Thoughts of the Day: May 16, 2022

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

GATORS GET NO. 14 NCAA SOFTBALL SEED, HOST REGIONAL

When the Gators dropped a 4-1 decision to eventual SEC champ Arkansas Friday night, it all but ended any chance UF would have to host both an NCAA regional and super regional for the first time since 2007. The Gators (43-16) will host a regional starting Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, but they are a No. 14 seed, so the only way they’ll host a super regional will be to win the regional and for No. 3 seed Virginia Tech (41-7) to lose its regional.

The Gators open up play in the Gainesville Regional Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Canisius (32-16). In the other Gainesville Regional game, Georgia Tech (37-19) will face Wisconsin (28-19) at 2 p.m. It’s double elimination so the advantage goes to the team that wins its first two games.

The Gators have made the NCAA Tournament every year it has been played (no tournament in 2020 due to the pandemic) since Tim Walton became the head coach in 2006. UF was the No. 16 seed in 2006, No. 13 in 2007. Every other year UF was a top five national seed.

Twelve of the 13 SEC softball teams made the 64-team NCAA field with Arkansas (4), Alabama (6), Tennessee (11), Florida (14) and Missouri (15) earning national seeds. Texas A&M is in the (1) Oklahoma regional; Mississippi State in the (2) FSU regional; Kentucky in the (3) Virginia Tech regional; Ole Miss in the (5) UCLA regional; LSU in the (8) Arizona State regional; Auburn in the (10) Clemson regional and Georgia in the (12) Duke regional.

SEC Tournament honors: Freshman outfielder Kendra Falby and senior second baseman Hannah Adams were named to the All-SEC Tournament team.

UF TRACK: WOMEN WIN SEC, MEN FINISH FOURTH

The SEC women’s championship came down to the final two races Saturday night in Oxford and the Gators came through in the clutch. Parker Valby, running 5,000 meters outdoors for the first time in her collegiate career, broke the UF school record to earn a silver medal and the 4X400 relay team finished fifth. Those 12 points gave the Gators a 107-103 advantage over Arkansas for the seventh SEC outdoor title for the UF women in school history.

It was a big weekend for Jasmine Moore, who became just the third athlete in SEC history to win both the long jump and triple jump titles at both the indoor and outdoor championships. The other two to achieve that feat were Shara Proctor and Yanis David, both Gators.

The UF men’s team won the 4X100 and 4X400 relays on the final day to finish in fourth with 78 points.

UF TENNIS: GATORS BLANK UNC, ADVANCE TO NCAA QUARTER-FINALS

The No. 2 seeded Gators (26-2) won their 21st straight match in the sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament Friday when they took out 15th-seeded North Carolina, 4-0. It was the fourth straight 4-0 win for the Gators, three in the NCAA Tournament.

The quest for a second straight NCAA Tournament continues Thursday in the quarter-final round against 7th-seeded Virginia in Champaign, Illinois. The Gators defeated Virginia, 4-2, earlier in the season in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

UF LACROSSE: GATORS ADVANCE TO NCAA QUARTER-FINAL ROUND

The 7th-seeded Gators (17-4), winners of their last 15 games, get a second crack at Maryland when they face the 2nd-seeded Terps Thursday in College Park in the quarter-final round of the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. Earlier this season, Maryland defeated the Gators, 18-8, in College Park.

To get to the quarterfinals, the Gators eliminated Mercer, 19-12, and Jacksonville, 15-10 in rounds one and two. Danielle Pavinelli scored four goals in the win over Mercer and five in the win over JU.

UF BASEBALL: GATORS TAKE TWO OUT OF THREE FROM MIZZOU

Although a sweep of Missouri would have been nice, by winning the weekend series the Gators inched closer to finishing the regular season with at least a .500 record in SEC play, something that seemed totally beyond their capabilities three weeks ago. By taking game three, 4-3, the Gators improved to 32-19 overall, 13-14 in SEC play. Florida is now just a game behind Georgia (33-18, 14-13 SEC) and Vanderbilt (34-16, 14-13 SEC) in the SEC East standings with one final weekend series remaining.

Too many things needed to happen for the Gators to not only move into second in the SEC East but to close in on a top four finish overall in the regular season, which would mean a double bye. Tennessee (22-5 SEC), Arkansas (17-10 SEC) and Texas A&M (17-10 SEC) are assured of double byes so they won’t play until Friday in Hoover no matter what they do in the final regular season series. For Florida to get the final spot, the Gators have to sweep the Gamecocks while Auburn (15-11 SEC) gets swept by Kentucky and both Georgia (vs. Missouri) and Vanderbilt (vs. LSU) go 1-2.

It's not impossible, but it’s improbable.

SEC EAST

Tennessee (45-7, 22-5 SEC): The Vols have won the SEC regular season championship no matter what happens this weekend.

Next weekend: at Mississippi State (25-27, 9-18 SEC)

Georgia (33-18, 14-13 SEC): Georgia and Vandy are tied for second in the East, with the Gators looming one game behind. The Bulldogs get the advantage of playing Missouri in Athens, but they will need a sweep to assure a second place finish.

Next weekend: vs. Missouri (26-22, 8-19 SEC)

Vanderbilt (34-16, 14-13 SEC): Vandy is still in the hunt for second in the SEC East after taking two of three on consecutive SEC weekends against Georgia and Arkansas.

Next weekend: vs. LSU (33-18, 14-13 SEC)

FLORIDA (32-19, 13-14 SEC): The Gators have won nine of their last 11 games, 7-2 in SEC play.

Next weekend: vs. South Carolina (26-24, 12-15 SEC)

South Carolina (26-24, 12-15 SEC): The Gamecocks have yet to win back-to-back SEC series this season. They head to Gainesville on the heels of taking two of three from Kentucky.

Next weekend: at Florida (32-19, 13-14 SEC)

Kentucky (27-23, 10-17 SEC): Two wins next weekend will clinch one of the final two spots in the SEC Tournament.

Next weekend: vs. Auburn

Missouri (26-22, 8-19 SEC): The Tigers still have a chance to get to Hoover, but it’s a longshot since they’ll have to beat Georgia three times on the road. Next weekend: at Georgia (33-18, 14-13 SEC)

SEC WEST

Arkansas (17-10, 37-14): The Hogs’ once comfortable lead in the SEC West is no more. After losing two of three to Vandy, Arkansas is in a tie with the Aggies in the race for the West title and second seed in Hoover.

Next weekend: at Alabama (27-24, 10-16 SEC)

Texas A&M (33-16, 17-10 SEC): If the Aggies and Arkansas wind up in a tie for the SEC West title, the Aggies will get the No. 2 seed in Hoover based on taking two of three from Arkansas earlier in the season.

Next weekend: at Ole Miss (31-19, 13-14 SEC)

Auburn (15-11, 25-16): With a sweep at Kentucky next weekend, Arkansas could secure the double-bye for the SEC Tournament.

Next weekend: at Kentucky (27-23, 10-17 SEC)

LSU (33-18, 14-13 SEC): Getting swept by Ole Miss knocked the Tigers out of the double-bye in Hoover.

Next weekend: at Vanderbilt

Ole Miss (31-19, 13-14 SEC): The Rebels have picked themselves up off the mat after a midseason swoon. Can they cool off the Aggies and knock them out of the SEC West race next weekend?

Next weekend: vs. Texas A&M (33-16, 17-10 SEC)

Alabama (27-24, 10-16 SEC): Alabama is in a better spot than Mississippi State, Missouri or Kentucky heading into the final weekend of the regular season, but the Tide probably needs at least one win to ensure a trip to Hoover.

Next weekend: vs. Arkansas

Mississippi State (25-27, 9-18 SEC): For the Bulldogs to even make it to Hoover, they will need to sweep the Vols and pray for a miracle.

Next weekend: at Tennessee

UF MEN’S GOLF: GATORS BEGIN NCAA REGIONAL PLAY

The Gators tee off at 7:30 a.m. this morning as the No. 2 seed in the Palm Beach Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Top seed in the regional is Vanderbilt, the same team the Gators took to the wire in a 3-2 loss in the match play portion of the SEC Tournament at St. Simon’s Island. Other notable seeds in the 14-team regional: (3) Notre Dame, (4) Florida State, (5) Purdue and (7) South Florida.

The top six teams from the regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Scottsdale starting May 27.

SEC FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL

Alabama: Brylan Lanier, a cornerback who signed with Georgia State before walking on at Alabama, is transferring to Indiana.

Arkansas: Wide receiver Matt Landers, who began his career at Georgia before transferring to Toledo, is on the move again, this time to Arkansas. He caught 20 passes for 514 yards and five TDs at Toledo … Former Wichita State guard Ricky Council IV, the American Athletic Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2022, is transferring to Arkansas. He averaged 12 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last year. Eric Musselman has six freshmen and five transfers coming in for next season.

Auburn: Defensive back Craig McDonald, who had 41 tackles and two interceptions last season at Iowa State, is transferring to Auburn.

Georgia: When it comes to tampering to land transfers, Kirby Smart told Paul Finebaum, “It’s part of the game. I don’t believe there’s as much tampering as people think. I think there are kids who grow up thinking if it doesn’t work out here, I should go somewhere else. Tampering comes from the player that’s searching somewhere else, not from a coach reaching out.”

Kentucky: A warrant has been issued for All-SEC running back Chris Rodriguez, who was a no show for a court arraignment Friday. A statement by the UK athletic department says there was a scheduling mistake with Rodriguez’s attorneys … Defensive back Zion Childress, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, is transferring from Texas State to Kentucky.

LSU: Guard Adam Miller, who missed last season with a torn ACL after transferring from Illinois, has decided to remain at LSU. He averaged 8.3 points per game as a freshman at Illinois.

Mississippi State: Defensive back Jay Hampton is transferring to Southern Miss.

Ole Miss: Josh Mballa, who averaged 13 points and 8.6 rebounds at Buffalo last year, is transferring to Ole Miss.

Texas A&M: Dexter Dennis, the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, is transferring to Texas A&M. In four years at Wichita State, Dennis averaged 8.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Nick Saban actually said this while talking to Paul Finebaum:

“One of the things I’d like to see us be able to work back to is everything in college football has always had parity: same scholarships, same academic support, healthcare, whatever it is. I don’t think we have that balance right now which could affect the parity of college football and athletics as a whole.”

News flash, Nick. There has NEVER been parity in college football. NEVER.

Yes, it’s true that the NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, says everybody can only have 85 scholarship football players, 10 assistant coaches, minimum GPA requirements and there are at least a zillion ticky tacky rules all designed with the I’m okay, you’re okay philosophy in mind to make equality look achievable to the academics in charge of the NCAA. Looks are deceiving. Here is reality: A scholarship at Bowling Green, for instance, isn’t the same as one at Alabama. Bowling Green could have 300 on scholarship and they might have one good enough to have a scholarship at Bama.

Take it a step further. Of Bowling Green’s 85 on scholarship, maybe 15 of them would be good enough to be on scholarship at Vanderbilt and in the SEC, Vanderbilt is everybody’s favorite homecoming opponent. Compared to Doyt Perry Stadium at Bowling Green, Vanderbilt Stadium is a palace that could host a Super Bowl. Those are just a couple of examples.

There have been numerous attempts to bring about equality in college football such as General Bob Neyland and Delaware coach Tubby Raymond essentially forcing one-platoon football on us in the 1950s (reversed in 1964) and scholarship limits to keep Bear Bryant from hoarding all the good players once the SEC integrated back in the 1970s. But have any of those attempts actually worked? Has taking away athletic dorms made it equal? Or the silly 25-counter rule?

No matter how hard the pointy headed geeks in charge of the NCAA try to apply socialism to football and basketball, it’s not going to work. It never has. It never will.