2013 SEC Hoops: Swing around the league and get ready for March Madness

Chris Lee | February 22, 2013 at 2:02 pm | 0 Comments

Missouri Tigers guard Keion Bell (5) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators during the second half at Mizzou Arena. The Missouri Tigers defeated the Florida Gators 63-60. (Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports)

With all the SEC games finished for the work week, it’s time to look back at the week that was in the SEC.

Missouri Tigers (19-7) d. No. 5 Florida Gators 63-60 (21-4)

Player of the game: Missouri forward Laurence Bowers

Bowers dominated Florida senior forward Erik Murphy for most of the game, putting up a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in the upset win over the Gators. Obviously, Bowers’ performance was miles ahead of what he did in the 31-point blowout loss to Florida last month. For the Gators, this game looked eerily similar to Florida’s loss to Arizona earlier in the season with coach Billy Donovan’s squad up by 13 points mid-way through the secondnd half. However, the Gators took its foot of the gas and allowed the Tigers to get back into, and eventually win, the game.

Number of the game: 11

Florida is now 0-4 in games decided by 11 points or fewer this season and 21-0 in games decided by at least 12 points.

Up Next

Missouri at Kentucky — 9 p.m. ESPN Sat.

Arkansas at Florida — 7 p.m. ESPNU Sat.

Alabama (18-8) d. Mississippi State (7-18) 64-56

Player of the Game: Alabama sophomore guard Rodney Cooper

The disaster of a season continued for the Bulldogs against Alabama, which saw Mississippi State field a team of only six scholarship athletes. Alabama won it’s fourth consecutive game and currently sits one game behind Florida in the SEC standings. Alabama guard Rodney Cooper led the way for the Crimson Tide with a 20-point, 10 rebound performance from the guard position. Despite being short-handed, the Bulldogs showed real heart, cutting a 13-point deficit to four points before finally succumbing to the Tide.

Number of the Game: 11

The loss on Wednesday was the Bulldogs 11th in a row. It is the longest losing streak for the men’s basketball program since 1982.

Next Up:

Alabama at LSU — 1:30 p.m. Local/ESPN3 Sat.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State — 1:30 p.m. Local/ESPN Sat.

Kentucky (18-8) d. Vanderbilt (10-15) 74-70

Player of the Game: Kentucky Freshman Center Willie Cauley-Stein

The ghost of Noel Nerlens came back in the form of Willie Cauley-Stein. The frosh compiled 2o points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the win over the Commodores. The game was defined early by a big Kentucky run, as the ‘Cats parlayed a 21-7 streak in the 1st half to a 25-13 lead. The Wildcats barley squeaked by Vanderbilt in the first matchup of the season, but Vanderbilt had the edge on the boards in that game, out rebounding Kentucky 42-37 in defeat. Without Nerlens, the advantage looked to once again be in Vandy’s favor, but this time Kentucky won the rebounding edge 34-29.

Number of the Game: 1

Kentucky has won its first game since center Nerlens Noel went down with a torn ACL.

Up Next

Missouri at Kentucky — 9 p.m. ESPN Sat.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State — 1:3o p.m. Local/ESPN3 Sat.

South Carolina (13-13) d Ole Miss (19-7) 63-62

Player of the Game: South Carolina Freshman Forward Michael Carrera

This was a devastating loss for the Rebels, who led 62-56 with five minutes to go in the game. Ole Miss would not score for the remainder of the game. Ole Miss junior guard Marshall Henderson struggled and shot just 4-17 from the field and had his game winning attempt was blocked by Gamecocks freshman forward Laimonas Chatkevicius.

The win for South Carolina was huge for coach Frank Martin and Co., who came into the game tied for last place in the SEC. The loss puts the Ole Miss Rebels at No. 4 in the SEC.

Number of the game: 11

Sticking with the number 11, the Ole Miss Rebels have not played in the NCAA Tournament in 11 years.

Next Up

South Carolina at Georgia — 2 p.m. CBS Sat.

Auburn at Ole Miss — 5 p.m. Local/ESPN3 Sat.

Tennessee (15-10) d. LSU (15-9) 82-72

Player of the Game: Tennessee Junior Guard Jordan McRae

Tennessee guard Jordan McRae and LSU sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III put on a show Tuesday night. However, it was the guard who prevailed over the post-man. McRae went off for 34 points against the Tiger and led a Volunteers offense that shot 59.3 percent in the 1st half. O’Bryant was not to outdone, however, as the 262-pound forward bullied his way in the paint for 24 points and eight rebounds. Tennessee sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes, while he could not stop the dominant post play of Bryant, still had a solid offensive performance posting a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Number of the game: 58

McRae and O’Bryant combined for 58 points

Next Up

Tennessee at Texas A&M — 4 p.m. Local/ESPN3 Sat.

Alabama at LSU — 1:30 p.m. Local/ESPN3 Sat.

Texas A&M (16-10) d. Auburn (9-17) 65-56

Player of the Game: Texas A&M Freshman Guard Alex Caruso

The struggles on offense for the Tigers continued on Wednesday. Already in the midst of a horrendous season, Auburn shot a paltry 37.5 percent from the field. While the Aggies’ offense was far from a juggernaut, Texas A&M received strong performances from its two best players. Guard Alex Caruso had a strong game on offense and defense scoring 14 points and dishing out eight assists while collecting three steals defensively. Caruso’s teammate, senior guard Elston Turner, contributed with a big 21 points. Overall, however, this was not a pretty game from the field.

Number of the game: 5

Both teams made five 3-point shots in the game. However, both teams struggled from long-range overall. Texas A&M shot 26.3 percent from beyond the arc, while Auburn shot 21.7 percent.

Up Next:

Tennessee at Texas A&M — 4 p.m. Local/ESPN3, Sat.

Auburn at Ole Miss — 5 p.m. Local/ESPN3, Sat.

Arkansas (17-9) d. Georgia (12-14) 62-60

Player of the Game: Arkansas freshmen guard Anthlon Bell

The game of the week so far goes to Georgia and Arkansas, two teams who put on a good show on Thursday. Arkansas was led by Bell, as the studly frosh contributed with a huge 17 points. Arkansas led by as many as 11 points in the 2nd half, but the Bulldogs came rumbling back to take 56-53 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The comeback was spurred by Georgia sophomore guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 15 points, all of which coming in the second half. Despite the efforts of these team leaders, it was Arkansas sophomore guard BJ Young who eventually secured the win for the Razorbacks. His spinning layup with six seconds remaining gave Arkansas the heart-stopping, 62-60 win.

Number of the Game: 16

Arkansas is 16-1 at home this season.

Next Up

Arkansas at No.5 Florida — 7 p.m. ESPNU Sat.

South Carolina at Georgia — 2 p.m. CBS Sat.