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  • #16
    SEC West Update

    January 20, 2011


    Following is a quick team-by-team update on what’s happening in the SEC West. We’ll be reviewing the East along with the conclusion of our two-part feature story in our next issue, available online next Monday, January 24. Straight-up and pointspread records are thru games of January 19.

    ALABAMA (SUR 11-7, PSR 6-8)...In what still looks to be a wide-open Western half of the loop, the Tide has emerged as a top contender, confirmed by its 68-66 Tuesday night upset over Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum. Keeping Bama in good stead is its conscientious defense, especially Gs Charvez Davis Senario Hillman locking down on the perimeter. The offensive dimensions are a bit limited without much dynamism from the backcourt or beyond the 3-point line, where only Davis (hitting 38.6% of his triples) is connecting on better than 33% of his long-range heaves. Forwards JaMychal Green (15.5 ppg & 54% from floor) and Tony Mitchell (14.4 ppg & 54% FGs) do provide HC Anthony Grant a solid 1-2 interior punch, but many SEC insiders are keeping their eye on the PG position, where Grant is asking true frosh Trevor Releford to do almost all of the heavy lifting, without much help from the bench. Unlike some other conference foes, Bama was tested in its non-league slate, where most of the challenging assignments (such as Purdue and Oklahoma State) were on the road; Grant might now be experiencing some of the benefit from the tougher pre-league slate. Now if the Tide could just perform as well away from Tuscaloosa, where it has won all ten of its games this season!

    ARKANSAS (SUR 12-5, PSR 4-7)... Could HC John Pelphrey be on the hot seat? Razorback fans definitely had some concerns entering the 2010-11 campaign off a pair of 14-win seasons, to which the Bud Walton Arena faithful are not accustomed. Evidence remains mixed, however, as Pelphrey’s team dropped all of the meaningful challenges on its pre-league schedule (UAB, Texas A&M, & Texas, the latter a 79-46 embarrassment), and early conference road losses at beatable (make that very beatable) LSU and South Carolina could be red flags. Pelphrey, whose team has endured disciplinary problems along the way, is still looking for the right combination, but is hampered by the fact that only G Rotnei Clarke (13.7 ppg) can be considered a somewhat reliable offensive threat. Although 6-9 sr. Delvon Johnson leads the SEC’s best shot-blocking brigade (Hogs at 6.9 bpg, near the nation’s leader) with 3.7 swats pg, Arkansas still ranks last in conference rebounding margin. A key development to watch in the coming weeks is the possible emergence of soph F Marshawn Powell, who scored a season-high 21 points in the OT loss at South Carolina on Wednesday night. As for Pelphrey, most SEC observers believe he likely survives this season thanks to a ballyhooed recruiting class set to enroll for next season. A collapse down the stretch, however, might change the situation.

    AUBURN (SUR 7-10, PSR 3-5)...It’s too bad the Tigers are struggling in what should be a celebratory time on campus. After all, the Auburn football team has just won the national championship, and the hoopsters have moved into an intimate new home den, 9,600-seat Auburn Arena, a more cozy venue than the harsh concrete of the cavernous Beard-Eaves Coliseum, complete with its dedication plaque from former governor Lurleen Wallace. First-year HC Tony Barbee (former John Calipari aide most recently at UTEP) has presided over a depleted roster whose shortcomings were somewhat camouflaged by a laughable non-conference slate that nonetheless got the best of the Tigers, who lost to the likes of UNC-Asheville, Samford, Campbell, and Presbyterian. Threatened with expulsion to the Big South, Auburn briefly rallied around New Year’s and even scored an upset win over Florida State on January 3, but that was the last game for star G Frankie Sullivan, Auburn’s returning high scorer who had also missed early-season action due to recurring knee problems. Sullivan, slow to recover from ACL surgery, is now unlikely to return in SEC play or risk forfeiting a year of eligibility. Thus, it’s up to a roster that now boasts of a walk-on starting at PG (John Wallace) and only two DD scorers, Gs Earnest Ross (12.4 ppg) & Andre Malone (11.7 ppg). We’ll be surprised if Auburn wins more than a handful of conference games.

    LSU (SUR 10-8, PSR 8-5)...First, the good news: LSU isn’t as bad as it was last season. Now, the bad news: LSU still isn’t that good. HC Trent Johnson, who made the Big Dance field with his first LSU team in 2008-09, has been in rebuild mode since, and most regional observers were not fooled by a promising W-L mark in pre-conference play, mostly accomplished vs. lightweight opposition. The Tigers remain young, relying upon Johnson’s true frosh G combo of Ralston Turner (13.7 ppg) & Andre Stringer (13.0 ppg) as the linchpins of the attack, although Turner has been sidelined the past two weeks with a stress reaction in his right foot, and the timetable for his return is still up in the air. That has further limited Johnson’s attack end options, which were exposed in last Saturday’s 82-44 wipeout loss at Kentucky. Johnson is hoping that jr. F Storm Warren can work his way back into the rotation after suffering an Achilles tendon injury, and that frosh F Jalen Courtney will begin to blossom now that Johnson will be using him in his more comfy back-to-the-basket role. But the Tigers are young and have a thin bench, and Johnson has been forced to go almost exclusively with a 2-3 zone defense on many occasions because of depth issues and stop end shortcomings. We wouldn’t be holding our breath for this LSU edition to make a belated run at a postseason berth.

    OLE MISS (SUR 12-7, PSR 8-7)... Time to ring the alarm bells in Oxford, as the Rebs have started a slow 0-4 in SEC play, which could spell big trouble for HC Andy Kennedy. Although the Rebs put up a better fight on Wednesday night at Vandy (hanging close for much of the night before finally losing by 10) than they did in a 22-point home loss to Georgia the previous Saturday when the defense took the afternoon off (Dawgs 63.5% from floor), there is concern about the season slipping away from a senior-laden roster. Ole Miss still relies almost completely upon its backcourt, led by sr. G Chris Warren (18.3 ppg), for offensive production; no frontliner scorers more than F Terrance Henry’s 87 ppg, and that sort of imbalance is proving hard to overcome. On the plus side, Kennedy has inked the school’s first McDonald’s All-American (Jelan Kendrick) for next season, but the natives are restless with the Rebs yet to make an NCAA appearance under Kennedy. As for Kennedy’s contract, it was extended thru the 2013-14 season a year ago at a reported $1.3 million per year, but there are already whispers around Oxford about the buyout provisions if the current Rebs go into free-fall mode.

    MISSISSIPPI STATE (SUR 10-7, PSR 3-10)... By far the most-intriguing of this year’s SEC West entries, the Dawgs have endured an awkward first half of the season to emerge as a legit contender. With star G Dee Bost on academic suspension until early January, and touted 6'10 recruit Renardo Sidney not gaining eligibility until mid-December, then disciplined by HC Rick Stansbury for a few more games after a much-publicized incident in the stands with teammate Elgin Bailey during the Hawaii holiday tournament, the Maroon was a mess for most of the first two months of the campaign. But MSU finally seems to have its act somewhat together, even if Elgin Bailey left the program in the wake of the rumble with Sidney. Big Renardo is now making significant contributions, scoring 24 in a recent win over Ole Miss and adding 15 the next game vs. Auburn, while Bost is scoring 16 ppg in his 3 games since regaining eligibility. Along with G Raven Johnson (16 ppg) & F Kodi Augustus (12.5 ppg), Stansbury now looks to have by far the most-potent lineup in the West. And at the least that should mean the end of the Bulldogs’ pointspread struggles after they dropped their first 7 decisions against the number into late December. They’ll take a 2-game SU win and cover streak into Saturday’s interesting showdown vs. Georgia.

    Next week: SEC East update...
    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

    Comment


    • #17
      NBA

      Thursday, January 20Game Score Status Pick Amount

      Philadelphia - 7:00 PM ET Charlotte -5 500
      Charlotte - Over 188 500

      Dallas - 8:00 PM ET Dallas +3.5 500
      Chicago - Under 185.5 500

      L.A. Clippers - 10:30 PM ET Portland -3.5 500
      Portland - Under 195.5 500

      -----------------------------------------------------------
      NHL

      Thursday, January 20Game Score Status Pick Amount

      Buffalo - 7:00 PM ET Buffalo +146 500
      Boston - Under 5.5 500

      Anaheim - 7:00 PM ET Anaheim +109 500
      Toronto - Over 5.5 500

      Pittsburgh - 7:00 PM ET Pittsburgh -115 500
      New Jersey - Over 5 500

      Washington - 7:00 PM ET Washington -149 500
      NY Islanders - Under 5.5 500

      Ottawa - 7:00 PM ET Philadelphia -226 500
      Philadelphia - Under 5.5 500

      NY Rangers - 7:00 PM ET NY Rangers +135 500
      Carolina - Under 5.5 500

      Tampa Bay - 7:00 PM ET Tampa Bay +106 500
      Atlanta - Under 6 500

      Detroit - 8:00 PM ET St. Louis -113 500
      St. Louis - Over 5.5 500

      Nashville - 9:00 PM ET Colorado -130 500
      Colorado - Under 5.5 500

      Dallas - 9:00 PM ET Edmonton +143 500
      Edmonton - Over 5.5 500

      San Jose - 10:00 PM ET San Jose +136 500
      Vancouver - Over 5.5 500

      Phoenix - 10:30 PM ET Phoenix +128 500
      Los Angeles - Under 5 500

      ------------------------------------------------------------
      NCAAB

      Thursday, January 20Game Score Status Pick Amount

      Arkansas-Little Rock - 7:00 PM ET Florida International -3 500
      Florida International - Over 142.5 500

      Northern Illinois - 7:00 PM ET Northern Illinois +4.5 500
      Central Michigan - Over 132 500

      Marist - 7:00 PM ET Rider -17.5 500
      Rider - Over 137 500

      South Florida - 7:00 PM ET South Florida +4 500
      Rutgers - Over 123 500

      Davidson - 7:00 PM ET Davidson -2.5 500
      Elon University - Under 143.5 500

      Samford - 7:00 PM ET Furman -11.5 500
      Furman - Under 124 500

      Western Carolina - 7:00 PM ET Western Carolina +10.5 500
      Charleston - Over 149 500

      Florida - 7:00 PM ET Florida -12.5 500
      Auburn - Over 129.5 500

      Georgia Southern - 7:00 PM ET NC-Greensboro -7.5 500
      NC-Greensboro - Over 147 500

      Chattanooga - 7:00 PM ET Wofford -11.5 500
      Wofford - Under 144 500

      Tennessee Tech - 7:00 PM ET Austin Peay -13 500
      Austin Peay - Over 149.5 500

      Appalachian St. - 7:05 PM ET Citadel +2.5 500
      Citadel - Over 138.5 500

      Detroit - 7:30 PM ET Detroit +9.5 500
      Cleveland St. - Over 137 500

      Wright St. - 7:45 PM ET Wright St. -6.5 500
      Youngstown St. - Under 127.5 500

      Troy - 8:00 PM ET Troy +7 500
      Middle Tennessee St. - Over 151.5 500

      SE Missouri St. - 8:00 PM ET SE Missouri St. +4 500
      Tenn-Martin - Over 142.5 500

      Manhattan - 8:00 PM ET Loyola-Maryland -13.5 500
      Loyola-Maryland - Under 130.5 500

      Western Kentucky - 8:05 PM ET Western Kentucky -1.5 500
      South Alabama - Over 138.5 500

      North Texas - 8:30 PM ET North Texas -6.5 500
      Louisiana-Monroe - Over 141.5 500

      Eastern Illinois - 8:30 PM ET Murray St. -13.5 500
      Murray St. - Over 122.5 500

      Jacksonville St. - 8:30 PM ET Tennessee St. -10 500
      Tennessee St. - Over 126 500

      Gonzaga - 9:00 PM ET Santa Clara +8 500
      Santa Clara - Under 146 500

      Arkansas St. - 9:00 PM ET Arkansas St. +3.5 500
      Denver - Over 125 500

      Indiana - 9:00 PM ET Wisconsin -13.5 500
      Wisconsin - Under 127 500

      Virginia Tech - 9:00 PM ET Virginia Tech +5.5 500
      Maryland - Over 138 500

      Montana - 9:05 PM ET Montana -8 500
      Idaho State - Under 125 500

      Louisiana Tech - 9:05 PM ET Utah St. -21 500
      Utah St. - Under 126.5 500

      Arizona St. - 10:00 PM ET Washington St. -10 500
      Washington St. - Under 131 500

      Cal Poly SLO - 10:00 PM ET Cal Poly SLO +3.5 500
      UC Riverside - Under 117.5 500

      Weber St. - 10:05 PM ET Weber St. +2.5 500
      Portland St. - Over 149.5 500

      Northern Arizona - 10:05 PM ET Northern Arizona -6.5 500
      Eastern Washington - Over 143 500

      Northern Colorado - 10:05 PM ET Sacramento State +9 500
      Sacramento State - Over 132.5 500

      Portland - 10:30 PM ET Portland -3 500
      San Francisco - Over 131 500

      Stanford - 10:30 PM ET Stanford +7 500
      Southern California - Under 119.5 500

      New Mexico St. - 10:30 PM ET New Mexico St. +3 500
      Nevada - Over 149 500

      California - 10:30 PM ET UCLA -6.5 500
      UCLA - Over 135.5 500

      Arizona - 10:30 PM ET Washington -9 500
      Washington - Under 154 500

      Fresno St. - 11:59 PM ET Hawaii -3 500
      Hawaii - Under 129 500
      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

      Comment

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