"I'm still hunting for faxes, on the floor, in drawers, everywhere I can look.''

This was volunteered by Alabama coach Mark Gottfried during Thursday's SEC basketball teleconference.

Gottfried, whose pre-SEC season has been anything but amusing, was offering a humorous take on the 11th-hour NCAA reprieve that will return Randolph Morris to the Kentucky lineup.

The sophomore center makes his belated season debut Tuesday when the Wildcats play Vanderbilt.

In case you've been on an arctic expedition the past month, Morris was initially suspended for the entire season due to his involvement with an agent last summer while exploring the NBA draft.

Kentucky filed an appeal, after which coach Tubby Smith, while cleaning out his desk, discovered an overlooked fax that provided evidence in Morris' favor.

Thus, the NCAA relented and reduced Morris' suspension to 14 games. No. 14 is Saturday at Kansas. Morris won't miss a single SEC possession.

The Wildcats' pre-SEC struggles have elevated the 6-foot-10 Morris to full-blown savior status. He did start 33 games last year, but averaged a mortal 8.8 points a game.

"He's going to bring back to Kentucky a large dose of energy at the right time,'' said South Carolina coach Dave Odom.

A question arose as to what difficulties might arise from integrating a new starter into the mix at mid-season.

"I'd love to have that problem,'' noted UT coach Bruce Pearl.

"That,'' Pearl continued, tongue in cheek, "would be a phenomenal challenge for us at Tennessee to bring somebody like that in at midseason.''

Smith acknowledged that Kentucky (10-3) hasn't jelled. He wasn't asked for specifics. If he had been, he could have mentioned a 59-57 squeaker over Central Florida in Rupp Arena, or the fact that the 'Cats are last in the conference in shooting at 44.4 percent.

"The defense has been pretty solid,'' Smith said, "Now, we're picking it up rebound-wise.

"We're trying to get some more scoring and I think that will be helped by getting Randolph back.''

Odom on Pearl: Odom might have been as effusive in his praise for Pearl even if the Gamecocks didn't open league play against the Vols on Sunday.

"You'd have a hard time finding any new coach in the country who has injected more positive energy and atmosphere around his program than Bruce Pearl has at Tennessee,'' said Odom.

"He's done a masterful job and I congratulate him. I also congratulate the players. They have embraced the philosophy he brought and are playing with great energy, enthusiasm and confidence.''

Stallings' Point: Senior Mario Moore figured to be an All-SEC point guard candidate for Vanderbilt, but can't even nail down the starting job.

Coach Kevin Stallings has of late moved 6-7 Derrick Byars to the point, perhaps trying to make a point to Moore and/or sophomore Alex Gordon.

"I think Kevin's trying to light a fire with some of those guys,'' said Auburn coach Jeff Lebo.

Stallings said he's merely looking for the best performance.

"The important thing is the guy who is playing well,'' he said, "... who does what a point guard is supposed to do.''

Get that, Mario?

The Hard Way: LSU and Alabama have played difficult schedules — and taken their lumps doing so.

Although the Crimson Tide went 0-5 in games against marquee opponents, Gottfried isn't second-guessing himself.

"I wish we had played the same schedule and won a few more,'' Gottfried said. "I want to play a national schedule and get exposure.

"We're not going to pout about it.''

LSU got a nice win at West Virginia, but lost at Ohio State, to Cincinnati (in Las Vegas) and at home to Houston and a veteran Northern Iowa team. The four losses were by a combined 10 points.

"If this doesn't make us better for the SEC,'' said coach John Brady, "I'll go back to playing teams we've never heard of.''

Freshman Blues: Auburn and Mississippi State are inundated with freshmen.

Auburn has five in its eight-man rotation. State has been starting three freshman guards since Jamall Edmondson's injury.

"I've got more new guys and freshmen than a first-year college English class,'' said Auburn's Lebo.

"It's like starting freshmen at tackle and quarterback. It's not a lot of fun, and I don't recommend it to anybody.''

Said Stansbury, "It's helped me that I have children at home.

"It's a learning experience for us. Not every game but every possession.''

Bracketology: Joe Lunardi's popular Bracketology feature on ESPN.com has five SEC teams projected in the field of 64: Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, LSU and, surprise, Tennessee.