Anchor Drop, February 25, 2023: Tim Corbin is the Illuminati

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

We’ll get to the Vanderbilt news in a minute. But first, let’s check in on the school to the east, because your day needed some hilarity in it.

That’s right: Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello is suspended for this weekend’s series against Dayton. But why? Well, they didn’t come out and say it, but it’s probably this:

Tennessee? Cheating???

(pretends to be shocked)

Okay, now that our shock is over... yeah, sure seems they’ve been playing fast and loose with the transfer portal over in Knoxville. And that probably isn’t just limited to baseball, either, but that’s what’s currently under investigation. But why would the NCAA be coming to Knoxville? Well, Vol Twitter has a theory.

Ohhhh yeah, that’s the stuff.

You know, I really have no idea why Tim Corbin would be your prime suspect. Corbin doesn’t really play the portal game, so it’s unlikely that he would have direct knowledge of any tampering that Tennessee did with a Kansas baseball player. It would still be funny if Corbin was the one who reported them to the NCAA, because, well, if he did have knowledge of a violation, why shouldn’t he report it? The fact that this is even being investigated suggests that Tennessee was extremely sloppy at this; the reality of tampering allegations is that what the NCAA considers tampering basically means that a coach was stupid enough not to use a go-between like an AAU or travel ball coach to indirectly contact the player. It’s how the game is played these days, and it sucks, but at least the NCAA is going to make a show of enforcing the rules.

Of course, this being 2023, Tennessee will probably get a slap on the wrist and Maui Ahuna will be playing for them by the time SEC play starts. It’s still funny that Tennessee is in trouble with the NCAA, and the thing they’re mad about isn’t that they’re cheating, it’s that somebody told the NCAA about it. Because Tennessee, as always, lives by the code of “snitches get stitches.”

Just... don’t ever bring up Alabama and Albert Means.

Okay! On to Vanderbilt news. Baseball took the series opener 6-0 over UCLA, with Carter Holton and Bryce Cunningham combining on the shutout. First pitch of Game 2 will be today at 1:00 PM CT on the SEC Network+.

And next door at Memorial, the men’s basketball team plays Florida at 5:00 PM CT on ESPN2. That means no dueling game threads today.

Bowling opened the Stallings Shine-O Ball-O Invitational (okay, okay, I added the Shine-O Ball-O part) with a 5-0 day on Friday. Action will pick up again today at 8:30 AM CT; you can stream it on the Vanderbilt Athletics YouTube page.

And finally, the SEC basketball ranks will have at least one coaching change this season.

Bad Gambling Advice

Season to date: 127-128-5 ATS, 121-137-1 totals

• Missouri at Georgia (12:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Georgia +3.5, Over 152
• Arkansas at Alabama (1:00 PM CT, ESPN2): Arkansas +8.5, Under 152
• Texas A&M at Mississippi State (2:30 PM CT, SEC Network): Texas A&M +1, Under 125.5
• Auburn at Kentucky (3:00 PM CT, CBS): Kentucky -4, Under 142.5
• South Carolina at Tennessee (5:00 PM CT, SEC Network): South Carolina +21.5, Under 129.5
• Florida at Vanderbilt (5:00 PM CT, ESPN2); Vanderbilt -3.5, Over 147
• LSU at Ole Miss (7:30 PM CT, SEC Network): Ole Miss -4.5, Over 135.5

Sports on TV

All times Central. College basketball schedule here. SEC baseball schedule here.

• 12:00 PM: PGA Tour: The Honda Classic, Third Round (Golf Channel)
• 12:00 PM: NHL: Rangers at Capitals (ABC)
• 2:00 PM: PGA Tour: The Honda Classic, Third Round (NBC)
• 2:30 PM: NHL: Penguins at Blues (ABC)
• 6:00 PM: NHL: Senators at Canadiens (NHL Network)
• 7:30 PM: NBA: Celtics at 76ers (ABC)

Scoreboard

SEC Baseball: Arkansas 13, Eastern Illinois 2 ... LSU 7, Kansas State 3 ... Alabama 9, High Point 4 ... Kentucky 8, Wright State 3 ... South Carolina 7, Penn 4 ... Tennessee 12, Dayton 2 ... Arizona State 13, Mississippi State 4 ... Missouri 5, FIU 2 ... Florida 13, Cincinnati 6 ... Auburn 5, USC 3 ... Maryland 9, Ole Miss 2 ... Portland 10, Texas A&M 3.

NBA: Knicks 115, Wizards 109 ... Hawks 136, Cavaliers 119 ... Bucks 128, Heat 99 ... Hornets 121, Timberwolves 113 ... Bulls 131, Nets 87 ... Suns 124, Thunder 115 ... Warriors 116, Rockets 101 ... Kings 176, Clippers 175.

NHL: Hurricanes 4, Senators 0 ... Sabres 3, Panthers 1 ... Canadiens 5, Flyers 2 ... Maple Leafs 2, Wild 1 ... Kings 3, Islanders 2 ... Avalanche 5, Jets 1.