Article:Gator Nation Sports Page Monday March 9

This article was originally posted here.

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Let's just dive right in, while wondering if Kentucky will pass on an NIT bid...

= Men's Basketball =

Florida beat Kentucky on Senior Night. The Gators sent Walter Hodge out of his last (regular season) home game as a winner. The win also kept slim NCAA hopes alive, and earned UF the #3 seed in the East  for this week's SEC tournament. Who would have ever thought UK is a good cure for a losing streak? The streak ended at three games.

Walter Hodge is disappointed with how his senior season has ended.

This notebook focuses on the Nick Calathes benching at Mississippi State last Wednesday, but it also mentions that Billy G. could be on the hotseat for UK, and Allan Chaney is out indefinitely with his heel. More from Billy D on the Calathes benching. The Gators certainly need to do something different to finish close games. Is trouble brewing between Calathes and the Gators?

Florida is among a lot of SEC teams on the bubble. Good thing our commisioner is chairman of the selection committee. Oh yeah, at least one national writer isn't calling for expansion of the tournament... he's calling for cutting it in half.

An interview with Florida basketball analyst Mark Wise, who grew up in Kentucky.

= Baseball =

The Gators swept Duquesne this past weekend. A fight broke out Friday night, and RF Riley Cooper (who also plays WR for Urban Meyer) was among those ejected. Cooper is expected to serve a three game suspension.

Former Gator pitcher Stephen Locke has his DUI case dropped. It is not known if this will result in his reinstatement with the baseball team, as the case had resulted in his being kicked off.

= Total Sports Domination =


 * 1) 2 Gator softball swept South Carolina over the weekend in the first SEC series of the season.

Former Gator swimmer Dana Torres wins first competition since the Beijing Olympics in Austin this weekend. A blog on the story.

The Gators volleyball team  started spring practice. The Gators look to win their 19th consecutive SEC title. No wonder Urban Meyer has called us a 'volleyball school'.

Women's tennis beat Vandy. The men's team  beat Vandy, as well.

Join me in welcoming some Gators: Construction has started on the new lacrosse field. The field will start being used in the fall, and the first match is in Feb 2010.

= Football =

From our friends at Gatortailgating, check out this look  inside UF's Heavener Football Complex.

Here's a spring preview for all the SEC teams.

Yes, Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy are gone... but we are still loaded with weapons.

Here are the first public statements I've seen from Urban Meyer on the Lane Kiffin fiasco. ESPN's Chris Low calls it 'no laughing matter'. It's not exactly 'breaking news' that Tennessee and Florida don't like each other. Although the suggestion to 'nip it in the bud... the Chicago way' is a little extreme.

Where in the World is Tim Tebow? Rcently, he's been in Tallahassee, Atlantic City, and the Phillipines. Tallahassee was to be recognized at the Governor's Mansion for the BCS Title. Atlantic City was to be awared the 2008 Maxwell Award. The Phillipines for his missionary work. Concerning the latter, the NCAA cleared his fundraising efforts of any wrongdoing.

This SEC mailbag speculates on life after Tim Tebow for the Florida football team.

Just one recruiting link, as our staff is working on a more detailed update for the coming days.... 2010 commit Trey Burton wears Gator PJs, and is helping the Gator coaches to recruit talent to Gainesville.