Now I know what it’s like to be the boy in the bubble. A year after traveling to the music city for the more intimate setting of the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn., the SEC Tournament is back in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It’s kind of like holding a basketball game in an airport hangar. The top of the roof is about 30 stories high. Depth perception for shooters is a problem, but players have adjusted quickly today. I still remember that Matt Walsh 1-for-15 shooting outing here three years ago, a game that ended with Florida beating Alabama in OT on Lee Humphrey’s fall-away jumper. (an aside, Walsh is playing in Greece, where he was named league player of the month in January.)
Some things don’t change. The Kentucky bluebloods are still out in full force, filling up the hotel bars to buy $6 beers and $10 hot dogs. Walking to the Georgia Dome, you could eavesdrop some not-so-nice things about Tubby Smith’s coaching ability. Tubby quieted some critics with a win today, but the heat will only get worse if the Cats lose Friday against Mississippi State.
Florida assistant Donnie Jones and Larry Shyatt are scouting the Georgia-Auburn game from press row, which looks like a Georgia runaway. The Gators face the winner Friday night. It will be interesting to see how many Florida fans make the trip.
So long for now.
— KCB
