Mike Strange

The motivational ducks — or Gamecocks if you will — were lined up in a row for Kenny Hall on Wednesday night.

All games count the same in the win/loss column. And, of course, you take 'em one at a time.

I pity the teams who have to prepare a scouting report on Tennessee. There's invariably a lot of wasted time.

Not that Dick Vitale noticed, but Jarnell Stokes and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a couple of talented freshmen, went at it Saturday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

With national signing day and the Super Bowl in the same week, it would be convenient to track how one leads to the other.

From the Darkest Just Before The Dawn Department, this optimistic bulletin:

LEXINGTON, KY. — If Renaldo Woolridge had not scored a point Tuesday night, it would not have seemed remarkable. No message boards would have lit up in shock or suspicion.

Dane Bradshaw still remembers the remarkable feeling from that night six years ago. Watching Kentucky fans exiting Rupp Arena, knowing the game was over, even though the clock hadn't hit zero.

The five fresh stitches in his eyebrow were an emblem of what kind of week it's been for Trae Golden.

Roughly a year has passed since the last time Tennessee played Auburn in basketball. You'll need a new scorecard to keep up with the changes, on and off the court.

The question came from the audience Wednesday when Cuonzo Martin had the unfortunate timing to make his scheduled appearance at the Big Orange Tipoff Club.

NASHVILLE — Progress rarely runs in a straight line. Still, that was quite a zigzag Tennessee made Tuesday night.

As college basketball adversaries go, Tennessee and Vanderbilt have stood the test of time. All the ingredients for a heated rivalry are present.

It's a good thing Jarnell Stokes didn't win his appeal with the TSSAA.

If the locker room walls could talk. For the third consecutive Saturday, an elite college basketball visitor graces Thompson-Boling Arena.