SEC media days report

Allen gets word out for Gators

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen of North Little Rock is becoming a vocal leader on the team, according to senior center Kevarrius Hayes. “KeVaughn is speaking up, calling out the right plays and switches on defense,” Hayes said. “You hear his voice and it kind of shocks you a little bit. It’s good to see him developing that part of his game.”
Florida guard KeVaughn Allen of North Little Rock is becoming a vocal leader on the team, according to senior center Kevarrius Hayes. “KeVaughn is speaking up, calling out the right plays and switches on defense,” Hayes said. “You hear his voice and it kind of shocks you a little bit. It’s good to see him developing that part of his game.”

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. -- Florida guard KeVaughn Allen is speaking up.

Allen, a guard from North Little Rock known for his quiet nature, is becoming more vocal going into his senior season.

"KeVaughn's come out of his shell a little bit," Gators Coach Mike White said at SEC media days. "He's communicating more and has been very talkative in practice.

"He's matured quite a bit."

Florida senior center Kevarrius Hayes said Allen is becoming a vocal leader.

"KeVaughn is speaking up, calling out the right plays and switches on defense," Hayes said. "You hear his voice and it kind of shocks you a little bit.

"It's good to see him developing that part of his game."

Allen has 1,297 points to rank 30th on Florida's career scoring list, but he had a dip in production offensively last season.

After averaging 11.6 points as a freshman and 14.0 as a sophomore, Allen averaged 11.0 as a junior.

White said Allen's average was deceptive considering the Gators at times had four high-level scorers in the game together with the addition of Jalen Hudson and Egor Koulechov.

Hudson, who redshirted two seasons ago after transferring from Virginia Tech, averaged a team-high 15.5 points. Koulechov, a graduate transfer from Rice, averaged 13.8 points and senior guard Chris Chiozza averaged 11.1.

"I just thought KeVaughn blended a little bit too much last year," White said. "But he also showed how unselfish he is."

Hudson is back as a fifth-year senior, but with Koulechov and Chiozza gone, Allen's scoring figures to pick up.

"KeVaughn's being more aggressive in practice," White said. "Right now he's playing like a senior, and we certainly hope that continues."

HOOPS AUDIT?

A trial in federal court in New York has continued this week into accusations by the FBI involving shoe company executives and agents arranging for payments to college basketball recruits and their families.

It's not a good look for the sport, but coaches asked about the trial at SEC media days said it doesn't mean every program is dirty.

"Every walk of life -- every industry -- needs to be audited once in a while," South Carolina Coach Frank Martin said. "This is our audit, and whatever's broken, it'll get fixed.

"I'm not going to sit here and act like I don't know some of the things that go on in the business. It's my job to know.

"I'm not into cheating. But I don't sit at home and whine about the people that do, because they're the ones jeopardizing their schools, their families, their careers. That's their decision to make in life. I choose not to go in that direction.

"What I hope is that whatever mistakes are being made -- some of the stuff that the public is learning about that some of us kind of knew was going on -- gets cleaned up."

Martin said cheating is not widespread in college basketball.

"The rest of the business operates pretty good," he said. "It's not as bad as it's made out to be ... But let's fix the problems, build on the good and continue to move forward."

According to SI.com, defense attorney Casey Donnelly told the court -- without jurors present -- that the FBI had recorded a conversation between his client -- aspiring agent Christian Dawkins -- and LSU Coach Will Wade about possible payments to a recruit.

"Certainly it was a little bit surprising," Wade said of having his name come up at the trial. "I'm not really going to react to what the defense attorney said.

"I will say I'm very proud of everything I've done as LSU's head coach. I have never, ever done business of any kind with Christian Dawkins ... That's what I'll say about that."

THAT'S THE TRUTH

The University of Arkansas' women's team was picked to finish 14th in the SEC in last year's preseason poll.

"We got picked last by the coaches unanimously," Razorbacks Coach Mike Neighbors said on Thursday. "I had some coaching friends tell me, 'Oh, I didn't pick you last.'

"I saw the poll, and I said, 'Yeah, you did. We were unanimous. Just don't lie to me. I get it.' "

Arkansas did a little better than predicted by finishing in a three-way tie for 11th with Florida and Vanderbilt at 3-13.

The Razorbacks are picked to finish 11th again in poll for the 2018-19 season.

Mississippi State, coached by former Arkansas assistant Vic Schaefer, is picked to win the SEC championship. Texas A&M, coached by Gary Blair -- Arkansas' head coach from 1994-2003 -- is picked sixth.

FOOTBALL GUY

New Georgia Tom Crean previously was the coach at Marquette and Indiana -- schools where basketball is the unquestioned top sport.

But Crean said he had no hesitation taking a job at a school where football rules.

"I've embraced it," Crean said. "It wasn't like Georgia was an unknown football program. I think it's fantastic."

Crean's wife, Joani, is the sister of Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh and Baltimore Ravens Coach John Harbaugh. His father-in-law, Jack Harbaugh, was a long-time football coach at Western Kentucky.

"I'm in a football family," Crean said. "When you marry into the Harbaughs, you really have no choice."

YOUNG, BUT GOOD

Alabama freshman point guard Kira Lewis, 17, is the youngest player on an NCAA Division I team roster according to the Crimson Tide media relations office. Lewis, rated as one of the top freshmen in the country, won't turn 18 until April 6.

"He's young, but he's talented," Alabama Coach Avery Johnson said. "There won't be any age discrimination. If he help Alabama win games, he's going to be on the floor.

"He's fast and he can really flat-out shoot the three-point shot. Every time he shoots it, we think it's going in. His decision-making is a little bit more advanced for such a young player. He obviously has to put on a little bit more weight. He came in weighing about 160 pounds, and he's excited because he's up to 165. I think he'll eventually get to about 180 and you'll see him really take that next step."

ROCKY TOP?

Mississippi State Coach Ben Howland said Tennessee is his pick to win the SEC championship considering the Vols return their top six scorers from a team that shared the title with Auburn last season.

"They're the best team in our league going into the season, in my opinion," Howland said. "No doubt they're the team to beat."

Kentucky was the media's choice to win the SEC with Tennessee second.

"There's no doubt Kentucky is right there with them, and Auburn," Howland said." But [the Vols] return everyone. How are they not the favorite?"

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AP/VASHA HUNT

Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors speaks with the media during the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball media day, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Birmingham, Ala.

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Tom Crean

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Kira Lewis

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Mississippi State Coach Ben Howland

Sports on 10/19/2018

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