Saturday games…

Overall: 62-12 (84%)
Vs. Spread: 19-14 (54%)

Kentucky (76) vs. UAB (79): As the SEC slides further into disappointment, the Wildcats drop another home game to a far lesser opponent - this time, it’s UAB. Kentucky simply doesn’t have an inside game, and the guards aren’t able to keep up. Bradley had his second 20+ point game of the season, hitting 8-of-16 shots for 23 points and six rebounds. Patterson scored 18 and grabbed seven rebounds, shooting 8-of-9 from the field. Stevenson did not, however, get enough touches as he shot 2-of-3. The four-guard lineup just isn’t working for the Wildcats.
Stat of the Game: Kentucky’s -9 turnover margin

Florida (52) vs. Georgia Southern (49): Sophomore Dan Werner had his breakout game of the season, scoring 20 points and claiming 14 rebounds, as Nick Calathes got 14 touches but only made two to finally cool down a little after carrying the Gators on his shoulders the entire season. He did, however, hit all eleven free throws he attempted, but turned the ball over five times. The Gators also shot very poorly for once, and it almost cost them the game. Bad free throw shooting loses close games, and that very well could have lost the game for GSU.
Stat of the Game: Georgia Southern’s 38.5% free throw percentage

Arkansas (72) @ Oklahoma (83): The Razorbacks’ outstanding defense finally showed weakness, allowing the Sooners to show 50% from the field and 44% from three. Michael Washington led the ‘Backs with 16 points and recorded a game-high 12 rebounds, but five Sooners scored 11 points or more and Arkansas simply couldn’t keep up.
Stat of the Game: OU’s 80% free throw percentage versus UA’s 52.9%

Mississippi State (67) @ South Alabama (71): You can now officially begin calling the Bullies the most disappointing SEC team of the season thus far, after they fall to the Jaguars 5-5. This game was eerily similar to their last one - in both games MSU carried a small lead into halftime, led by around 5-10 throughout the second half, and eventually lost as a result of a late run spawned by one opposing team’s player. This time it was Demetric Bennett, who scored 39 points on the game - 11 of those in the final six minutes - and had 25 by halftime. Varnado continues to lead the SEC in blocks per game, swatting six on this contest, and grabbed 10 rebounds while Gordon continues to make poor judgements, shooting only 1-of-14 because of bad shot selection.
Stat of the Game: USA’s 58.8% (10-of-17) from behind the arc

#13 Tennessee (8 vs. Western Kentucky (82): Chris Lofton has officially lost his hold on favorite for SEC Player of the Year, as he continues to struggle to find his shot - shooting 4-of-14 - but managing 14 points. Jujuan Smith led the Vols in the win, scoring 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and Brian Williams stepped up for Duke Crews in major style scoring his first double-double of the season with a commanding 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Stat of the Game: Tennessee’s 21 assists

Auburn (71) @ Southern (63): This is no way, shape, or form should have been nearly as close as it was, as Southern is 1-7 with a loss to a Division II program. Rasheem Barrett had the game’s only double-double, and the first of his career, with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Robertson continues his excellent passing with 9 assists and no turnovers, and Dewayne Reed continues to struggle holding onto the ball with six turnovers.
Stat of the Game: Auburn’s +11 rebounding margin

LSU (82) vs. Northwestern State (5 : The Tigers surged in a major way late in the second half to blow this game open, but the Demons managed to keep the game respectable for the most part. Thornton seems to be challenging for breakout player of the year in the SEC, as he again led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Anthony Randolph helps co-lead the team, despite struggling with his stroke, with eight rebounds.
Stat of the Game: LSU’s 30 free throws attempted versus NSU’s 7

2007-2008 Preseason SEC Player of the Year

Apologies for the absence - times have been hectic. Now, on with the show…

2007-2008 SEC Preseason Player of the Year

Jamont Gordon (Miss. State - Point Guard - Junior - 16.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 5.3apg)

After an intense debate between Tennessee’s Lofton and Gordon, it was decided that Gordon was the more versatile and better all-around player.

Gordon, a power forward in high-school, committed to a Mississippi State team that was losing nearly every important contributor on the roster. A team that had seen four-straight NCAA tournaments, and some SEC overall and divisional titles thrown in the mix, but would be one of the youngest in the nation. With coach Rick Stansbury’s lack of a true point guard in the class, Gordon was hoisted into the position.

Predictably, the Tennessee-native and Top 30 pick out of high-school struggled with ball-handling. Despite a gaudy 13.8ppg, 6.8rpg, and 4.3apg, Gordon had an inate ability to turn the ball over at crucial points in big games. The result was a sub-.500 record on the year for the Bulldogs.

His sophomore season, however, would be a big one. After a non-conference performance very similar to his freshman campaign’s effort, Gordon transformed himself into a drive-and-dish point and Mississippi State excelled as a result. Gordon’s assist-to-turnover ratio was nearing 3-to-1 by late in the conference slate, and his numbers improved overall in every category: 16.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 5.3apg. Gordon also is nearing many records - including most assists dispersed - at Mississippi State with two years of eligibility left and recorded MSU’s second-ever triple-double versus then-17th-ranked Vanderbilt with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Although it was too little too late for the Bulldogs concerning the NCAA’s, they were rewarded with a #1 overall seed in the NIT where they fell one point short to eventual champion West Virginia of facing Clemson in the title game.

Gordon is now surrounded by a more experienced, talented, and deep squad. His natural ability to charge the basket, take fouls and follow through is unquestioned. Gordon has a mind-boggling first step that paralyzes any player brave enough to match up against him 1-on-1. The 6′4″, 230lb. guard is also built like a horse, and plenty tough enough to out-muscle his way past any point he’s matched up with. He’s improved his shot from the field - see last year’s last-second shot to send the game to overtime versus Kentucky in the SEC Tournament - and can literally score however he wants to.

The question for this ridiculously talented junior now is, how can he make his team better? He learned last season, but will that continue this coming season with Gordon now complimented by many more role-players than he is used to? If Jamont can avoid injury, look for his points to improve slightly to near 18ppg, his assists to improve greatly near 7 or 8 a game, and his rebounds to hover around the same.

If the Bulldogs compete as they are set to do, look for Gordon to be solidly listed as an All-American come March.

Can Tennessee overcome chemistry problems?

That’s the overriding question in SEC basketball at this point…will Tennessee be able to survive despite the divorce of coach Pearl, arrest and (at least) temporary loss of Crews, and a host of other problems facing the Volunteers?

These struggles shouldn’t affect SEC play too much, however, only the Volunteers’ seeding come March if they struggle early in the season.

In other news…

One of the top recruits in the country for the 2008 freshman year, Scotty Hopson, took the weekend to make an official visit to his school of choice - Mississippi State. Hopson ranked the trip a “ten out of ten,” and took the opportunity to meet future teammates Dee Bost and Romero Osby, along with the rest of the current Bulldog team. Osby, ranked the #6 recruit in the nation by Rivals, stated he intends on signing with Mississippi State in November and will not be taking official visits to any other schools. This should certainly lay to rest the rumors surrounding his possible defection to Kentucky.

Although this is relatively old news, Jejuan Brown withdrew from Vanderbilt a few days ago. He averaged 3.1 points and a rebound last season - this seems to only open up a scholarship for Stallings.

Michael Porter - a relatively unused Wildcat, received a concussion after diving for a loose ball. He’s expected to be out about a week.

I will soon release my choices for the preseason honors of the SEC. Should be the next post or two…

Schedule Breakdown: Mississippi State

Predicted wins and losses, with wins in bold and losses italicized.

vs. Louisiana Tech
vs. Clemson
vs. Tennessee-Martin
vs. UC-Irvine - Anaheim Classic (Anaheim, CA)
vs. Southern Illinois/Chattanooga - Anaheim Classic (Anaheim, CA)
vs. TBA - Anaheim Classic (Anaheim, CA)
vs. Murray State
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
vs. Miami (FL)
@ South Alabama
@ Loyola Marymount
@ Texas A&M Corpus-Christi
vs. Missouri
vs. Lafayette College - Jackson, MS
————————————
@ LSU
vs. Georgia
vs. Kentucky
@ Alabama
vs. Ole Miss
@ Arkansas
vs. Tennessee
vs. Alabama
@ Auburn
vs. Arkansas
@ Ole Miss
@ South Carolina
vs. Auburn
@ Florida
@ Vanderbilt
vs. LSU

After close research, I’ve come up with a (26-4) and (13-3) record for the Bulldogs. State’s schedule suits them extremely well this coming season, only travelling to USC, a rebuilding Florida, and a Byars-less Vanderbilt while owning home-court advantage to a Kentucky team MSU played to a four-point game in Lexington a year ago, SEC-favorite Tennessee, and an improved Georgia team.

The schedule suits up well for MSU, and the Bulldogs should be challenging Tennessee for the SEC title as well as a seed in the NCAA Tournament as high as a 1-3 seed.