What has been the tenure of SEC M BBall Coaches during the Expansion Era?

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Neal McCready @NealMcCready  ·  Dec 22
Congratulations to #OleMiss basketball coach Andy Kennedy. Tonight was his 200th win as a head coach.

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Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  18 hours ago
Pelphrey gets substantial raise: After helping lead the Gators to a Final Four season, all three Florida baske... http://bit.ly/1JQ3nQY

Florida basketball assistant salaries for 2014-15 -- John Pelphrey $540,000, Matt McCall $195,000, Rashon Burno $165,000.

Pelphrey's base salary for 2014-15 is $390,000, plus a $150,000 signing bonus.

[jbcarol]

John Clay: Calipari winning seven of eight from Pitino no small accomplishment

LOUISVILLE — Two decades ago there was not a Kentucky fan on Earth who thought Rick Pitino could lose seven of eight games to another basketball coach.

And yet that is exactly what has happened.

Only Rick Pitino is the coach at Louisville now.

John Calipari is Kentucky's coach.

Saturday afternoon at the KFC Yum Center, Calipari continued his mastery over the archrival up the road as the top-ranked Cats beat host Louisville 58-50 before a crowd of 22,812.

It marked the seventh time in eight games since Calipari came to Lexington that he has beaten Pitino.

He's beaten him in Lexington. He's beaten him in Louisville. He's beaten him in New Orleans. He's beaten him in Indianapolis. He's beaten him in the Final Four. He's beaten him in the Sweet 16.

Since Calipari became the Kentucky coach before the 2009-10 season, the only time he lost to Louisville was in 2012-13 when Pitino had his best team, a national title team, and Calipari had his worst team, a team that lost in the first round of the NIT.

Now Calipari has maybe his best team. Ever.

Pitino was 2-1 v. Calipari's UMass teams, losing an early regular season game in '95-96 and winning in the Final Four later and winning an NCAA-T game in '92.

[jbcarol]

Austin Kim @AustinKKim  ·  Dec 28
Biggest height differential between a coach and an SID may be at #Mizzou. #scoops

[jbcarol]

Mike Vernon @M_Vernon  ·  47 minutes ago

A doctor told Cuonzo Martin his chance of surviving cancer was similar to Shaq making a free throw. http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Surviving-cancer-helped-shape-coach-Cal-s-5989565.php ...

[jbcarol]

Former SC and Western head coach Darrin Horn is the analyst on the Arkansas - Utah Valley game.

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Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_CJ  ·  6 hours ago
New Story | After firing at Auburn, Tony Barbee first talked to his wife, then John Calipari. They're together again. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/uk-beat/2015/01/03/barbee-back-with-mentor-calipari-at-kentucky/21231153/ ...

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner @MikeBBonner  ·  8 hours ago
Friends Rick Ray and Donnie Tyndall meet for 1st time as head coaches in SEC opener at the Hump.  http://on.thec-l.com/1BxvWPi

loganlowery @loganlowery  ·  7 hours ago
The series between MSU and Tennessee is tied at 27 in games played in Starkville.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  8 hours ago

With Florida's 72-68 win tonight over South Carolina, Billy D improves to 67-82 in his UF tenure in games decided by 5 points or less.

Florida coach Billy Donovan also picked up his 494th career win, six shy of 500 for his career.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  36 minutes ago

#Gators at 673 days and counting since last SEC basketbal loss -- March 17, 2013 v. Ole Miss. Have won 22 straight conference games.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  4 hours ago
Florida coach Billy Donovan thinks family travel should be reimbursed for whole NCAA Tournament: http://tinyurl.com/n4s8qxd

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  8 hours ago
ACC ends relationship with basketball referee Karl Hess http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2015-01-09/report-acc-ending-it-relationship-with-basketball-referee-karl-hess ... via @SportingNews

FWIW, Gator fans will never forgive Karl Hess for some calls during Florida's Elite 8 loss to Butler in 2011.

[jbcarol]

Scott Scroggins @ScrogginsNoggin  ·  23 hours ago

.@coachbrucepearl is only the 4th HC in @AuburnMBB history to win the SEC home opener in his 1st season & the 1st since Cliff Ellis in 1995.

[jbcarol]

ESPN College BBall @ESPNCBB  ·  22 hours ago
After Florida's win over Auburn, the Gators extended its win streak over SEC opponents to 24 games.

[jbcarol]

Brett Martel @brettmartel  ·  55 minutes ago
#TexasA&M coach Billy Kennedy is from Metairie, went to Holy Cross HS ('82). ...

[jbcarol]

Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_CJ  ·  1 hour ago
Cal on passing Rupp for win % at UK: "He lasted 40 years in this seat. How he did that, I have no idea."

[jbcarol]

Marc Weiszer @marcweiszer  ·  24 hours ago
#UGA basketball coach Fox: No 'big issues' holding up contract, but may not sign until after season http://bit.ly/15xVn79

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  17 hours ago
Listen, Billy Donovan is a HOF coach, but that doesn't mean it can't be pointed out that he struggles in tight games. Is what it is.

Correction on the Florida coach Billy Donovan stat, 67-83 at UF in games decided by 5 points or less.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN  ·  2 hours ago

My threat to my daughter. "If you don't start to learn how to work hard, I'm gonna have to bring in Billy Clyde Gillispie" Her: "Please no."

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  3 hours ago

This is Anthony Grant's Alabama: Hopes raised then dashed in another loss to Florida. http://ow.ly/I5v6n

Scarblog: This one has to hurt.

The one SEC coach and the one SEC team that Anthony Grant had yet to beat were limping, bleeding, there for the taking in Coleman Coliseum.

His mentor, Billy Donovan, and the Florida Gators were a shadow of their Final Four selves from a year ago, the weakest they'd been since Grant had taken over at Alabama.

By the final minute, Alabama had erased every bit of a 13-point halftime deficit, and with the game tied, the Crimson Tide had two possessions to Florida's one. Those possessions went about like you'd expect if you've followed Grant's time in Tuscaloosa...

Alabama lost to Florida 52-50 because, well, Alabama under Grant always loses to Florida under Donovan. In nine meetings, the student has been schooled by the teacher nine times...

There's no shame in losing to Florida. The Gators under Donovan have been the most consistent program in the SEC. Grant was an important part of constructing that program as a Donovan assistant for 10 years, but he hasn't been able to build anything close to the same kind of basketball power at another football school.

Tuesday's game was a mirror of Grant's tenure.

[jbcarol]

Pat Dooley @pat_dooley

Thought that came to me today -- Anthony Grant is the Will Muschamp of SEC hoops. Keep the game close and try to win in end often backfires.

3:01 PM - 28 Jan 2015 Florida, USA, United States

[jbcarol]

Cecil Hurt @CecilHurt  ·  Jan 29

Today's column on what is missing from Alabama basketball http://m.tuscaloosanews.com/Section/374/Article/150129486 ...

First, the UA team has not, with one exception in five-plus years, made it into the NCAA Tournament field. Fans want to be a part of March Madness.

Second, Grant is either adamant or stubborn — you choose the adjective — in his belief that Alabama's best chance to win games is to play a slow tempo, keep the game close, then try to win at the end.

Alabama is currently 277th out of the 351 NCAA Division I teams in "tempo," which measures the number of possessions per 40 minutes. There are SEC teams that play more slowly. Kentucky is one, because who would dare to run with the Wildcats? Florida and Tennessee also play at a tortoise pace, although both are slightly more efficient than Alabama offensively. But without getting bogged down in statistics, anyone who has watched this season can tell you that the strategy is no joy to watch. Certainly, teams can be successful playing a defensive-oriented style. Virginia is a prime example. And if you win playing that way, aesthetics don't matter. Alabama has won a few games doing it. The Crimson Tide's win at Tennessee was the best-case scenario, but you could throw in UCLA and Auburn, too. But even the wins are nerve-wracking, and the losses are exasperating: Wichita State, South Carolina and now Florida all fit into the category. (Arkansas was an outlier, a painful loss that was at least watchable)...

That takes us back to Square One: if it isn't entertaining, and the results — especially in games that can enhance a team's NCAA resume — are consistently spirit-crushing, how long will people, even loyal fans, stay tuned? How long will they battle for parking spaces, pay hefty concession prices and occupy seats? Alabama had a fine December crowd for UCLA and sellouts for Kentucky and Auburn, but will there be another full house — or a half-full one — at Coleman this year?

...It's been said here before. The numbers are starting to pile up as relentlessly as snow in Siberia. Ten straight losses to Florida. Twenty straight losses to opponents ranked in the AP Top 25. No one is going to fire the coach of a 13-7 team at midseason, nor should they.

But a casualty count also includes missing in action, and when the MIA's are your fan base, that has to be factored into the accounting that will come at season's end.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  10 minutes ago

Interesting SEC is moving SEC-Big 12 Challenge next season to middle of conference play (Jan. 30), doing it to raise profile

Billy D not a fan of playing non-conf games in middle of conference season. Last time Gators did it, lost to Xavier at home in Feb. of 2010.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  40 minutes ago

#Gators 11-0 this season when holding opponents under 60 points, 1-9 when opposing teams score 60 or more.

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Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN  ·  5 seconds ago
Cliff Ellis won 150th game at Coastal Carolina tonight. Only coach in history to win at least 150 with 4 programs (S. Ala, Clemson, auburn).

[jbcarol]

Marc Weiszer @marcweiszer  ·  3 minutes ago
Final: Georgia 56, Tennessee 53. Bulldogs notch Mark Fox's 100th win at UGA. Improve to 15-7, 6-4 SEC. 10 for Frazier, Djurisic and Mann.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  7 hours ago
Florida AD Jeremy Foley said he intends to be "very proactive" on another extension for Billy Donovan. Currently signed through 2019.

Florida AD Jeremy Foley, on Donovan "Billy's our guy and we want to keep him here for a long time."

Donovan makes $3.7 million per year, among highest paid cbk coaches in the nation.

Donovan signed extension last year that will pay him average of $3.7 mil between now and 2019.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  16 hours ago

Billy D 5th-highest paid coach in cbk at $3.7 mil behind Self ($4.96 mil), Cal ($5.51 mil), Pitino ($5.75 mil) and Coach K ($9.68 mil).

[jbcarol]

ESPN College BBall @ESPNCBB  ·  4 minutes ago
Kentucky is one win shy of its best start in program history.



'53-54 was UK's first season after their death penalty season. After the regular season a state paper printed an article noting that graduate students were not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. UK's key three players, Hall of Famers Cliff Hagan and Frank Ramsey and Tsioropoulos were all graduate students. The players voted to play on but Rupp said he would not that bunch of ----- to the tournament.

[jbcarol]

Blair Kerkhoff @BlairKerkhoff  ·  21 hours ago

Frank Haith tells USA Today's @EricPrisbell that he could have won 20 at #Mizzou this season http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/aac/2015/02/11/tulsa-basketball-coach-frank-haith-laura-pam/23247477/ ...

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Pat Dooley @pat_dooley  ·  13 hours ago
First time Billy has been 12-12 since his first season.

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  11 hours ago
#Gators have lost 6 of last 8, now stand tied with Alabama for 8th in SEC (5-6).

[jbcarol]

rent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  5 hours ago
From weekend: Revival: A change in diet has helped change A&M coach Billy Kennedy's life: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/aggies/article/A-M-s-Kennedy-uses-new-diet-to-combat-Parkinson-s-6080629.php ... via @HoustonChron

It's a healthy difference, brought about by an overhaul of Kennedy's diet after his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 2011. As a result, the fourth-year Aggies coach has more energy and appears healthier and more vibrant than he has in years.

"Billy's in his best shape since I've known him," said his wife, Mary, who met him 17 years ago.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system impacting movement, according to the Mayo Clinic. More than 50,000 new cases of Parkinson's are detected each year in the United States, according to the National Parkinson Foundation, and more than a million Americans are currently diagnosed with the disease. Parkinson's has no known cure, but medications can greatly help.

Before his diagnosis, and even for more than a year after, Kennedy figured fast food, soda and desserts were simply a part of the job. It's how coaches often exist while on the road chasing down recruits or victories.

"Billy was so carnivorous," Mary said. "And he'd get fast food every time he was on the road. I was fighting a 48-year history of things like eating ice cream whenever he wanted."

Mary put up the fight for one big reason: She wanted her husband to not only survive but thrive, especially as they raise a young daughter.

"It's what got us to this point," said Mary, who jumped in headfirst on a greener, cleaner diet as well so her husband would have someone to lean on. "A year and a half after his diagnosis, we weren't just surviving anymore but moving forward. So I asked, 'What are we going to do to have the best life possible?' "

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  2 hours ago
Final: Florida 50, Vanderbilt 47. Gators snap four-game losing streak.

Win number 499 for Billy Donovan, who coached his tail off without leading scorers Michael Frazier II, Dorian Finney-Smith.

With the win, Billy D improves to 70-84 at UF in games decided by 5 points or less.

Rest of Gator season will be like a baseball team out of contention in September. Play young guys, build for future.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  23 hours ago
Bruce Pearl wants Auburn players to be 'grateful' when they reunite with Tony Barbee http://ow.ly/Jp0Hv

Tony Barbee doesn't have many fans in Auburn.

The former Auburn coach, however, should get some hearty handshakes and hugs from several of his former players Saturday when the Tigers face No. 1 Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

"I think in their own way what I want them to do is be grateful that coach Barbee brought them here to Auburn," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "Without coach Barbee seeing something in them they wouldn't have an opportunity to be a part of this Auburn family."

Barbee was fired in March 2014 following a fourth-straight losing season, which capped a 49-75 record in his four years leading the Tigers. His 18-50 SEC record was one of the worst in Auburn history, and included losses in 16 of 17 SEC games during one stretch in 2013.

Barbee, who has long been attached to the John Calipari coaching tree dating back to their days at Massachusetts, was hired at Kentucky as a special assistant to the head coach after whiffing on other jobs in the offseason.

Barbee was 82-52 in his four years leading UTEP.

[jbcarol]

David Cloninger @DCTheState  ·  24 minutes ago
USC has clinched its 19th losing SEC season in 24 years in the league.

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Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  9 hours ago

Alabama coach Anthony Grant wears sneakers remembering 5-year-old Luke Kelly, who recently died of cancer http://ow.ly/Jsas4

It's been a trying season of SEC play for Alabama and head coach Anthony Grant since the calendar turned to 2015, but the sixth-year coach honored one of his biggest fans on Saturday night.
Alabama Basketball G27 vs GeorgiaAnthony Grant's shoe's display a message of remembrance during Alabama's SEC basketball game with Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.comVASHA HUNT

Grant wore sneakers instead of loafers with his suit in honor of 5-year-old Luke Kelly, who died Thursday after a bout with cancer.

Grant's sneaker had "In Memory of Luke Kelly, 01/27/10 - 02/19/15" written on the bottom.

Grant said Luke was able to attend Alabama's game against Auburn earlier this season.

"He was a great young man and he got a chance to meet our team," Grant said after his team lost 66-65 to Georgia [at home] in overtime.

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  9 hours ago

Alabama coach Anthony Grant wears sneakers remembering 5-year-old Luke Kelly, who recently died of cancer http://ow.ly/Jsas4

It's been a trying season of SEC play for Alabama and head coach Anthony Grant since the calendar turned to 2015, but the sixth-year coach honored one of his biggest fans on Saturday night.
Alabama Basketball G27 vs GeorgiaAnthony Grant's shoe's display a message of remembrance during Alabama's SEC basketball game with Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.comVASHA HUNT

Grant wore sneakers instead of loafers with his suit in honor of 5-year-old Luke Kelly, who died Thursday after a bout with cancer.

Grant's sneaker had "In Memory of Luke Kelly, 01/27/10 - 02/19/15" written on the bottom.

Grant said Luke was able to attend Alabama's game against Auburn earlier this season.

"He was a great young man and he got a chance to meet our team," Grant said after his team lost 66-65 to Georgia in overtime.

Vasha Hunt/al.com

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  2 hours ago

Nice story reflecting back on Florida coach Billy Donovan's first win as he goes for 500 tonight http://www.alligator.org/sports/basketball/article_9689ab94-b8ce-11e4-a82b-5f0651981129.html ... via @TheAlligator

For much of the last 30 years, William John Donovan Jr. has been referred to affectionately as Billy the Kid.

The high widow's peak and jet-black hair matched with the numbers on his birth certificate meant the nickname was automatic and fitting.

But on his way to victory No. 1 — the win that started his ascent to Hall of Fame status — the man whose approval had to be given in order for him to be hired as the head coach of the Marshall Thundering Herd actually thought Billy Donovan was in fact a kid.

"So I take him by the (university) president's house because he's got to bless it, and Billy walks in and I introduced him and the president wasn't quite on the same page and we walk in and he says 'well let's go in the other room' and the president says 'now what sport does this kid play?'" former Marshall athletics director Lee Moon said. "Billy looked like he was 15. Billy hadn't started shaving I don't think."

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Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  2 hours ago

Billy D vying to become the second coach in cbk history to record his 500th victory before his 50th birthday. The first? Bobby Knight.

Seth Davis @SethDavisHoops  ·  2h 2 hours ago

Reposting this awesome story on Bob Knight's chair throwing: All the Rage by @jon_wertheim via @SI_Longform #Longform http://www.si.com/longform/2015/1985/knight ...

It started off on a linear path that afternoon, sliding across the floor of the Assembly Hall court. But then, like a stone skipped on an Indiana creek, it darted abruptly and began curling toward the section underneath the basket, occupied by fans with physical disabilities.

Indiana would go on to lose the game to Purdue that day...

[jbcarol]

Steve Walentik @Steve_Walentik  ·  11 hours ago

The 1968-69 Alabama remains the last to win only once in SEC play. Something tells me they aren't toasting champagne tonight.

Namon Wright's career-high 28 points lead #Mizzou to 64-52 win over Florida. Tigers snap a 13-game losing streak.

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·

[jbcarol]

Ben Frederickson @Ben_Fred  ·  10h 10 hours ago

1st time since Feb. of 2009 that a Donnie Tyndall coached team has lost 4 straight. 1st time since 94-95 Vols have dropped 4 in a row @ home

[jbcarol]

Adam Sparks @AdamSparks  ·  1 hour ago

Kinda related: Last night, @VandyMBB coach Kevin Stallings tied Tubby Smith for 6th all-time in wins (308) as an SEC coach

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  1 minute ago
Is Arkansas Coach Cal's kryptonite? #ARKvsUK

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UK has won 46 SEC titles.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  9 minutes ago
Final: Florida 66, Tennessee 49. Billy Donovan picks up 500th career win.

Donovan becomes second coach in college basketball history to win his 500th game before his 50th birthday, joining Bobby Knight.

[jbcarol]

David Cloninger @DCTheState  ·  3 minutes ago
MEN'S FINAL: South Carolina 81, Mississippi State 68. The Gamecocks improve to 14-14, 5-11 SEC.

USC has matched its SEC-high in wins of the last five seasons (five, done three times).

[jbcarol]

ESPN College BBall @ESPNCBB  ·  2 hours ago
Kentucky's 29-0 start marks the 4th-longest win streak ever by an SEC team. #PursuitOfPerfection

[jbcarol]

Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  Feb 28
Dug up an interesting nugget, it's in fourth paragraph of this early game story from Georgia's rout of Missouri.
http://www.macon.com/2015/02/28/3611343/georgia-throttles-missouri-turns.html ...

Georgia (19-9, 10-6 SEC) now has double-digit SEC wins in consecutive seasons for only the second time in program history. The other time was 2001-02 under Jim Harrick. And while these two seasons came in an 18-game SEC schedule, Georgia got to 10 wins at the 16-game mark each season.

[jbcarol]

Ben Frederickson @Ben_Fred  ·  21 hours ago
This is the first time since Wade Houston's 1990-91 team that Tennessee will finish February with just one win.