One of my New Year's resolutions was to become a better blogger, so here we go: every morning I will post the top sports links of the day and provide some commentary, as well.
1) First, check out my two stories from yesterday: Commodores overrated? Not a chance and SEC Power Rankings and Midseason Awards. As I did research for the power rankings, I realized just how weak the SEC is this season. After the three teams at the top, there is not one other lock for the NCAA Tournament.
2) College basketball columnist Gary Parrish seems to agree with my assessment of Shan Foster and A.J. Ogilvy, suggesting that they are in fact the best one-two punch in the entire nation. Quite the compliment for sure, and I'd have to agree with him. Parrish also has Vandy 13th in his weekly top 25, which I believe is more accurate than either the AP or Coaches Poll.
3) In The City Paper, Brett Hait talks about Foster's assault on the record books. There is no doubt that the senior swingman will become the school's all-time leading scorer when all is said and done. He's currently in eighth place with 1,637, 254 points shy of record-holder Matt Freije's 1,891.
Within that piece, Hait also mentioned that former Commodore great Derrick Byars was in the house for Vandy's 97-88 victory over UMass on Saturday. I heard Byars' interview with Joe Fisher's during halftime of the game and it seemed that after getting cut by the Philadelphia 76ers, Byars was put in a bad situation overseas in Germany and has since returned home, attempting to sign back on with another NBA team. Few players work harder than DB and you can bet that he'll find his way somehow. We wish him the best of luck.
4) It's good to see Foster gain national recognition, as well. Collegehoops.net recently named him Player of the Week and sang him some very well-deserved praise.
5) In The Tennessean, Maurice Patton has an interesting story about the Vanderbilt athletic hall of fame that is in the process of being constructed. The hall of fame's first class, which should have between 10-15 members, will be decided by the season opening football game this fall.
6) How bad are things in Kentucky? Bad enough for many Wildcat fans to long for the return of coach Tubby Smith - well, not quite, but they're certainly no longer as amazed with new coach Billy Gillispie (who still has not signed a contract). Here's a highlight from this Ledger-Independent story:
"Deep down in his heart, Gillispie may be re-thinking his decision to take over the pressure-packed position as the leader of college basketball's winningest program.
He must think about Texas A & M every now and then; after all, the Aggies are 13-1 after thrashing Louisiana State by 23 points Saturday night.
Judging by a call-in radio show after the game, there is no shortage of fans who would be sad to see Gillispie return to Texas."
The Commodores travel to Rupp Arena on Saturday, seeking to win their third straight road game (and fourth overall) over Kentucky. Should be a fun one.
7) In Vanderbilt golf news, two players - Hudson Johnson and Jon Curran - finished third and seventh, respectively, at the 82nd-annual New Year's Invitational at the St. Petersburg Country Club on Sunday. Congratulations, guys.
