With Kentucky’s quarterfinal loss to Mississippi State this afternoon, the market for SEC Tournament tickets just evaporated. Tickets should be easy to find for anyone looking to go to any of the remaining rounds.

Though Georgia had one of the better classes in the nation and met some very specific needs in their most recent haul, a lot of fans were grumbling on Signing Day because a few big names inside the state went elsewhere. It didn’t matter that one player’s father played for Tennessee or that another thought he was suited to play linebacker at 270 lbs. In the eyes of the people who just see the names and their rankings, Georgia whiffed.

I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of that response with the 2008 class.

With this week’s commitment of Statesboro defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson, Georgia’s nine commitments to date include three players who might be ranked among the top five at any position in the state of Georgia. They are:

• Tyson, a 6’2", 275 lb. defensive tackle. Projected to be named the top player in the state when the prep rankings come out this summer.
• Richard Samuel, a 6′, 200 lb. running back from Cass who might end up at linebacker on the next level.
• Cornelius Washington, a 6’4", 200 lb. defensive end from Burke County. The top rush end in the state missed most of last year with a broken arm, but there is no questioning his physical gifts and frame.

Those are just the ones who have committed so far, and it’s so early in the process yet. Georgia is in great shape with other top junior prospects like lineman A.J. Harmon and receiver Tavarus King. If they can hold on to the commitments they have and add a few more of the others down the road, fans won’t have anything to gripe about next February.

What is it with tournaments and clock issues? The SEC women’s tournament last weekend was plagued with them. Last night’s Georgia-Auburn game was delayed due to a stoppage with eight minutes left. You could see Dennis Felton agonizing over the delay as it might cool off his team during a critical stretch in the game where Auburn was threatening to come within single-digits. Even the ACC Tournament had its issues.

The Gwinnett arena is particularly bad. I’ve been to about seven or eight basketball games in that arena and seem to recall a clock issue every time. Several times last weekend we saw that there were "-1" seconds remaining in the game. There was the enjoyable instance a few years ago during the Russell Athletic Shootout where the horn blared without stopping for about ten minutes.

It’s the downside of using arenas that aren’t designed for or are sparingly used for basketball. In the case of the Gwinnett arena, the scoreboards are miserable. They are small and difficult to read at the far ends of the seating configuration that is more ideal for hockey. You would hope that these groups who work hard to land these prestigious events would have a bit more pride about their arenas and pay as much attention to the operating of the scoreboards and clocks as they do to making sure we know who the event sponsors are.

The SEC Tournament’s first round saved its most interesting game for last. The first three games went as expected and were solid double-digit wins for the favorites. Things get more intense today as the top four seeds join the action. LSU’s upset win over Tennessee ensures that at least one SEC West team will advance to the semifinals, but will there be another?

• Kentucky 79 – Alabama 67. The Cats had a pretty easy time with the Tide, and it didn’t help Alabama that Steele was limited. You just can’t overstate Kentucky’s comfort playing in the SEC Tournament. They’re not the best team here, but they are used to advancing. Their omnipresent fans give them a lift. Even in a down year, why shouldn’t they be expected to reach the semifinals? Alabama, on the other hand, put the finishing touches on a disappointing season. Last year’s NCAA Tournament run notwithstanding, they tend to be one of the league’s biggest paper tigers from year to year.
  
• Arkansas 82 – South Carolina 52. The Hogs have been tough to figure out this year, but they too had few problems in their opener. South Carolina is a much lesser team away from home, and it showed in this game. They didn’t shoot well, got outrebounded, and couldn’t create turnovers. Arkansas hit 12 more shots and dominated the second half. Arkansas seems like a solid NIT team, but it’s looking less likely that the Gamecocks will get an opportunity to become a three-time repeat NIT champion.
  
• Georgia 80 – Auburn 65. The Dawgs grabbed control of this one late in the first half and held the lead in double-digits during the second half. They overmatched Auburn at most every position and were effective inside and outside. Auburn has improved this year much like Georgia, and they had won three of their last four entering the tournament. But Georgia showed again that they have come further and are the better program.
  
• LSU 76 – Tennessee 67 (OT). Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl recognized the trouble early. This game was played exactly to LSU’s pace – low-scoring and in the halfcourt. Tennessee had no answer for Big Baby Davis inside – he dominated on offense and affected what the Vols wanted to do on the other end of the court. Davis’s presence forced Tennessee to rely on their strength – the three-point shot, but it let them down in this game. They shot just 23% from outside, and guards Wayne Chism and JaJuan Smith combined for a dreadful 0-12 from outside. Even sharpshooting Chris Lofton only hit three from behind the arc. The Tigers had the game won in regulation, but poor rebounding and a horrible call actually gave Tennessee a chance to attempt the game-winning shot. LSU closed the door in overtime, and Davis ensured that there would be no second comeback. Though they struggled for much of the season, LSU showed how dangerous a team can be in the postseason with a single dominant player. Ole Miss should be a bit nervous. Wins at Arkansas and Georgia helped to limit concerns about Tennessee’s play away from home, but those same questions have to be asked again with their NCAA seeding at stake.

After a shaky start that put Auburn up 10-3, the Dawgs tightened up on defense, started hitting from outside, and took over the game. They blew open a 19-19 tie to lead by ten at halftime, and Auburn got no closer in the second half. Levi Stukes had 22 points and scored 14 during a key first half push that left Auburn behind. Takais Brown scored 19 and added a career-high 13 rebounds. Sundiata Gaines was one assist short of a double-double of his own.

The outcome was the same as most times that Georgia’s "trinity" plays well. They won. When Gaines, Stukes, and Brown have good games, Georgia wins. Of course others contribute. Woodbury had some timely baskets, Humphrey is becoming more and more assertive on offense, and Singleton continues to improve inside. They play valuable roles. Still, Georgia is a different team when its three best players all do their thing.

The three combined to create an impossible situation for Auburn. The Tigers, undersized up front, doubled down on Brown. The attention given to Brown created open looks for Stukes outside, and it opened up penetration lanes for Gaines and others. Classic inside-outside basketball. Auburn’s pressure also helped Georgia’s offense. Though the Dawgs struggled with the pressure at first, they were often able to beat the trap and create 2-on-1 and other transition opportunities that led to easy baskets.

On the defensive end, Georgia quickly adjusted to a 5-of-5 start by Auburn and played much of the rest of the game in a successful 1-3-1 zone. They trapped effectively out of this zone, forced Auburn into bad shots, and created over 20 turnovers.

The win is Georgia’s first in the SEC Tournament since Dennis Felton’s first Bulldog team beat Auburn in 2004, and it’s just Georgia’s second SEC Tournament victory since 1998. The series with Auburn is as tight in basketball as it is in football: Georgia’s win last night gave them a 86-85 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers.

Georgia’s reward for this nice win? A third game against top-seeded Florida tonight at 7:30. We all know what’s at stake, but I hope the guys just go out and enjoy this one. They’ve had a nice season, shown improvement, and last night’s win was another step forward. Florida has dominated each of the two meetings this season, but Georgia has played them close enough to look at some what-ifs. In the game at Gainesville, Georgia turned the ball over more than 20 times. It was a close game for much of the way, but Florida pulled away late. In Athens, Georgia’s three-point shooting was off. They didn’t turn the ball over much at all in that game, but they couldn’t hit shots. Florida built a nice lead during the first half and kept Georgia more or less at arm’s length.

For Georgia to have a chance in this third meeting, they’ll need another strong night from the Big Three. They’ll also need to disrupt some element of Florida’s inside-outside game. Whether they limit the outside shooting or take on the much tougher task of slowing Horford and Noah, it’ll be a big job. They must do all of the little things in this game – rebound, limit turnovers, value possessions, hit free throws. Is this the night where Georgia makes a huge move, or are they still just a hair short of being ready?

Newspapers (and other media) get stuff wrong all the time, but it gets your attention when something moves beyond rumor and onto the printed page.

James Varney of Nola.com (the online edition of the New Orleans Times-Picayune) is now reporting a new reason for LSU women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman’s resignation:

LSU women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman resigned Wednesday because the university found out about inappropriate conduct between Chatman and one or more players, according to university sources who are aware of the events or have been briefed on it by school officials.

That’s potentially devastating news, not only to Chatman but also to the players who remain. It’s clear that this is a rapidly-developing story and that we’re not close to the end of it yet.

Most SEC fans who know their way around a keyboard have heard of Rodney Orr’s Tider Insider site.

In the past day, Rodney has experienced an unthinkable tragedy: “First, his son-in-law, Jeff Watkins, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Tuscaloosa. Rodney asked that you keep Jeff and his family in your prayers. Second, Rodney’s wife Andrea was notified of the accident and while returning to Tuscaloosa from Birmingham was killed in an accident on 20/59.”

He lost his son-in-law and wife in the same day. I have never met him, and I’m numb reading that. Condolences pour in from the community here.

Once you get past the trolls and the petty squabbles, the one thing about these long-running message boards (aside from borderline-clinical devotion to a team) is the sense of community that develops. Though we’d all rather things like this never happen in the first place, hopefully Rodney can draw some strength from that tight TI community to which he has given so much. The response and outpouring of support today shows how much he and his site have meant to so many people in the Crimson Tide world.

LSU head women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman abruptly resigned on Wednesday. She is leaving “in order to allow (her) to pursue other career opportunities” but will remain on at LSU through the NCAA Tournament.

The timing is very questionable. There are several high-profile (or high-paying) jobs coming open. Florida is one. Texas might be another. But even if she were taking one of those jobs, why announce the resignation now if she’s going to remain on through the tournament? Does she even have something else lined up, or is she doing this now to throw her hat into the ring for one of those positions ahead of other coaches?

She’s been at LSU as a player or coach for 18 years now, so resigning essentially during the season can’t help but draw suspicion.

I got a chuckle out of this quote: “To eliminate any further distraction from our preparation for and participation in the NCAA tournament, I will have no further comment and answer no questions on this subject. I hope you will honor that position.”

Um, Pokey…you could have avoided ALL distraction from your team’s preparation if you just waited two or three weeks to make this announcement. Because of the timing, the women’s college basketball world is on fire today with speculation about her future and trying to figure out the “real” reason behind her departure. Not a distraction at all.

Something has always rubbed me the wrong way about her. She followed a true legend at LSU, Sue Gunter, and honored her. I don’t particularly have any character qualms. She took her team as far as Augustus and Fowles would let her, but I don’t think she did a particularly good job building the team around them. They were good enough to briefly rise to the top one or two teams in the SEC for a couple of years and played in three consecutive Final Fours, but they slid back this year. If she did want to move on from Baton Rouge, I don’t think her stock will ever be much higher.

Update: Now ESPN reports that Pokey won’t coach in the NCAA Tournament. It didn’t take her long to see that “(her) presence would be a great distraction during the NCAA Tournament.” Assistant Bob Starkey will be the interim coach during the NCAA Tournament.

Again, she has a bit of a head-scratcher in her latest statement: “My resignation yesterday has prompted speculation and rumors that far exceeded my expectations.” She was LSU to the core – as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. She was quite successful; her job wasn’t in jeopardy. She didn’t expect rampant speculation and rumors upon an announcement made before the end of the season that she would be stepping down?

A power outage caused a 20-minute delay during last night’s 3-2 loss to Kennesaw State at Foley Field.

Bulldog bats also have been missing some juice lately. Since beating Purdue 9-0 to open that series, Georgia has scored more than four runs only twice. They’ve been held to two or fewer runs four times in the same stretch. In three weekend series so far, Georgia is averaging under four runs per game.

Georgia is now 4-8 and only have four games, including a weekend set against Gardner-Webb, to find some answers before the SEC season starts.

Renew online, win stuff.

I know a lot of people were starting to get antsy about when ticket order forms would be sent…the answer is: Monday.

The William C. Hartman Jr. Fund donors will be mailed their 2007 University of Georgia football season ticket renewal order forms on Monday, March 12th. The order form will include information on how many season tickets each donor will be able to purchase based on their cumulative donor score and annual donation. Donors will have until March 31 to return their order.

Beginning March 13th, donors can renew their tickets online atgeorgiadogs.com. All fans that renew their order online will be entered into random drawings to win autographed photos and footballs by Head Coach Mark Richt and two sideline passes for the Georgia vs. Ole Miss game.

The William C. Hartman Jr. Fund is a designated fund within the The Georgia Bulldog Club. Contributions to the William C. Hartman Jr. Fund provide scholarship support for University of Georgia student-athletes as well as financial support for each of UGA’s 21 varsity sport programs.

(Photo: AP)

Congratulations to junior point guard Sundiata Gaines. I like the selection of Derrick Byars as player of the year; no one meant more to a successful team.

The Jamaica, N.Y., native led Georgia in rebounding (5.7/game), assists (4.7/game), minutes (30.3/game) and steals (2.1/game). Gaines has led the SEC in the latter category throughout the entire season.

There are four Georgia natives on the all-SEC teams, second only to Tennessee’s five. Hopefully more of the Georgians earning all-SEC honors in the future will do it in Athens.

Georgia opens play in the SEC Tournament tonight as the East’s #5 seed against Auburn, the #4 seed from the West. The game will tip off at 7:30 and will be televised by your local Lincoln Financial affiliate.

No wonder Maryland suddenly has a good women’s basketball team: most other teams only play with five players. Good D here by Coach Brenda Frese.

The athletic association has issued a release confirming that junior offensive guard Seth Watts is no longer with the Georgia football program. We were uncertain last night whether his absence from spring practice for “personal reasons” was a temporary or, as suspected, a permanent situation.

University of Georgia junior offensive lineman Seth Watts has decided to forego his remaining two years of football eligibility, according to an announcement Tuesday by Bulldog head coach Mark Richt.

Richt said Watts, who served as a backup offensive guard during the 2006 season, plans to remain in school and concentrate on his academic work.

“We appreciate the contributions that Seth has made to our football team,” said Richt. “And at the same time we are certainly supportive of what he feels is in his best interest.”

This is pretty surprising news. Most of the SEC members (except Georgia and Arkansas) had individually arranged deals on their own with Sirius. It now looks as if Georgia and Arkansas will be among the first SEC schools to join XM, and the others will come online as their Sirius deals expire. SEC conference events such as championship games and tournaments will also be on XM.

XM will provide complete coverage of SEC championships, starting with the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament live from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Thursday through Sunday on XM channel 201.

XM will have the most SEC games on the radio with coast-to-coast live broadcasts of the University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi and University of Tennessee football, basketball, and other sports starting in fall 2007.

As a Sirius subscriber who chose that service in part due to the trend set by the other SEC schools, I have to say that this sucks. Hopefully the Sirius-XM merger goes through and the choice of service becomes irrelevant.

One day of spring practice, one offensive lineman MIA.

Junior guard Seth Watts, last in the news for serving a one-game suspension for the Peach Bowl, was not at practice for “personal reasons” today, and his status with the team is unknown at this time. Watts was one of only three linemen with experience available for the season opener, and it looks as if he might not be around for that now.

You’d like to think this is the end of the attrition and bad news from the spring, but history tells us it’s just beginning.