BUZZER BEATER: Cedrick Bowen Slam At 0,1 In OT Defeats Ole Miss

Charleston Southern's Cedrick Bowen has the honor with the first buzzer beater of the college
basketball season and it was a damn good one.




With that Charleston Southern defeated Ole Miss in overtime 66-65.  Bowen would finish with 12 points.

Here's Bowen's reaction after the game. (Thanks WCSC-TV Charleston, S.C.)


Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports
The last time Charleston Southern defeated an SEC school was back in 1986 when CSU defeated South Carolina 85-81.

Bruce Pearl Crashes Lecture Hall at Auburn: Complete With Entrance Music

((ht: cbssports.com))

Anything to get a butt in a seat, right?

We give nothing but props to new Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl, he is a master at drumming up grass roots support for his teams.

He proved it with some crazy ideas when he was at Tennessee which included going shirtless and painting himself orange.

Pearl didn't do that at Auburn--yet.

He's got his work cut out for him at a place and a conference where hoops are pretty much an afterthought.

With that in mind, check out what happens during this elaborate prank/skit at ironically a college lecture about marketing and branding.

The build is a bit slow as an odd person or two wanders into the room seemingly lost. Then about 2 minutes in, everybody storms the doors, cheerleaders, Aubie, the band--everyone.

Intro completed, that's when Pearl walks in and gets his ovation.

Hey, why not, it works for wrestlers :)

Well played Auburn, well played...

Strange Moves: Reports Surface Frank Haith to Leave Mizzou for Tulsa

It's not often coaches leave a "Power" conference to move backwards.

But that's exactly what soon-to-be former Missouri head basketball coach Frank Haith appears to be doing. Multiple reports say Haith will leave the SEC East Division Tigers and replace Danny Manning at Conference USA's Tulsa.

There are conflicting reports as to why Haith would step down. CBSSports.com cites a source saying he bailed after a disappointing 2013-14 season where the fanbase seemingly turned on him for that and a team that had some off the court issues. That same source said if he tanked with the Tigers this season, Haith would be done.

Read the CBSSports.com story RIGHT HERE

The departure of Haith raises more eyebrows in the perception of SEC Basketball. It comes on the heels of Cuonzo Martin leaving Tennessee for the University of California and Tony Barbee being let go at Auburn. And the question by some is "All these coaches are black". In the SEC, it's a legitimate question.

But there's some explanation as well. Barbee did little to nothing at Auburn during his tenure there. Haith struggled at Missouri, but the reason behind him leaving can only be explained by him. As for Martin, that's the one we and many others question. Tennessee made it to this years Sweet16 in the NCAA Tournament and despite a "Non-Dominant" regular season, the Vols were a tough out in the SEC Tournament and the team nobody wanted to face in the NCAA's. Yet Martin had to endure a "Fire Cuonzo Martin" website and a petition with 30,000 signatures calling for his removal in Knoxville.

But what about Haith?

Time will tell. Could he be running? Could he be tired of being questioned at Missouri? Could Mizzou be headed for trouble? All legitimate questions. All because a coach left the green pastures of the SEC for the less green pastures of Conference USA. And for all the questions, there aren't a whole lot of answers.

What sayeth you?

Bruce Pearl Is Back In SEC, New Auburn Head Coach

Bruce Pearl

Auburn has made the big splash in the coaching carousel hiring Bruce Pearl as the Tigers new head basketball coach.

"I'm humbled and blessed to be back in the game I love." Pearl said.  "I don't know how long it will take, but it's time to rebuild the Auburn basketball program, and bring it to a level of excellence so many of the other teams on campus enjoy."

"From the moment I met Coach Pearl and heard his vision for our basketball program, it was clear he’s the right man at the right time for Auburn," Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said.   "Coach Pearl is a proven winner who will bring energy and excitement to our program. We have raised the bar for Auburn basketball, and I could not be more excited for our student-athletes and our future under Coach Pearl’s leadership. I know he agrees with me — it’s time to win."

Pearl is still serving his three year show cause which expires in August.  In the meantime Pearl won't be able to recruit this summer.

Pearl definitely has a reclamation project at Auburn.  In four years with Tony Barbee as

head coach the Tigers were 48-75 and 18-50 in the SEC.

Here's Pearl discussing the violations with Dan LeBatard
((HT: ESPN))


The three-year show-cause penalty expires on August 23rd.

In 2008, Pearl hosted three recruits, including current Ohio State star Aaron Craft at his home for a cookout – a secondary violation – and then lied about the cookout to the NCAA, turning a secondary violation into a major violation.

One of the larger points of contention was that two of the people on the committee that delivered the show-cause penalty to Pearl, Dave Didion, had to probably approve this idea and hire.

From Joel Erickson's al.com piece:

Dave Didion, who returned to Auburn as assistant athletic director of compliance last year, was the lead investigator on Pearl's case, according to a source, and the school feels that a strong compliance department led by Didion and compliance director Rich McGlynn will be able to guide Pearl well on compliance issues.

Didion also signed off on Auburn's pursuit of Pearl, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The HQ will give Auburn this... they'll certainly win the press conference...

Now, just how much patience will AD Jay Jacobs have with this rebuilding process...

And Bruce Pearl was excited when he hit the ground...
((HT: Vine via gray_lane))

Gamecocks Give Frank Martin One Game Suspension

((HT: WLTX-TV))

South Carolina head men's basketball coach Frank Martin has been known to be a little intense on the sidelines...

It has gotten him into trouble and it has gotten him a reputation as a hothead- and a lot worse terms...

He did this Tuesday night in his team's 26-point loss to Florida


Athletics Director Ray Tanner, in a statement, said:

"The one-game suspension is a result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes."

The HQ would like to know how many times Tanner used inappropriate verbal communications when he coached the baseball team in Columbia, but we'll digress...

Here's Martin's comments on what went down...

Martin will not accompany the team to Starkville for the season finale against Miss State. Associate head coach Matt Figger will serve as the acting coach as South Carolina is 11-19, 4-13 in the SEC.

5 Top 25's Go Down In One Night...

It was not a night to be a ranked team in the world of college hoops...

Indiana fans wore hard hats at Assembly Hall as Indiana took care of 20th ranked Iowa 93-86
Will Sheehey scored a career-high 30
((HT: BTN))


And Penn State swept Ohio State with their win over the Buckeyes 65-63... and they stormed the court...
Surprising no one...
((HT: BTN))


Arkansas also got their season sweep over Kentucky with their overtime win IN LEXINGTON!!!

Which, the HQ is sure, has sent the entire Big Blue nation into some kind of histrionics
((HT: SEC on ESPN))
Houston's Danuel House scored 19 off the bench as the Cougars knocked off #21 Memphis 77-68 Mark Followill and Chris Walker discuss ((HT: CBS Sports Network))
And, finally, St. Louis' 19-game winning streak came to a screeching halt with their loss to Duquesne...
It was Duquesne's first over a Top 10 team since a 72-68 win over #9 Xavier on February 7, 2009, and it was DU's first road win over a Top 10 team since a 73-72 win at #6 Bradley on March 5, 1962...

Who Was This Guy's Putting Instructor...???

((HT: ESPN))

Don't know, but whoever it is did really well...

This guy did this for a $15,000 car or the same towards a car...

BUZZER BEATER: Releford Buries Ole Miss Snapping Alabama's 4-Game Losing Streak

((HT: SEC on ESPN))

This was a bad loss for Ole Miss and Andy Kennedy...

Too many times in the last ten seconds that the ball was in the hands of Bama's Trevor Releford...
And he closed the deal...


"We were running, and when I caught it back I saw Marshall (Henderson) try to slip the screen so I just crossed back over and took the shot. I took what he gave me.” Releford said.

He [Releford] really carried them down the stretch which is what a senior all-league player does, and he made a big shot.” Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy said.

Releford finished the game with a team high 26 points.

Most importantly Releford's game winner snapped Alabama's four game losing streak.

"It was a lot of relief (for) the players," Releford said. "We've been coming out and practicing hard, and we just needed a win. We deserved it.

"I'm happy for everybody on the team and glad we got the win."

Rick Ray Apologizes For Snap At Henderson

((HT: SEC))

First, let's show you what happens when Ole Miss plays Mississippi State...
It's never very nice, and now it has carried over to basketball...

The HQ thinks there's an expletive in slo-mo here when State coach Rick Ray goes after Marshall Henderson


Whatever was said, Ray has responded to it:

"I responded inappropriately to an Ole Miss player [Saturday] in our game," Ray said in a statement he texted Sunday. "I reached out to [Ole Miss] coach [Andy] Kennedy immediately to apologize and subsequently to the player too. There is no reason for a coach to ever have interaction with an opposing player, ever, regardless of the circumstances. I was more upset with our performance than the player. I was totally at fault."

The season series was, once again, split at home and home...

BUZZER BEATER THROW DOWN: Arkansas' Michael Qualls With An Exclamation Point For Hogs Over Kentucky

There are buzzer beaters and then there are those like Arkansas' Michael Qualls which are off the scale.

Thanks ESPN


Here's another angle with the Voice of the Razorbacks Chuck Barrett on the call.

Thanks RazorVison:

"It was an unbelievable finish." Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson said. “He made a great play. That’s how I saw it. It’s fortunate for us he was playing for the Razorbacks.

“What an athletic play. That’s something I wish I could say I teach it, but I do encourage our guy to go to the glass.”

“Everyone is just clinching their shirt, hoping he doesn’t hit the three,” Qualls said. “I just saw the opportunity and took it.”

“My guy watched, and that kid ran by him and dunked it,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said.  “He’s a freshman. That’s what freshmen do.”

Before you say typical Calipari throwing one of his players under the bus publicly the player he's referring to, James Young, acknowledged it was his fault.

“That was my fault, I stopped playing until the last second.”

Great win for Arkansas, they needed it after starting 0-2 in the SEC.

Here's an angle from under the basket.

Thanks NWAHompage.com

Louisville's Kevin Ware Bored With Kentucky Rivalry: "...we really don’t care that Kentucky exists.”

[HT: Louisville Courier-Journal]

It looks like the Louisville/Kentucky men's basketball rivalry might heat up.

The 'Cats and "Cards mix it up on December 28th at Rupp Arena in Lexington in one of college basketball's best rivalry but Louisville's Kevin Ware finds it boring.

"It gets old; it's boring." Ware said.  "It's just another game," Ware said. "Nobody's from here except a couple guys on the team. We really don't get into the whole UK-Louisville rivalry. It's just another game for us. A lot of people take it to that further extent, all the UK and U of L bashing each other. And even with a lot of stuff that they put on us this year, we really don't care that Kentucky exists. We just look at them as another school."

I wonder who the UK fans in Rupp Arena will target in a week and a half.

Just another game, really.  Boring, ridiculous. Kentucky another school, BS.

I know these rivalry games are more for the fans and alumni for bragging rights but please, a late December game against and in-state rival should have some meaning.

Former Auburn Basketball Player Found Dead in Panama City Beach (UPDATED)

((ht: wjhg-tv))

Sad news to report on a Sunday. Former Auburn basketball player Korvotney Barber's body was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico Sunday afternoon.

Barber had gone missing and was feared drowned late Saturday afternoon near Pineapple Willy's, a popular Panama City party spot. Surf conditions up and down the coast have been at Double Red Flag for the past several days.

Barber is the 2nd person to drown in the area over the past two days in the rough waters along Florida's panhandle. Double Red Flag conditions are supposed to tell all swimmers to stay out of the water,
period. It means conditions and undertow/rip currents are too dangerous.

Barber, who played 4 seasons for Auburn and signed there in 2005, had graduated and according to current Tiger coach Tony Barbee, had been playing basketball in Europe. He was a 2nd team All-SEC player his senior season, 2009.

Auburn AD Jay Jacobs released this statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the devastatingly tragic and untimely death of Korvotney Barber. The Auburn Family remembers Vot as a relentless competitor with the heart of a champion. More importantly, those who knew him best remember him as a caring father who deeply loved his children and his family. Korvotney's family and friends will remain in our thoughts and prayers during this profoundly sad time."