SEC Talk

The LSU Women finally had there winning streak at home broken by UConn 72-71 when Renee montgomery hit a three pointer with 6.7 seconds left on the clock to end the tigers 43 game home winning streak. The Tigers had the longest active winning streak in College Basketball. Give Uconn credit for playing in a hostile environment and coming away with the win.

LSU built several leads but couldn’t hold them when it counted. The Tigers can only blame themselves for this lost as they had plenty of chances to put the Huskies away and couldn’t. Well the one good thing the Tigers can start another streak now. The 43 game one is a hard one to match but i’m sure they will try.

The Kentucky Wildcats seemed to having everything on there side. The crowd was in place, the atmosphere was perfect for a upset. The only problem with this thinking is you have the number one team in the nation Florida standing in your way. Florida didn’t play there best game but was good enough to get a 64-61 win over Kentucky.

Kentucky can blame there problems on shooting as they were only 14 percent from 3 point distance and a horrible 60 percent from the free throw line. Your not going to beat Florida shooting like that. To Kentucky’s credit they battled all night and still had a chance to send it into overtime but missed a three pointer at the buzzer. There is a reason Florida are National Champions they know how to close the deal and win on the road.

Rice was rated number one in college baseball except someone forgot to tell the Vanderbilt baseball team who itself was rated number 8. Vanderbilt scored seven runs in the final four innings to hand number one Rice a 7-3 loss in the season opener at the Houston College Classic Friday afteroon at Mintue Maid Park.

Vanderbilt brings back alot of experience in this years team and that was important in this win. Experience plays a big part when you get behind. This team knows it can come back and didn’t get rattled even when they were playing the best in the land. Or maybe Vandy is the best in the land right now. Only time will tell won’t it.

This is a matchup that in a sense will help kentucky out alot more than Florida. Kentucky needs a win against a team like Florida to show everyone that they can play with anyone in the country. It will also show themselves whatcthey are capable of. This could be a big win for Tubby Smith who it seems is always on the hot seat anymore.

Florida meanwhile a win is great but a loss right now is maybe what they need. You would rather have a loss now than the SEC tournament or the NCAA Tournament. This is a tough game for them and with a packed house at Rupp Arena I expect kentucky to pull the upset. This is the Wildcats season on the line and they know it. A loss would crush them while a win would shoot them within one game of the Gators for the SEC lead which is important to them. No matter what it should be a great game.

Yesterday was National Signing day for prized football recruits and Florida who already have a National Championship under there belt just added to there impressive lineup by having the number one recuriting class in the country. The SEC had 6 out of the top 10 temas as far as recruiting goes. All this means is the SEC just got alot tougher and will be the best conference once again.

SEC football just took another step away from the pack and with the success in recruiting it is going to be awhile before anyone catches them. I think it usually goes in waves and the SEC is on a big wave right now. The only bad part is it will be hard to play for a National Championship because these teams will be beating on each other all season long. It will be fun and interesting to watch though.

Glen Davis the big guy in the middle for LSU was coming back for another year so he could improve himself for the draft and all he really did was cost himself millions of dollars. Last year he had a great run through the NCAA tournament and was considered a very high pick. Fast forward to this year where his team has struggled and now the picture isn’t so pretty for Glen Davis.

Many convinced Davis to stay another year in school which looking back at it now was probably a mistake for him. This year’s team from LSU isn’t as good and he doesn’t look like the player we seen last year. One more year of college has meant that he lost alot of money and hisis talent level hasn’t really changed but our perception of what were getting with him has and that means alot less money in the NBA draft. It’s a shame but one more year hurt Davis

All see does is win and maybe that’s why Pat Summitt is a legend in Women’s College Basketball. The Tennessee Vols used 22 points and 11 rebounds from Candace Parker to give the Vols a 73-57 rout over number nine Georgia. This put ths Vols record at 21-2 and 8-0 in the SEC. In case your wondering who did Tennessee lose to it was Duke and North carolina. By the way both of those teams are rated 1 and 2.

This may be one of the better teams Summitt has had in awhile and I look for them to go deep into the tournament. As long as Candace Parker stays out of foul trouble the Vols and there fans maybe sitting at the Final Four once again. It’s seems to be old hat for Summitt anymore.

This is a very interesting question that was asked to me the other day and I thought I would post my thoughts on it. We all know without a doubt the Gators are king in the SEC In college basketball, that’s why there defending National Champions. So, who is next in line?

It’s really just a two team race for that second spot. Alabama who leads the Western division is only 4-4 in the conference so it makes it tough to place them at number two. It looks by default the Kentucky Wildcats are the second best team in the SEC. The Wildcats only have two SEC losses and the real interesting thing is they are still within striking distance of the Gators.

Circle this date on your calendar SEC fans Feb 10. This is when the Gators invade Rupp Arena and gives the Wildcats a chance to give the Gators a conference loss. It should be a great game and we will see if Kentucky is truly number two in the conference or will they make a case for number one. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Let’s take a look at some womens SEC College Basketball:

No.15 Vanderbilt beat Alabama 91-51. The Commodores were led by Caroline Williams 17 points as the crimson Tide really couldn’t do much against Vanderbilt. The Tide did play without there leading score and another player. This marks the 20th win for 8 straught seasons which is heart in the tough SEC Conference.

Kentucky looked unstoppable in the first half, but like coaches always tell players you have to play two halves. Florida made a run at Kentucky but fell short by a score of 84-74. Samantha Mahoney had a team high 21 points as four Kentucky players were in double figures.

LSU star Sylvia Fowles had 23 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Tigers 49-46 win over South carolina. The Gamecocks really had no answer for Fowles, but was able to slow her down in the second half. It still wasn’t enough to get the win though.

Auburn had to nurse a lead in the second half and was able to hold off the pesky Mississippi State Bulldogs 63-57. Auburn struggled at points during the game, but when it counted they did get the job done. Auburn is now 17-7.

Ashley Awkward hit some clutch free throws in the second overtime to give Ole Miss a big win over Arkansas 90-87 in double overtime. Arkansas had a chance to tie with a three pointer but it was wide of the mark and time expired to give Ole Miss the win.

It’s time to take a look at the SEC College Basketball from this Saturday. It wasn’t much of a game as the Florida Gators continued there roll through the SEC. Al Horford wanted to return to Florida to work on his game and win another National Championship, and after Saturday looks like he is onschedule. Horford tossed in 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocks to lead Florida to a 94-78 rout of Tennessee.

Clarence Sanders came of the bench to hit seven three pointers and score 21 points as Ole Miss beat Auburn 82-59. Auburn played real sloppy as they committed 25 turnovers. If you turn the ball over that much you won’t win very many games.

Hold off the firing of Tubby Smith as the Kentucky Wildcats rallied from a 14 point deficit to beat Arkansas 82-74. Ramel Bradley scored 22 points of his 24 points in the second half to power the Wildcats back for the win.

Alabama struggled all day long against South Carolina, but used a stinky defense and a hot streak to beat South Carolina 64-61. Jermareo Davidson and Mykal Riley struggled most of the game but when it counted they stepped up and got the Tide there win.

Mississippi State got 18 points and blocked two shots to lead Mississippi State to a 85-78 over LSU. THe Tigers have struggled all year`long after a good run in last years tournament. Glen Davis had a game high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.

Vanderbilt held off a pesky Georgia ball club 66-61. The Commodores Derrick Byars scored 20 points and Dan Cage had 19 points all in the second half. Vanderbilt has played well the last few weeks and may just get a NCAA bid if they keep this up.

The Lady Georgia Bulldogs rated No. 13 in the country needed a buzzer beater by Ashley Houts to give Georgia a 53-51 win over No. 7 LSU. LSU came from 7 down with a little less than three mintues to take the lead on a Sylvia Fowles basket with 7 seconds remaining.

Houts took the ball and drove the length of the floor and hit the winning shot and officials reviewed it and it counted and the celebration was on for the lady Bulldogs. Tasha Humphrey tossed in 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the Lady Bulldogs cause. Georgia now sits 19-4 and 6-2 in the conference.

Most of the game it was a defensive struggle as Georgia only shot 30 percent while LSU could only manage 31 percent. SEC womens basketball from top to bottom may be just as tough as the men anymore, but as always the team to beat our those tough Tennessee Vols who are still undefeated.

Anywhere you go it seems everyone wants to fire Tubby Smith, but the real question should be is why. Searching the internet you will find petitions to get rid of Tubby Smith and blogs detailing his failures as Kentucky Wildcats basketball coach.

Since I am a fan of Wildcat basketball it’s time to stand up for Smith. Rick Pitino left and Tubby Smith was hired. What is Smith’s crime simpley put not any championships with guys he brought in. It’s a very different climate in the SEC than when Pitino was coach.

Many of the SEC teams that are doing real well now were just meat for Kentucky a few years ago. Things change and if Tubby Smith has one crime it’s not keeping up with changes in the conference and getting left behind in recuriting. Smith is passionate about Wildcat basketball and wants to win just as bad as anyone else.

Smith will tell you it doesn’t bug him what the fans think and he has a job to do. Somewhere down the line it does eat at you and I think Smith maybe reaching that point. One thing Tubby Smith does well and that is get the most from his players. If things go sour in the NCAA tournament with a early exit don’t be shocked to see him leave for the NBA. Insiders in the NBA think highly of his coaching abilities and could make that jump sooner than later.