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Good morning.
Vanderbilt freshman Mason Hickman has been named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after pitching a (seven-inning) complete game shutout in the series finale against LSU on Sunday. Baseball returns to action tonight against Lipscomb at First Tennessee Park; first pitch is at 6:30 PM CT. This one won’t be televised, so you’re stuck with Joe Fisher for this one.
And, uh, that’s it for today’s Vanderbilt news. So here, watch Romeo Langford dunk and be happy. The McDonald’s All-American Game is tomorrow.
Romeo Langford with a HUGE dunk early in this contest! @NewAlbanyHoops pic.twitter.com/OFjehZll2a
— Champions Network (@IHSAAtv) March 3, 2018
Off the West End
Luuuuuuuuuuuuke Watch: 8 points and 5 boards in 27 minutes in a Knicks loss.
It’s rare to see a coach get fired and the interwebs so universally yell “What the hell are they doing?!” And yet, that was the reaction to UT-Arlington firing longtime head basketball coach Scott Cross.
The money quote:
Just to clear up any speculation with @UTA_MBB firing men's basketball coach Scott Cross today. A source said it has nothing to do with any problems within the program. It's about AD Jim Baker wanting to hire his own guy to run the program. Baker didn't originally hire Cross.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) March 26, 2018
So, yeah. Of course, search firms will love the fact that the athletic director is making a completely unnecessary move. Coming soon to a Power 5 athletic department near you.
Surprising exactly no one: Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. is going to the NBA. Surprising a few people: Arkansas’s Daniel Gafford is returning to school.
Well, this isn’t good. But at least it’s Derrick Mason and not Derek Mason.