Around SEC Basketball: November 7-10

Written By Tucker Harlin

Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

Again, I’m mostly skipping buy games as they aren’t relevant unless the SEC team either loses or allows the mid major to play close. However, there were buy games of interest this week.

TODD GOLDEN

I’ve already published something on this site about the developing Todd Golden Situation in Gainesville.

The Gators are off to a nice start with a 15-point win over USF opening night and an 81-60 win against Jacksonville Thursday. But a pickle like the one Golden is stuck in doesn’t usually end with the coach keeping his job.

A recent example of an off court situation that led to a firing early in the season was Chris Beard at Texas in December 2022. The situations are completely different, but the fact Beard was supposed to act as a leader of young men led to his termination.

Beard’s Texas team went to the Elite Eight that year after his firing. How will the Gators respond should Golden get the boot?

Nothing is for certain yet, but the odds are stacked against Golden in regard to keeping his job.

GRAMBLING 64 @ OLE MISS 66

The middle of the first half to about the 16-minute timeout in the second half wasn’t a fun time for Chris Beard’s squad.

Grambling’s largest lead of the game sat at 39-27 early in the second half as the Tigers posted a strong 9/19 performance from distances. Fortunately for the Rebels, the Tigers turned the ball over 22 times in the Pavilion.

Outside of Seton Hall transfer Dre Davis and a cool crossover from Belmont transfer Malik Dia, Ole Miss was frigid from three. Veterans Jaemyn Brakefield and Matthew Murrell combined for just 19 points.

ARKANSAS STATE 79 @ #2 ALABAMA 88

Of all the teams to fiddle around in a buy game, I wouldn’t have guessed preseason SEC title favorite Alabama. The Tide had the opportunity to blow it open late in the first half, but the Red Wolves pushed back and hung around the rest of the way.

The usual strength of three-point shooting turned into a weakness for the Tide as it shot just 19% for the night. Even though he scored 19 points, SEC preseason player of the year Mark Sears bricked five threes Friday night.

Outside of bad three-point shooting on both ends, this one was a foul fest. The Tide and Red Wolves combined for 80 free throw attempts as the officials called 52 fouls over the course of the evening.

You’ll never guess who was on the whistle.

#12 TENNESSEE 77 @ LOUISVILLE 55

I’ve already written extensively about this game, so I’m going to keep this brief.

Tennessee dismantled a rebuilding Louisville squad in its own building Saturday. Outside of turnovers, there wasn’t much Tennessee could do wrong in the KFC Yum! Center.

The defense held Louisville to a suffocating 26.7% from the field while the offense shot over 50% from distance.

#8 BAYLOR 72 vs #16 ARKANSAS 67

You’re already getting the usual excuses from John Calipari in his early season press conferences. He’s talking about how Baylor knew his team couldn’t run an offense against a zone without any mention of adjustments made both in game and in the future against the zone.

Outside of Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero, the Razorbacks couldn’t get much production on offense.

I’m sure the ship will straighten up in January as it always tends to for Calipari teams. But Kentucky fans have seen this movie Arkansas is starring in many times before.

#11 AUBURN 74 @ #4 HOUSTON 69

I’ll start by saying it’s a miracle the Tigers made it to Houston after they decided to fight each other 30,000 feet in the air.

But the Tigers flew even higher on the court.

Auburn shot 53% from the floor, something that’s only happened four times against Houston in the last six seasons. Johni Broome dominated the paint while freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford was 5/8 from three-point range.

We may only be a week into the 2024-25 season, but that win will easily be one of the most impressive across the country all season come March.

Tucker Harlin
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