Saturday games…

Overall: 106-22 (82.8%)
Vs. Spread: 42-36 (53.8%)
Overall (SEC): 14-4 (77.8%)
Vs. Spread (SEC): 9-9 (50.0%)
East vs. West: East, 7-3

(17-2, 2-2) #17 Vanderbilt [92] vs. (7-11, 0-4) LSU [76]: Junior Marcus Thornton scored his third 27-point game of the season and freshman Anthony Randolph pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds and 14 points for his fourth double-double of the season while LSU outrebounded the Commodores 36-29 and yet Vanderbilt destroyed the Tigers by 16 points. Efficient ball-handling and hot shooting was key, although the Tigers were still allowed to shoot 47.5% from the field. Five ‘Dores scored in double digits, led by Foster and Gordon who had 18 apiece on a combined 12-of-27 shooting effort and sophomore Jermaine Beal had an impressive 9 assists to no turnovers. AJ Ogilvy had his second consecutive mediocre game with 10 points on 2-of-6 shooting, 3 rebounds and 3 turnovers.
Impact [Vanderbilt]: The Commodores end a two-game slide with the win after winning 17-straight games to begin the season. Vanderbilt will need some help from Tennessee in order to get back into the race for the Eastern title.
Impact [LSU]: At this point, the Tigers are looking towards next season. The question will be, can LSU pull off a title-altering upset at some point this season?
Stat of the Game: Vanderbilt’s 21-to-7 (3:1) assist-to-turnover ratio

(11-8, 0-4) Alabama [56] vs. (13-5, 4-0) Mississippi State [66]: The Bulldogs finally found their stroke from behind the arc and hit each of them in timely fashion, leading this game throughout by matching every Tide run. Despite Varnado’s lackluster performance on the inside, MSU still held Alabama to just 56 points – 21 of them coming from Hendrix, despite his attempting only 10 shots. Alabama’s big man turned the ball over 7 times, however. Gee managed only 10 on 2-of-9 shooting. Gordon brought down a game-high 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting while Stewart hit 3-of-5 from behind the arc to record 16.
Impact [Alabama]: This game was the Tide’s last chance to rebound from three-straight losses, as the NCAA’s are most certainly out of reach at this point. Alabama’s situation is only different from LSU’s in one way – the Tide are much more likely to upset a team or two this season.
Impact [Miss. State]: The Bulldogs are on a serious run, but have three signature games coming up with Ole Miss and Tennessee coming to town and a trip to Arkansas mixed in between. If MSU can manage a 2-1 mark in that span, the Western Division looks like a good bet. 3-0 would put State in the upper echelon with Tennessee for the overall championship.
Stat of the Game: MSU’s 46.2% shooting from behind the arc vs. Alabama’s 14.3%

(16-1, 3-0) #13 Tennessee [74] vs. (12-6, 3-2) Ohio State [69]: The Vols defeated the Buckeyes in the same fashion they’ve defeated every team this season, with good shooting and taking care of the ball. Two Buckeyes recorded double-doubles, as freshman Evan Turner claimed 21 points and 10 rebounds for the first of his career and senior Othello Hunter grabbed 17 points and 14 rebounds for the second of his season. Balanced scoring was again key for Tennessee, as four Vols scored in double figures but none with more than 15. Lofton had a not-so-terrible game, shooting 4-of-10 from three to score 13.
Impact [Tennesse]: With the last non-conference opponent out of the way, the Volunteers look unstoppable on thier march towards a top seed in the tournament.
Stat of the Game: Ohio State’s 2-of-20 (10.0%) shooting from behind the arc

(11-5, 2-2) Auburn [80] vs. (15-2, 2-2) Ole Miss [77]: Hot shooting allowed the Tigers a tremendous upset of the Rebels, despite being outrebounded heavily. The Tigers shot 47.4% from the field and even better from behind the arc, as senior Frank Tolbert had the biggest game of his season with 29 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 5 rebounds. Reed also notched a season high with 21 points, along with 6 assists. Prowell added 12 rebounds. Warren had another huge game for the Rebels with 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting…7-of-14 of those from behind the arc…and Curtis recorded the eighth double-double of his season.
Impact [Auburn]: This win should inject a much-needed dose of life into the Tigers, as they remain in the battle for the Western division title.
Impact [Ole Miss]: The Rebels are now on their heels, and will now need to do what young players don’t do well – rebound from a tough stretch of losses.
Stat of the Game: Auburn’s 10-of-19 (52.6%) shooting from three

(11-5, 2-1) Georgia [82] vs. (13-5, 2-2) Arkansas [69]: The Razorbacks are showing signs of their previous road-choking selves, as Pelphrey’s squad was simply not the more physical team against the Bulldogs and couldn’t hit anything from behind the arc (although, that is usual) and the ‘Dawgs were unstoppable from long range. Georgia also outrebounded Arkansas and won the turnover war. Four Bulldogs scored in double digits, led by junior Billy Humphrey’s 24 points on 4-of-6 from long range, also including Gaines and Price with 14 apiece and Woodbury with 12. Charles Thomas and Sonny Weems were the only ‘Backs in double digits with 13 and 12 points respectively, as together the two had 8 turnovers and normally-outstanding sophomore Beverly had an “off” game shooting “only” 3-of-7 from the field for 9 points.
Impact [Georgia]: The win certainly gives the Bulldogs a pulse in the conference. Although Felton’s squad can’t realistically hope to compete with Tennessee in the East, a small run could put the NCAA’s within reach.
Impact [Arkansas]: Arkansas, the previous favorite in the West, has now lost 2-straight games to “lesser” opponents. After a trip to LSU, the Razorbacks won’t have long to rebound in an absolutely nasty five-game stretch including both Mississippi State games, a trip to Tennessee, and home games against Ole Miss and Florida. If the ‘Backs can’t reverse this momentum and manage a sub-.500 mark in those five games, the squad could begin losing sight of the Western division title.
Stat of the Game: Arkansas’ 11-to-17 assist-to-turnover ratio

(16-3, 3-1) Florida [81] vs. (7-9, 1-2) Kentucky [70]: The Wildcats are proving they have some fight left in them…in their losses. The Gators needed overtime to defeat the visiting ‘Cats, and Kentucky slips to their worst record in quite some time. Two Gators scored 20 points or more, as Calathes and Speights combined for 44 points and 16 rebounds on a combined 13-of-23 shooting effort from the floor. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this team will challenge for a national title in the next year or two. Ramel Bradley carried the Wildcat offense, bringing down 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Crawford and Patterson scored 16 and 15 points respectively. The rest of the Kentucky team combined for 16 points total. This team is struggling mightily with their lack of depth.
Impact [Florida]: The Gators are still on track to challenge Tennessee in the East if the Vols will stumble, but road games will prove vital for the young squad.
Impact [Kentucky]: If the Wildcats want to make any noise in the conference, the time is now. This game proved Kentucky can play quality competition on the road, but these type of games are becoming necessary “W”s for the ‘Cats.
Stat of the Game: Florida’s ever-potent offense: 48.0% shooting from the floor