Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

2/21/2012 at 2:29pm

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Kentucky and Coach John Calipari remain No. 1 in our weekly SEC Power Poll.

Alabama Coach Anthony Grant OK'd the return of senior power forward JaMychal Green to the Crimson Tide roster on Monday after a three-game suspension, which followed a previous suspension, but explosive junior wingman Tony Mitchell is done for the season.

Monday during the SEC coaches morning teleconference, Grant said he had not made a decision on the pair but would be shortly. However, he did say he didn't anticipate either playing against Arkansas on Thursday  in ESPN2's SEC telecast, tipping off at 6 p.m. And on Tuesday, Grant confirmed that although Green was returning to practice, he was out for the Arkansas game.

Meanwhile, on the Arkansas side, senior forward Michael Sanchez remains "day to day," Razorback Coach Mike Anderson said. Sanchez suffered a bruised shoulder at Georgia.

Arkansas, without Sanchez, is down to eight scholarship players, and the lack of depth seems to have drained the Hogs, who have lost three of their last four games by blowout margins. Florida routed the Razorbacks 98-68 in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday, the worst Hog defeat in the 18-year history of the arena.

Alabama, without Green and Mitchell the past three games, has gotten a lot of mileage from its bench. Alabama overcame a gritty effort from Arkansas in Tuscaloosa 72-66 last month with the pair in the lineup.

"In my mind we’re going to prepare for the team we played previously," Anderson said Monday. "They obviously have some good players and the other guys not being around, it gives chances to their younger players."

One of those, freshman Rodney Cooper, broke loose for 28 points in Alabama's 67-58 loss at LSU when four players — guards Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele, along with Green and Mitchell — were suspended. Anderson said he was very familiar with the 6-6 guard from Phenix City, Ala., though recruiting circles.

In a 62-50 win over Tennessee last Saturday, Trevor Lacey, a freshman guard from Huntsville, Ala., worked at both the point and at two-guard and had a solid game, according to 'Bama Coach Anthony Grant, leading the way with 18 points. Steele had 10.

Tennessee Coach Cuonzo Martin, whose squad was on a four-game winning streak going into Tuscaloosa, credited Alabama's guard with being very aggressive.

Anderson said, "A lot of guys are having a chance now, such as Cooper. He's a guy who can step up and shoot the basketball. Then with Levi Randolf and Trevor Lacey, they are still so athletic ... You can see those guys are getting some confidence. With any team, on any given night, they can put a lot of things together. The biggest thing for us is the psyche of our basketball team coming off a tough loss. Florida just beat us."

Grant said Monday that Arkansas "outplayed us the first time. We were fortunate to come out with a close win. Now we're going to their place, one of the toughest places in all of basketball to win. Coming off a tough loss, Coach Anderson will have his guys really excited to play."

Regular starting point guard Trevor Releford took a shot to the head last week and underwent concussion tests, leading to Lacey getting the start at point instead of playing his usual shooting guard role. Releford came off the bench to score 14 points.

"He did a great job running the game and then when he switched over to the two guard he made good decisions and kept being aggressive," Grant said of Lacey. "He's versatile and can play most positions. We're the type of team that tries to take advantage of all his strengths."

Lacy shot 12 free throws against Tennessee "because he attacked," Grant said. "He was penetrating and keeping his head up and seeing what the defense gave him. He's a freshman learning college basketball, learning what his role is and how he can impact us winning."

And, against Tennessee and its formidable front line, the Alabama inside game without Green "stayed active and took advantage of the opportunities," Grant said. "We're going to need more of that." Seven-footer Moussa Gueye had six blocks against the Vols.

Grant says that his team has moved on from the lengthy suspensions of Green and Mitchell, as well as the one-game suspensions handed down to Releford and Steele before a loss at LSU. Alabama seems to have righted itself after hitting rock bottom in a blowout loss at home the Vanderbilt before the suspensions. The Tide is 6-6 and in a four-way logjam in fourth place in the SEC standings. Arkansas is a game out at 5-7, tied with Ole Miss for eighth place.

Alabama figured, with Green and Mitchell playing up to their preseason All-SEC expectations, to contend with Florida and Vanderbilt. Instead, the Tide has leaned on other, younger players and started winning again.

"Obviously, those guys [Green and Mitchell] were our leading scorers and leading rebounders," Grant said, "but it's given guys a chance to step up and play bigger roles, and other guys have provided leadership. We just have to get even more guys stepping up and taking advantage of those opportunities."

Tip-Ins
Kentucky can earn a share of the SEC Championship with a win Tuesday night at home against Mississippi State. The Wildcats (12-0) currently have a three-game lead over second place Florida (9-3) with four games remaining. If the SEC Tournament started today Kentucky, Florida and Vanderbilt would all receive first round byes. However, four teams are all tied at 6-6 for the fourth spot ... Kentucky is leading the nation in scoring margin (19.7), blocked shots per game (9.3) and by holding their opponents to just 36.2 percent shooting. Florida tops the NCAA statistics with 10.3 3-pointers per game. Individually, Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins leads the NCAA with 3.9 3-pointers per game and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis is the nation’s top shot blocker with 4.9 rejections per contest ... SEC teams have won 143 of their 181 (.790) of their home games this season, including 51 of 72 (.708) of their home SEC games. Kentucky’s 50-game home winning streak is the longest active streak in the nation. The run includes the 2009 NIT game at Memorial Coliseum and the last 49 games at Rupp Arena.

Power Poll
Kentucky is on its way to its most dominant season in the SEC since 1996's national championship under Rick Pitino. Florida and Vanderbilt are a clear second and third in the poll, while the rest of the league keeps fighting for the fourth spot.

ArkansasSports360.com Power Poll (for week beginning Feb. 20)

1. Kentucky (26-1, 12-0). More chemistry among these 'Cats than Calipari's past two teams.
2. Florida (21-6, 9-3). After a wake-up call, Gators start playing like it matters.
3. Vanderbilt (19-8, 8-4). Hit on all cylinders at Ole Miss; a sign of things to come?
4. Mississippi State (19-8, 6-6). Back spasms for Sidney? Something's just not right with talented 'Dawgs.
5. Alabama (16-8, 5-5). Tide will finally get JaMychal Green back inside, but Tony Mitchell's gone.
6. Ole Miss (15-11, 5-7). Kennedy's Rebels hanging on with a shot at fourth.
7. Tennessee (14-13, 6-6). Missed a chance to help its resume at 'Bama.
8. LSU (16-10, 6-6). Two wins last week.
9. Arkansas (17-10, 5-7). Three blowout losses, one at home, in last four games. Out of gas?
10. Auburn (14-12, 4-8). Shocked Mississippi State.
11. Georgia (12-14, 3-9). The sudden surge was over as quickly as it started. 
12. South Carolina (10-16, 2-10). At least the Gamecocks beat Georgia at home.

THIS WEEK
(All times Central)
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Auburn at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPNU
Kentucky at Mississippi State, 8 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Feb. 22
Ole Miss at Tennessee, 7 p.m., CSS
Georgia at LSU, 7 p.m., SEC Network
South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m., SEC Network

Thursday, Feb. 23
Alabama at Arkansas, 6 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, Feb. 25
Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 11 a.m., CBS Sports
LSU at Ole Miss, 12:30 p.m., SEC Network
Arkansas at Auburn, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Florida at Georgia, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Mississippi State at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee at South Carolina, 8 p.m., FSN

Top Players
The SEC honored these players for their performances last week:

Vanderbilt's John Jenkins, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior guard from Hendersonville, Tenn., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 27 points, two rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals in wins at Ole Miss and at Georgia. Jenkins scored 26 points at Ole Miss on only five shots, and was 8-for-11 from the floor in a 28-point effort against Georgia. For the week, Jenkins was 81.3 percent from the floor (13-16), 83.3 percent from three (10-12), and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (18-for-21). His free throws made (12) and attempted (15) against Ole Miss were new career highs, and his three steals against the Bulldogs set a new career-best.

Florida's Bradley Beal, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound freshman guard from St. Louis, was named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and three assists, two blocks and two steals in wins at Alabama and at Arkansas. Beal scored 14 points and added a team-best eight rebounds in a victory at Alabama. He followed up his strong performance against the Crimson Tide with a 21-point and nine rebound outing at Arkansas, his fourth 20-point game of the season.

Tagged: Trevor Releford, Tony MItchell, JaMychal Green, Southeastern Conference, Mike Anderson, Anthony Grant, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kentucky Wildcats, Florida Gators, Michael Sanchez