points.

Around the Rest of the SEC

Vanderbilt lost to Michigan Saturday 70-66 in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines won their third straight game. Forward Brian Thornton scored 20 points for the Commodores, who fall to 6-3 . . . Tennessee (4-2) blew a 14-point advantage Saturday and lost to West Virginia 65-62 in Morgantown. The Volunteers host Western Carolina Monday . . . It was the first time an SEC school ever made a trip to Wyoming, and it may very well be the last. South Carolina (4-2) was treated harshly when it visited Laramie, as the Gamecocks were blown out by the Wyoming Cowboys 77-63 last Thursday. Kerbrell Brown scored 14 points to lead the Gamecocks in the defeat . . . Georgia defeated Appalachian State Sunday 99-63, as the Bulldogs improved to 6-3 on the season. Forward Steve Thomas led the way with 18 points . . . No. 15 Mississippi State (7-1) continued its winning ways, as the Bulldogs beat Lefty Dreisell and Georgia State 78-54, as Mario Austin scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs will receive a big test when they face Oklahoma next Saturday . . . Auburn (7-2) defeated Denver 63-58 at the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico Saturday four days after being pounded by Western Michigan 72-54.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

For Mississippi State center Mario Austin, the season was almost over before it even began. But that changed last Tuesday when the NCAA declared him eligible to play after its investigators determined that he completed the requisite amount of core class hours at his high school in Alabama. Four days later, Austin made his triumphant return to the hardwood in the Mecca of sports arenas-Madison Square Garden, where he faced off against David West and the No. 10 Xavier Musketeers.

It didn’t seem as if life could get any better for the 6-9 forward, who thought his season was going down the drain just a week ago. Yet, it did. Austin dominated the Musketeers last Saturday, as he scored 28 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and even drained a three-pointer in a 71-61 win for the Bulldogs (6-1).

Meanwhile, Austin’s heralded counterpart, West, was limited to 13 points, despite the fact that the biggest Bulldog on the block did not guard him. West seemed to realize that it was Austin’s day. In an interview with ESPN.com’s Andy Katz, he commented on Austin’s performance. “Wow, 28 points in his first game back,” the Xavier star said. “Can’t get any better than that. He’s a load. He works so hard off the ball, too. Guys who were guarding him kept telling me to get him away from the block, but then he caught the ball two feet from the basket and you can’t do anything about that.”

With Austin back in full effect, it seems as if Mississippi State’s season is just beginning. Beware of the Bulldogs.

Fear the Gators

Last Saturday, the Florida Gators (7-2) did something no other non-conference team has done in 13 years – beat Maryland at home. Behind the shooting of freshman guard Anthony Roberson, who scored 20 points, Florida outlasted the Terrapins 69-64 and ended their streak of 87 consecutive non-conference wins in College Park, which began after a 70-63 loss to Coppin State back in 1989. The Gators will be able to relish the victory for a week before they play in-state rival Miami on Dec. 21.

Spartans Invade Lexington

In a game featuring star players Keith Bogans, Chris Hill, and Aloysius Anagonye, Tim Bograkos emerged as the hero. That’s right. Michigan State’s 6-2 sophomore guard sank a three-pointer on the wing with 49.2 seconds left that pushed the Spartans over the hump in a 71-67 victory over Kentucky in Rupp Arena. Bograkos, who averages 1.7 points per game in the 2002-2003 campaign, made his name known on CBS’ nationally televised broadcast when he quickly responded to a Keith Bogans’ lay-up, which gave the Wildcats a 67-66 lead. With Kentucky focusing on Hill, who scored 16 points, Bograkos was left wide-open on the Spartans’ possession and immediately quieted the crowd with his trifecta. Kentucky falls to 5-2 with the loss and will face another Big Ten opponent, national title runner-up Indiana, Dec. 21.

Alabama has Close Shave

The Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0), which earned the highest ranking ever in the major polls when it moved up to No. 2 last week, almost suffered a loss that would have sent it tumbling back down. But the Tide survived its brush with disaster Saturday, as it outlasted Bowling Green 72-63 in the Coors Classic in Mobile, Ala. Forward Kenny Walker scored 25 points in the victory over the Falcons, which trailed 66-63 with 1:51 left in regulation. The Falcons were 2-3 going into the game and had been blown out by a dismal Michigan team 83-57. But center Kevin Netter scored 26 points and kept Bowling Green in the game. Alabama will try to get back on track against Providence Dec. 21.

One Bulldog Tops the Other

Georgia (4-3) proved who was to dog on Sunday, as it outlasted Gonzaga 95-83 in the Peach Bowl Classic in Atlanta. In a battle of two schools, whose nicknames are the Bulldogs, Coach Jim Harrick’s team continued to make amends for the early season debacles it suffered. All-American candidate Jarvis Hayes scored 29 points, while guard Ezra Williams added 21 points in the victory over a team that hails from the West Coast Conference.

Tigers Chomp on some Cupcakes

LSU (5-1) is about to enter a diabetic coma after taking a bite out of the sweet confections that have appeared on its schedule, which is ranked 306th in the nation in terms of strength of opponents. After a seven-day hiatus due to final exams, the Tigers took out Texas A&M Corpus Christi 95-60. Corpus Christi has allowed opponents to score an average of 92 points and has beaten only one other Division I school. The Tigers, meanwhile, have played only one legitimate opponent – Texas A&M from College Station – and lost 79-77. Their next big test is against No. 1 Arizona next Saturday – a game, which follows a Tuesday match-up against Prairie View A&M.

Around the Rest of the SEC

Tennessee (3-1) secured a 70-69 victory over Georgia Tech, as Jon Higgins nailed a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer. The Volunteers, who had lost several games in the last seconds last season, got revenge against the Yellow Jackets. Higgins scored the last five points of the game for Tennessee, which was playing the second game of the Peach Bowl Classic. South Carolina (4-2) hosts Wofford Monday night after taking an eight-day break for finals . . . Vanderbilt (5-2) played High Point Sunday night in Nashville – six days after losing to Indiana 73-56 . . . Arkansas (2-4) will return to the court Dec. 18 after an eight-day break that began after a 72-60 win over Louisiana Tech. Coach Stan Heath says the extra practice time afforded by the respite will help his team correct the mistakes they made early in the season and allow him to simplify his offense . . . Justin Reed scored 22 points, as Ole Miss (4-1) rolled over another non-conference lightweight – Virginia Commonwealth – 82-68 Saturday. The Rebels have a 15-game winning streak at home . . . Auburn (6-1) beat up on Murray State 72-52 on Saturday, as Marquis Daniels scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

Future opponents of 25th ranked Mississippi State (5-1) let out a collective moan when they learned that Mario Austin was returning to the hardwood. The junior forward and Wooden Award candidate, who had sat on the bench for the Bulldogs’ first six games, was cleared to play by the NCAA Tuesday. Investigators for the collegiate governing board were looking into Austin’s ninth and tenth grade transcripts and Sumter Co. High School in Ala. to see if he completed the required amount of core classes needed to gain freshman eligibility at the college level.

Apparently, he did, which means opposing SEC teams will not get a reprieve this season when they face the Bulldogs. Austin, who averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 rebounds during the 2001-2002 campaign, will make an immediate impact on a team that has been led by the unheralded backcourt duo of Timmy Bowers (18.2 ppg.) and Derrick Zimmerman (10.7 ppg.), as well as forward Michael Ignerski (12 points, 6.5 rebounds).

Mississippi State, which has been on the precipice of falling out of the Top 25 after losing to Louisiana-Lafayette in its first game, will get its first big test against No. 10 Xavier this Saturday in Madison Square Garden. Austin will face highly touted center David West in his first game since the matter with the NCAA was settled. Welcome back.

Clawing Their Way up the Ladder

No controversy. Just winning. That’s the way Kentucky coach Tubby Smith likes it. The 16th ranked Wildcats are off to a 5-1 start and earned a big 98-81 victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill last Saturday, as Gerald Fitch tallied 25 points. For his efforts against the Tar Heels, the junior guard was honored as “SEC Player of the Week.” But Fitch and the Wildcats did not rest on their laurels.

Three days after beating up on North Carolina, they routed Tulane 76-60 in New Orleans, as guard Keith Bogans poured in 21 points. Bogans is leading the team in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game, and has served as a catalyst for the Wildcats, who are each learning and accepting their respective roles-something new for a team that earned the nickname “Team Turmoil” last season.

Bacon Anyone?

Despite a drab 72-60 victory over Louisiana Tech Tuesday night, the Arkansas Razorbacks are off to a miserable start. The Hogs are 2-4 and have lost to non-conference also-rans Oral Roberts and Troy State-the latter of which Arkansas beat by 67 points in 1997. The Razorbacks, which are eight years removed from a national championship, are struggling to find themselves under new coach Stan Heath. The Hogs have been turnover-prone, and their costly mistakes have contributed to close losses against No. 17 Illinois (62-58) and 19th ranked Tulsa (61-60). With games coming up against Sam Houston State and Centenary, it would seem as if Arkansas can even out its record. But, nothing is certain these days in Fayetteville.

Rollin’ Right Along

Six games into the season and the 2002-2003 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0) has already left its mark. After beating St. Bonaventure 77-68 Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama learned Monday that it moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll-its highest ranking ever. The Crimson Tide, which was led by Erwin Dudley’s 28 points against the Bonnies, will face Bowling Green and Providence in its next two games-both of which will be played with a week of rest for the Tide in between.

Bulldogs Take Bite out of Bears

Georgia (3-3) got back on track after losing three of its first five games. But it wasn’t easy. The Bulldogs defeated California 78-73 in overtime in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif., as guard Ezra Williams scored 23 points and buried the go-ahead three-pointer in the extra period. Georgia was able to reverse an early season trend, which saw the Bulldogs lose close games away from home. Each of Georgia’s three losses has come on the road by five points or less. While the Bulldogs were able to reap some satisfaction from Saturday’s victory, the joy was tempered by the news they received from reserve guard Mike Dean, who has decided to leave Georgia and transfer to another school. Dean averaged 2.8 points per game this season.

All’s Well Down on the Plains

It may be early, but the Auburn Tigers are enjoying life near the top of SEC West standings with a 5-1 non-conference record. Since losing to Western Kentucky 89-70 Dec. 1, the Tigers have reeled off three straight wins over mediocre competition-the last of which came against Rutgers last Sunday. The Tigers, which have not scored below 70 points this season, lead the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 56.4 % from the floor on average.

Around the Rest of the SEC

No. 12 Florida (6-2) took care of South Florida Sunday, defeating the Bulls 68-52 at home, as another freshman guard stepped up. This time it was Anthony Roberson, not Matt Walsh, who scored 19 points to lead the way . . . Tennessee (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season, as the Volunteers were defeated by Texas A&M 83-66 in College Station, TX Dec. 4. Tennessee is currently enjoying a 11-day break and will resume play Sunday against Georgia Tech at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Classic . . . Vanderbilt (5-2) lost its second game of the season to No. 6 Indiana 73-56 Monday night in Bloomington. Forward Matt Frieje continued to shine, as he scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Frieje leads the Commodores in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game . . . South Carolina capped off a bad week last Sunday that started Dec. 5 with a 67-59 loss to Georgetown. The Gamecocks (4-2) dropped their second straight game to border rival North Carolina State 76-64 . . . Ole Miss (3-1) won its third consecutive game Dec. 4 over Austin Peay 74-46 and has not played since. The Rebels’ next game is Saturday against Virginia Commonwealth . . . LSU (4-1) decimated McNeese State 93-72 last Saturday, as JuCo transfer Jaime Lloreda and senior guard Ronald Dupree combined for 55 points.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

As the college football season slowly draws to a close, the 2002-2003 basketball season is heating up. Several SEC teams showcased their talent over the Thanksgiving weekend while participating in early season tournaments. Kentucky and Florida competed in the Maui Invitational and Preseason NIT, respectively, while Alabama made a trip to Springfield, Mass. to play Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic.

In the tropical paradise of Maui, the Kentucky Wildcats, a team that has been besieged by distractions the past two seasons, was able to maintain focus and make some strides in a tournament chock full with competitive teams. Despite losing their second game to Virginia, 75-61, the Wildcats, which had opened the Invitational with an 82-65 thumping of Arizona State, came back and defeated a formidable Gonzaga squad in the consolation game.

Kentucky quickly corrected the mistakes that plagued them against the Cavaliers-most notably the uncharacteristically dismal 2 of 22 shooting from behind the arc – and adopted some of the principles that Gonzaga holds dear-rebounding and defense. The Wildcats held their three opponents to 40.1 percent shooting accuracy, and showed they were able to withstand the absences of regulars Cliff Hawkins and Erik Daniels. Hawkins was deemed academically ineligible for the semester, while Daniels was suspended by the NCAA for participating in more than one summer league during the off-season.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the Wildcats would have to play an up-tempo game that relies on team cohesiveness in order for them to be successful. So far it has worked.

Florida makes a trip to the Garden

While Florida did not take home the Preseason NIT championship, it did leave a lasting impression at Madison Garden in New York. The Gators, which had lost to Stanford 69-65 in the semifinals of the tournament, came back and defeated No. 2 Kansas 83-72 in the consolation game. Freshman Matt Walsh continued to produce offensively, as he poured in 22 points, while senior Matt Bonner matched his effort with the same total. Walsh, who was named SEC Player of the Week and ESPN.com’s National Player of the Week after he averaged 21.7 points and 5.7 assists in three previous wins for the Gators, has wasted little time in making an impact in Gainesville.

Dandy Vandy – Commodores off to Good Start

In a season of early surprises and upsets, Vanderbilt, a team that normally finds itself nestled at the bottom of the SEC East standings, has played well in its first four games. The Commodores dismissed non-conference outposts Southeastern Louisiana, Alabama A&M, and Georgia Southern by a combined 86 points before losing to No. 12 Connecticut 76-70. Vanderbilt held its own against the Huskies, who needed a late rally to hold off the Commodores, which shot only 2-15 from three-point range. Forward Matt Frieje scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the losing effort.

Tide Barely Rolling

It was not the prettiest of victories, but it was a win. Fourth ranked Alabama defeated Ohio State 54-48 at the Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic in Springfield, Mass., despite shooting just 17 percent in the second half. Alabama, which was prone to going ice cold during games last season, was able to outlast the Buckeyes as Antoine Pettaway, who scored 11 points, hit several timely shots that secured the Crimson Tide’s advantage. The inconsistent Tide had previously beaten Alabama State as well as Oklahoma and will be playing St. Bonaventure and Providence in its next two games.

Thwarted Rebels

Ole Miss is enduring a rocky start as it split its first two games against lackluster competition. East Carolina defeated the Rebels 65-58, as the Pirates rallied from a 27-24 halftime deficit. Three days later, Ole Miss was barely able to hang on to a win over George Mason, as it snuck by the Patriots 56-49, despite the fact that it converted only 7 of 16 free throws. Forward Aaron Harper was the leading scorer in both contests, as he scored 15 in the loss and 12 in the win.

Border Rivals Take Down Hogs

It was a week to forget for the Arkansas Razorbacks, as they failed to build on the momentum generated from an 81-44 blowout victory over Jackson State. After destroying the Tigers, the Hogs were dismissed by two teams from Oklahoma-Oral Roberts and No. 24 Tulsa. Arkansas shot 8 of 32 in the second half against Oral Roberts, which spelled doom for the Razorbacks, who lost 76-64. Four days later, the Hogs played better, but still suffered a defeat as the Golden Hurricane beat Arkansas 61-60. Point guard Eric Ferguson’s mid-court three-point attempt clanged off the rim as time expired, and Tulsa survived the scare. Arkansas is 1-2 and will face Illinois this Saturday.

Around the Rest of the SEC

Mississippi State recovered from its shocking loss to Louisiana-Lafayette and took out non-conference lightweights Jacksonville and McNeese State with ease. Meanwhile, the Mario Austin question remains unanswered . . . Georgia suffered its third loss this season to Minnesota in heartbreaking fashion. Tied at 69, guard Michael Bauer hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave the Gophers a victory. Right now, the Bulldogs are reeling with a disappointing 2-3 record after five games . . . Tennessee had a close brush with disaster when it barely survived against Garner-Webb, a team that just entered the Division I ranks three years ago. The Volunteers were able to escape with a 71-69 victory in its season opener, and subsequently disposed of VMI 88-56 in their second contest. Meanwhile, Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson learned that little-used junior forward Andy Ikeakor had decided to transfer to a different school . . . Nineteen points from Collis Temple III was not enough for LSU, as the Tigers lost their first game of the season to Texas A&M 79-77. A last-minute rally was too little, too late for LSU, which is currently 3-1 . . . South Carolina has begun the season in fine fashion as it opened the new Carolina Center with wins over three non-conference outposts-East Tennessee State, South Carolina State, and Appalachian State. Chuck Eidson was the leading scorer in each of the games and set the school’s all-time record for assists against Appalachian State. Eidson also recorded a triple-double against South Carolina State . . . After securing easy wins over Wofford and Georgia State, Auburn was dismantled by Western Kentucky 89-70. Forward Marco Killingworth led the Tigers with 21 points, while guard Marquis Daniels added 18 in the losing effort. Fortunately for the Tigers, a series of non-conference lightweights dot the schedule in the coming weeks.

SEC Notebook

SEC Notebook

by Rainer Sabin

The Southeastern Conference has picked up where it left off last season, as the 12 schools seem to be conspiring to recreate the 2001-2002 storyline. In a matter of weeks, eerie similarities are surfacing. Alabama and Florida already look formidable. Kentucky is a mess so far, and another university, Mississippi State, is embroiled in controversy

In the self-proclaimed Mecca of sports arenas, Alabama opened its season Nov. 14 with much fanfare, as it outlasted one of the nation’s elite teams. At Madison Square Garden, sophomore sensation Mo Williams led the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide to a 68-62 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma in the “Coaches vs. Cancer” classic. Williams had 25 points, as he helped prevent Oklahoma from chipping away at an 18-point lead that Alabama had established early in the second half. The point guard from Jackson, Miss. hit several key buckets that preserved the advantage, which never dwindled below five points.

As a result, Alabama climbed to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, which is the highest ranking the Crimson Tide has attained since the 1977 season. But, more importantly, the win over the Sooners put to rest any notion that Alabama may be vulnerable.

After the Crimson Tide snuck by Athletes in Action 72-71 in an exhibition game on Nov. 7, people began to wonder if the Crimson Tide really was as good as the experts predicted. It is, and Alabama’s impressive display against Oklahoma proved as much. However, the Crimson Tide has a difficult non-conference schedule with a game at Utah and match-ups with Xavier and Providence in Tuscaloosa. As a result, by the time the SEC campaign starts in January, Mark Gottfried’s team will be battle tested…

On Nov. 22, the Crimson Tide returned to Tuscaloosa and easily beat Alabama State 82-56, as Williams scored a game-high 20 points and dished out five assists, while senior Terrance Meade chipped in seventeen points and six rebounds.

SEC East

Florida

Led by freshman forward Matt Walsh, the Florida Gators opened their season with a bang. Walsh had 26 points, while senior Justin Hamilton added 21, as the Gators knocked off Louisiana Tech Nov. 19 at 76-55 in Gainesville. Because of injuries suffered by All-SEC candidate Brett Nelson and freshman sensation Christian Drejer, Walsh and fellow newcomer Anthony Roberson, who scored 13 points, were asked to start. It didn’t take long for them to make the most of their opportunities, as they shut down Louisiana Tech’s backcourt and contributed offensively. Two days later, Roberson and Walsh struck again, as they scored 20 apiece in a 99-65 rout of Eastern Illinois.

Kentucky

Last season, the Wildcats earned the nickname “Team Turmoil” after a series of off-the-court incidents blended in with several sub-par performances. So far, in the 2002-2003 campaign, Kentucky has shown it is not about to give up its well-deserved moniker. The Wildcats suffered an ignominious 84-75 defeat to Team Nike, and, days later, learned that Erik Daniels had been suspended four games by the NCAA for playing in two summer leagues-one more than is allowed by the collegiate athletics governing board. As a result, all is not well in Lexington. The exhibition defeat, the first for Kentucky since it lost to the Australian National Team in 1993, comes on the heels of a lackluster 83-82 win over Athletes in Action. Coach Tubby Smith and the Wildcats hope a trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational will restore some confidence in a team that needs some.

Georgia

The season didn’t start the way the Bulldogs wanted it to, but then again this wasn’t a typical non-conference opener. Georgia, the other SEC team to make a trip to New York for the “Coaches vs. Cancer” classic, lost to No. 5 Texas 77-71 on Nov. 15. Nevertheless, Georgia was without two of its best players-forwards Chris Daniels and Steve Thomas, who were suspended for the game by the NCAA and university, respectively. Despite the setback, Georgia was able to enjoy the fruits of victory days after it suffered a defeat, as it downed EA Sports 118-79 in an exhibition game. Guard Jarvis Hayes led the team with 24 points, as the Bulldogs finished off its atypical “preseason” schedule, which included a game that counted (the loss to the Longhorns).

South Carolina

The Gamecocks celebrated the closing of Frank McGuire Arena with a 105-67 win over Unibanka Cesis of Latvia Nov. 13, and then said hello to their new digs eight days later. More than a week after junior forward and JUCO transfer Kerbrell Forward scored 19 points and sophomore forward Carlos Powell added 16 in the win over the Latvia outpost, South Carolina opened its new arena, the Carolina Center, in exciting fashion. The “Godfather of Soul” James Brown performed at a ceremony that luckily did not bring the house down, as South Carolina got acquainted with its new pad.

Tennessee

One day after the Gamecocks disposed of Unibanka Cesis, Tennessee got its shot to beat up on the team from Latvia. Forwards Ron Slay and Brandon Crump combined for 56 points as the Volunteers willingly routed their foreign foes 108-80. Meanwhile, as Tennessee was continuing to prepare for its season, “Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas made it clear that he was not happy with a recent Tennessee promotion campaign-”Buzz Ball Episode II: Attack of the Vols.” Lucasfilm Ltd. expressed its displeasure with the Tennessee marketing office and told them that the Volunteers’ slogan for the 2002-2003 campaign violated copyright laws. As a result, Tennessee changed the new campaign to simply “Buzz Ball.” Oh well.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores finished off their preseason with a bang by beating Upstate New York 91-70 Nov.15. The win came four days after Vanderbilt received a scare from the Harlem Globetrotters, who fell to the Commodores 70-68. Junior forward Matt Frieje was the star of both games, as he scored a total of 45 points in the two contests and hit a buzzer-beating fade-away jumpshot to give the Commodores the win over the Globetrotters. In other Vanderbilt news, Dan Muller was promoted to an assistant by head coach Kevin Stallings after Tim Jankovich left the Commodores to take an assistant coaching position at Illinois.

SEC West

Ole Miss

Despite the absences of two of their best players, the Ole Miss Rebels defeated Athletes in Action 70-67 to close out its exhibition season Nov. 16. Coach Rod Barnes suspended both guard Emmanuel Wade and forward Justin Reed, who are both facing assault charges after getting into a fight at a skating rink in September. Nevertheless, forwards Derrick Allen and Aaron Harper were able to pick up the slack, as they each netted 16 points in the victory. Meanwhile, David Sanders has continued to make progress as he adapts to his new role as point guard-a position that was left vacant when Jason Harrison graduated last spring. Sanders, who used to play at the off-guard spot, has been on a fast learning curve since Rod Barnes asked him to make the transition in the backcourt.

Mississippi State

Before the season started, everything was rosy for Coach Rick Stansbury and the Bulldogs. But, that all changed when the NCAA began looking in to Center Mario Austin’s high school academic records. The investigation centers on whether some of the classes Austin enrolled in at Sumter County High School in York, Ala. should be counted among the 13 core courses that are required for freshman eligibility. The collegiate athletics governing board said that it erroneously declared Austin eligible to play as a freshman when he first began attending Mississippi State two years ago. While the NCAA has not yet said that Austin will not be able to play this season, university officials have decided not to allow the junior center to play in any games before the matter is resolved. This may be a decision they regret, as the absence of Austin contributed to a 79-76 upset loss to the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Nov. 23.

Auburn

While Auburn’s football team ripped through rival Alabama 17-7 in the Iron Bowl at Tuscaloosa, the Tigers’ basketball team quietly beat Wofford 81-63 at home Nov. 23. Marquis Daniels scored 15 points and Marco Killingsworth added 13, as Auburn’s two forwards helped Coach Cliff Ellis earn his 499th victory. The victory over Wofford came seven days after Auburn’s 72-56 trouncing of the EA Sports All-Stars.

LSU

An impenetrable defense helped yield LSU a 68-24 victory over Nicholls State Nov. 22 in the 2002 Hispanic College Fund Classic. The Tigers held the Colonels to the fewest points allowed by an LSU opponent in 56 years. Shawnson Johnson was the only Tiger in double figures, as he scored ten points. However, a total of nine Tigers scored and all 15 played in the game. The win over Nicholls State was LSU coach John Brady’s sixth consecutive victory in an opener since he has been in Baton Rouge.

Arkansas

Stan Heath wasted little time in leaving his mark on the program. In his first game as the Arkansas’ head coach, the Razorbacks set a school record for rebounds in an 81-44 demolition of Jackson State. The Hogs crashed the glass and retrieved 77 boards, breaking the old mark of 75 set against Fort Chaffee in 1956. Freshman guard Jonathan “Pookie Modica,” who scored 11 points and amassed 13 rebounds, led the Hogs. The Razorbacks seem to have already been indoctrinated into Heath’s half court philosophy, which is a far cry from the full-court, “40 minutes of Hell” style Nolan Richardson implemented during his 17-year tenure at Arkansas.

SEC Conference Preview

SEC Conference Preview

by Rainer Sabin

It should be another fun and exciting year in the SEC, as a balance between the East and West divisions has finally been established. Alabama, Mississippi State, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky should be locks for the NCAA Tournament, but look for LSU to make some noise, as well. Certainly, there will be plenty of stories to follow throughout the year in the SEC. It will be interesting to see how Stan Heath handles his first season as Arkansas’ head coach, and if Tennessee can respond positively to the losses of Vincent Yarbrough and Marcus Haislip. By March, when the final whistles have blown and the plot has been written, there will likely be surprises and disappointments, because anything and everything is possible in the SEC.

Here are the SEC team capsules, in projected order of finish.

SEC East

1. Florida (22-9, 10-6)

It didn’t end the way coach Billy Donovan had hoped. A Florida team that had the potential to go deep in the NCAA Tournament last March crashed out of the first round after losing to the Creighton Blue Jays 83-82 in double overtime. In the 2001-2002 season, the Gators featured a talented line-up that included Udonis Haslem, Matt Bonner, David Lee, and Brett Nelson. However, the Gators regularly struggled with bouts of inconsistency and mental errors that usually proved costly. Never was that more apparent than in the loss to Creighton, when Florida was called for a five-second violation after failing to in-bound the ball. The mistake led to Terrell Taylor’s winning three-pointer that sent the Blue Jay nation into pandemonium. Donovan hopes to correct the problems that existed last season, despite losing Haslem, who was a tour de force at center last year. A mixture of youth and experience should help the Gators in their effort to recapture a share of the Eastern Division crown.

2. Georgia (22-10, 10-6)

For the first time since he arrived in 1999, Coach Jim Harrick was finally able to establish a level of excellence for Georgia basketball–something he was able to do with relative ease and rapidity at both UCLA and the University of Rhode Island. Along with Kentucky and Florida, the Bulldogs grabbed a piece of SEC Eastern Division crown, which was their first ever since the conference was split into two divisions. Led by Ezra Williams and twins, Jarvis and Jonas Hayes, the Bulldogs featured a formidable offense, whose core will return this year. Nevertheless, despite the team’s success, last season was not without its problems. A rape investigation that targeted forwards Tony Cole and Steven Thomas overshadowed the Georgia’s accomplishments. With both having been cleared of all charges and the NCAA having overturned suspensions of Williams and Damien Wilkins, who were punished for playing in an unsanctioned summer league, it seems Harrick and his team can focus on the upcoming season.

3. Kentucky (22-10, 10-6)

The 2002-2003 season was one to forget for Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith. Despite the fact that the Wildcats shared the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division regular season championship with the Florida Gators and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last March, Kentucky was beset by distractions that were unrelated to basketball. Dubbed “Team Turmoil” by the local media, several off-the-court incidents created a tense atmosphere in Lexington. Not only did Smith deal with a well-publicized fistfight between teammates, but he also was forced to discipline Gerald Fitch and Erik Daniels after the local police caught them with fake Ids in February. Things did not get any better when Smith dismissed sophomore center Jason Parker in late August for violating athletic department policy. It should be an interesting year for Smith as he tries to turn Kentucky back into “Team Stability,” even with the loss of gangly superstar Tayshaun Prince, who graduated and moved on to the NBA.

4. South Carolina (22-15, 6-10)

South Carolina coach Dave Odom will try to recapture the mojo that gave the Gamecocks a boost last March. After a disappointing regular season, South Carolina made it all the way to the championship game of the NIT before losing to Memphis. However, if Odom wants to continue the turnaround that began in the last weeks of winter, he will have to find a way to replace his backcourt. Jamel Bradley and Aaron Lucas, who were the two leading scorers on the team, graduated and have left a huge void at both guard positions. As a result, expect Odom to rely heavily on Chuck Eidson, a sharp-shooting forward that can handle the ball. Center Tony Kitchings and forward Roland Howell, who helped ignite South Carolina’s run last season, will also be counted on to contribute more offensively. However, with inexperienced junior Michael Boynton manning the point, it could be a long season in Columbia.

5. Tennessee (15-16, 7-9)

Last season, injuries, a lack of a true point guard, and buzzer-beater losses transformed a team that seemed destined to succeed into one that earned a 14-15 record and missed the postseason when it was all said and done. While Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson can’t do much about injuries and nail-biters, he has made sure that the Volunteers have somebody who can bring the ball up the court. Last year, senior guard Jon Higgins, senior forward Thaydeus Holden, and the oft-injured departed senior Jenis Grindstaff were the only true ball handlers. But this year, Peterson has brought in guard C.J. Watson, guard John Winchester, and guard/forward Stanley Asumnu to take over those duties. Even with bulky forward Ron Slay returning from a season-ending knee injury that occurred last January, expect Peterson to implement a full-court strategy and spread the floor. Coupled with the losses of forwards Vincent Yarbrough and Marcus Haislip, the addition of guards will make Tennessee a smaller, quicker, and more perimeter-oriented team. Nevertheless, the changes in style and the influx of five new freshmen may transform the 2002-2003 season into a learning experience for the Volunteers.

6. Vanderbilt (17-15, 6-10)

After achieving a 17-14 record and making an appearance in the NIT last season, the future seemed to look brighter for Vanderbilt basketball. However, a cloud quickly moved in to block the horizon line when three of their top four scorers moved on to different places. Chuck Moore and Sam Howard graduated, while Brendan Plavich, the SEC’s most accurate three-point shooter during the 2001-2002 campaign, transferred to UNC Charlotte. Commodores coach Kevin Stallings will count on forward Matt Frieje, who scored 15.1 points per game last season, and point guard Russell Lakey to carry the team. Frieje will be helped by a frontcourt whose biggest asset is depth. Forward Brian Thornton, an All-SEC freshman, 6-11 center David Przybyszewski, and 6-10 forward/center Martin Schnedlitz will give Vanderbilt a size advantage in the SEC. However, Vanderbilt still does not know where their production is going to come from, and that is why the media picked them last in the Eastern Division at SEC Media Days in Birmingham. It is a position with which the Commodores have become quite familiar.

SEC West

1. Alabama (27-8, 12-4)

Up until March, the Alabama Crimson Tide was enjoying life at the summit of the college basketball mountain after having won the regular season SEC Championship-its first since 1987. However, a slaughtering administered by Kent State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament sent Bama crashing back down. Despite the setback, the Crimson Tide, which was ranked as high as fifth last season, is expected to recapture the magic it experienced before the encounter with Stan Heath’s Golden Flashes. Mark Gottfried’s team is once again stacked with talent, even without the services of guard Rod Grizzard, who declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft. Led by SEC Player of the Year Erwin Dudley and sophomore sensation Maurice Williams, the Crimson Tide will once again present a formidable inside-out game. Dudley, a forward/center, is the best low post player in the conference, and Williams, who plays the point, may be the SEC’s most adept guard. With this powerful duo combined with senior center Kenny Walker, who has supposedly made great strides, the Crimson Tide are once again primed to grab the Conference crown and make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Mississippi State (27-8, 10-6)

Mississippi State is back. After six years of mediocrity since they earned a berth in the 1996 Final Four, Coach Rick Stansbury led the Bulldogs to an SEC Tournament championship over favored Alabama last March. However, like the Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs could not translate their regular season success into an elongated NCAA Tournament run, as they waved goodbye in the second round. But don’t think the early exit shows that Mississippi State does not have what it takes to have a jolly time at the Big Dance. With three starters returning, including All-SEC forward Mario Austin, the ‘Dogs will be looking to take more of a bite out of the teams in the Western division and make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Joined with consistent point guard Derrick Zimmerman and forward Michael Ignersiki, who is one of the best inside-outside players in the league, Austin and Mississippi State will present the biggest challenge to Alabama in the West and will likely be invited back to March Madness.

3. LSU (19-15, 6-10)

When this season is over, Louisiana State coach John Brady may be hated even more than he is now. The often petulant and combustible coach has made his share of enemies since he took over for Dale Brown in 1997, but since the Tigers are now a legitimate force in the conference, opponents will have one more reason to dislike Brady. The Tigers are expected to improve on last season’s 19-15 record and NIT appearance, because LSU returns all its key players from the 2001-2002 campaign. Smooth forward Ronald Dupree, speedy guard Torris Bright, and sharp-shooting guard Collis Temple III are all back to make a little noise in the Wild West. But, that is not the only positive for LSU. The Tigers no longer have to deal with the NCAA sanctions that have beset the program and will finally have a full roster after having their scholarships reduced in recent years. With everything falling into place for LSU, the Tigers will give Alabama and Mississippi State a run for the title and simultaneously invoke more hatred towards Brady.

4. Ole Miss (20-11, 9-7)

After earning a six-year contract extension, Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes can sit back, but can’t relax. With diminutive point Jason Harrison having graduated after last season, Barnes has been looking for someone to fill the void at the point. David Sanders will likely be picked to take the role and will be asked to convert from the off-guard position. This leaves Emmanuel Wade and Justin Johnson to play the two. While this is not an ideal situation, Barnes is hoping that a nucleus of four returning starters will make the Rebels a force in the West. Last season’s leading scorer for Ole Miss, forward Justin Reed, will be counted on to be the Rebels’ main low post threat and compensate for the confusion in the backcourt. Along with Reed, the return of 6-10 junior center John Gunn, who missed all of last year with a kidney ailment, and the addition of 6-10 transfer Shaun Holtz will give Ole Miss some leverage in the frontcourt. That bodes well for a team, which will take what it can get against a trio of stout intra-divisional foes.

5. Arkansas (14-15, 6-10)

Last season was one full of bad memories for Arkansas, as a 14-15 overall record prevented the Razorbacks from making the postseason for the first time since 1986-the first season Nolan Richardson coached in Fayetteville. Coincidentally, the dismal 2001-2002 campaign was also his last, as he was fired in the days following a public outburst. Twenty-seven days after his dismissal, former Kent State coach Stan Heath was brought in to pick up all the pieces and put them back together again. However, Heath will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to enjoy some success in his first year. While four seniors return for Arkansas, each one served as a marginal player under Richardson. Forward Dionisio Gomez, forward Alonzo Lane, guard Blake Eddins, and forward Carl Baker will be counted on to score more than they ever have before. This coupled with the fact that Heath will likely employ a freshman guard tandem of Eric Ferguson and Kendrick Davis makes Arkansas very vulnerable on all fronts. However, Heath is known for catching lightning in a bottle, as he brought Kent State to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last March. Arkansas fans hope he can recapture the magic of yesteryear and make this season one to remember-for all the right reasons.

6. Auburn (12-16, 4-12)

Life did not get any easier for Auburn coach Cliff Ellis after the Tigers finished with their worst record in 13 years. An NCAA investigation in the off-season cast a pall over hapless Auburn, which, remarkably, is only two years removed from its appearance in the 2000 SEC Championship game. However, it seems like eons since Auburn fielded a competitive team, and that is not likely to change in the upcoming season. Led by 6-6 senior point guard Marquis Daniels, who led the Auburn in every major statistical category in 2001-2002, the Tigers do not look very formidable on paper. Besides the return of sophomore sensations Marco Killingsworth and Brandon Robinson at the forward positions, the Tigers are rather inexperienced in just about every area. Last season, Auburn started four freshmen and won only four conference games. In 2002-2003, the Tigers hope to improve on that mark, but will have to contend with a powerful Alabama team, a rejuvenated Mississippi State squad, and an improved LSU in the SEC West. As a result, it could be a long season on the plains of Alabama.

Coach of the Year
John Brady, LSU

Player of the Year
Maurice Williams, Alabama

Newcomer of the Year
Eric Ferguson, Arkansas

All-Conference Team
G Maurice Williams, Alabama
G Brett Nelson, Florida
F Erwin Dudley, Alabama
F Matt Bonner, Florida
C Mario Austin, Mississippi State

SEC Recap

SEC Offseason Recap

by Rainer Sabin

Scandal, controversy, and an overall poor performance in the Big Dance and NIT made the 2001-2002 campaign one to forget for the Southeastern Conference. While nine of the 12 teams in the SEC made the postseason, their lack of success in the season-ending tournaments was a true disappointment. This poor showing coupled with the acrimonious departure of former Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson, the birth of “Team Turmoil” in Kentucky, and a rape investigation involving two Georgia players, overshadowed most of the good stories that came out of last season.

‘Dogs March through Atlanta
In a season of surprises that saw Arkansas miss the postseason for the first time since 1986 and Georgia rise to the top of the SEC East standings, it seemed appropriate that winner of the conference tournament was not among those picked to win it. Rick Stansbury’s Mississippi State Bulldogs took the crown at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta by beating Alabama in the final, 61-58. The Crimson Tide, which was seeded first in the tournament, transformed into a juggernaut by season’s end and was ranked as high as fifth in the nation. Nevertheless, both teams fizzled in the NCAA Tournament, like the rest of the SEC schools that broke into the field of 64.

Big Dance is Big Disappointment

The NCAA selection committee invited Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida, and Georgia to the Big Dance. Yet, even with six teams in attendance, not one SEC school managed to make it past the Sweet Sixteen. Even worse, five teams – Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State, and Georgia – were gone before the second weekend. Three mid-majors waved goodbye to the Bulldogs, Crimson Tide, and Gators. Overall, it proved to be a terrible performance by a conference that traditionally has succeeded in college basketball’s biggest event.

Meanwhile, in the National Invitational Tournament, one team from the conference experienced a taste of success, and it wasn’t Vanderbilt, which was eliminated by Louisiana Tech in the second round. South Carolina, which struggled all year under first-year head coach Dave Odom, earned a trip to Madison Square Garden, where the Gamecocks lost to Memphis in the championship game.

2001-2002 Superstars

The lack of success in the NCAA Tournament was reflected in the fact that Tennessee forward Marcus Haislip and Kentucky guard/forward Tayshaun Prince were the only SEC players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft. Yet, it bodes well for the SEC that only three of the five players selected to the All-SEC First Team have left the collegiate ranks. Tennessee forward Vincent Yarbrough, Florida center Udonis Haslem, and Prince all moved on to different places. Alabama center Erwin Dudley and Georgia guard/forward Jarvis Hayes will be returning to their respective squads this year.

Moving Out, Moving In

It was one of the messiest departures in the history of sports and became nothing short of a public relations fiasco for the University of Arkansas. The firing of Coach Nolan Richardson and the events preceding his dismissal made national news and served as fodder for sports talk show hosts around the country. In late February, the combustible Richardson exploded in front of a contingent of Arkansas media in a Monday press conference. Chastising the reporters that were in attendance, Richardson made a series of negative remarks about the university that were aired on ESPN. Richardson, who two days prior to the public outburst had indicated that a buyout of his contract was something he would consider, got just that when he was handed a pink slip on March 1st. Twenty-seven days later, former Kent State coach Stan Heath was hired as Richardson’s replacement.

Down Time? Not Exactly

The off-season proved to be a little more active than SEC teams would have liked, and it had nothing to do with the conference tournament moving to New Orleans this year. Arkansas lost both of its freshmen in the aftermath of the Richardson ordeal. Guard/Forward J.J. Sullinger transferred to Ohio State, while Berry Jordan left the Razorbacks, despite having not yet selected a new school to attend. Heath was able to replace Sullinger and Jordan with two recruits he lured to Fayetteville in the late signing period – New York point guard Eric Ferguson and Texas shooting guard Kendrick Davis.

“Team Turmoil” continued to have problems after last season ended with a loss in the Sweet Sixteen. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith dismissed sophomore center Jason Parker in August after he violated university athletic department policy. In other bad news for the Wildcats, center Jules Camara is nursing a broken hand that will force him to sit out until late October or early November.
Meanwhile, unlike Kentucky, Georgia had a productive summer, as it was able to clear up its off-the-court problems. Forwards Tony Cole and Stephen Thomas were cleared of rape charges that stemmed from an investigation that began during the season. While this happened, guard/forward Ezra Williams and guard/forward Damien Wilkins had their one-game suspensions rescinded by the NCAA after the collegiate governing body originally punished them for playing in an unsanctioned summer league.

Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes was enjoying his off-season until Justin Reed, the Rebels’ leading scorer, and teammate Emmanuel Wade were arrested on assault charges September 21st after they threatened security guards at a college party. Barnes, who has led the Rebels to four consecutive postseason tournaments and compiled an 86-46 record, was rewarded with a six-year contract extension in August.

Adios Amigos

SEC East
Kentucky lost only two players to graduation. All-SEC forward Tayshaun Prince and J.C. Blevins each earned their degrees after productive stints with the Wildcats…A young Florida Gators team lost its main low post threat – center Udonis Haslem. However, forward Matt Bonner, Guard Brett Nelson, and forward Justin Hamilton all return this year.

Everybody will be back for Georgia this year, while South Carolina will be looking to replace its starting backcourt. Aaron Lucas and Jamel Bradley graduated last year leaving the Gamecocks vulnerable at the two guard positions.

Tennessee will be missing two of its impact players from last season after Vincent Yarbrough graduated and Marcus Haislip fled to the NBA…Meanwhile, Vanderbilt will be looking to fill the holes left by three of its top four scorers – Brendan Plavich, Chuck Moore, and Sam Howard.

SEC West
Alabama returns everybody with the exception of guard Rod Grizzard, who was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft…Mississippi State will be looking to replace guard Marckell Patterson and forward Michael Gholar.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss will be losing only one player – diminutive point guard Jason Harrison, who graduated in May…LSU said goodbye to Jermaine Williams, who maximized his eligibility at the conclusion of last season.

Auburn lost nobody, while Arkansas is undergoing a complete overhaul. Guards Brandon Dean, Jannero Pargo, Teddy Gipson, and T.J. Cleveland all graduated in the spring. Meanwhile, freshmen forwards J.J. Sullinger and Berry Jordan skipped town after new coach Stan Heath arrived.