Anchor Drop, May 24, 2021: Previewin’ Hooverville

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

247 Sports has a game-by-game prediction of this week’s SEC Tournament, which opens tomorrow in Hoover, Alabama, commonly referred to as “Hooverville” in these parts. Where Vanderbilt is concerned, the prediction is for the Commodores to drop their opening game on Wednesday night (to Ole Miss) before rallying back to make the semifinals from the loser’s bracket, where they lose to Arkansas.

I can’t say I really disagree with this assessment. If Vanderbilt isn’t going to start Kumar Rocker or Jack Leiter in the opener on Wednesday, it’s going to be difficult for them to beat Ole Miss — but then it could happen. Winning the SEC Tournament is always fun, but I can’t say I would argue with Tim Corbin if his bigger concern is setting up the rotation for next weekend’s regionals, when, obviously, Rocker and Leiter will start the first two games of the regional.

In terms of the overall assessment, uh, sure, Florida’s gonna win this thing.

Rocker and Leiter, along with freshman Enrique Bradfield Jr., were named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

Vanderbilt’s Celina Sattelkau advanced to the final round of the NCAA Championship with a 3-over-par performance on Sunday, putting her in a tie for 23rd and among the top 10 players not associated with one of the teams involved in the team competition. Christina Rosca won her first-round match in the NCAA singles championship; she’ll face Miami’s Isabella Pfenning today.

Scoreboard

MLB: Nationals 6, Orioles 5 ... Phillies 6, Red Sox 2 ... Yankees 5, White Sox 4 ... Rays 6, Blue Jays 4 ... Brewers 9, Reds 4 ... Twins 8, Cleveland 5 ... Marlins 5, Mets 1 ... Braves 7, Pirates 1 ... Royals 3, Tigers 2 ... Rangers 3, Astros 2 ... Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 3 ... Dodgers 11, Giants 5 ... Angels 6, A’s 5 ... Padres 9, Mariners 2 ... Cubs 2, Cardinals 1.

NBA: 76ers 125, Wizards 118 ... Suns 99, Lakers 90 ... Hawks 107, Knicks 105 ... Grizzlies 112, Jazz 109.

NHL: Predators 4, Hurricanes 3 ... Avalanche 5, Blues 2 ... Bruins 3, Capitals 1 ... Jets 5, Oilers 4.

PGA Tour: Phil Mickelson became the oldest major champion in history, winning the PGA Championship by two strokes over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen.

Sports on TV

All times Central.

• 12:07 PM: MLB: Rays at Blue Jays (MLB.tv free game)
• 5:40 PM: MLB: Phillies at Marlins (ESPN+)
• 6:00 PM: NHL: Islanders at Penguins (NBC Sports)
• 6:00 PM: NHL: Maple Leafs at Canadiens (NHL Network)
• 6:30 PM: NBA: Heat at Bucks (TNT)
• 7:00 PM: NHL: Lightning at Panthers (CNBC)
• 7:00 PM: MLB: Cardinals at White Sox (ESPN)
• 8:45 PM: NHL: Oilers at Jets (NBC Sports)
• 9:00 PM: NBA: Trail Blazers at Nuggets (TNT)
• 9:30 PM: NHL: Wild at Golden Knights (CNBC)