Saturday SEC Basketball
1. Arizona 65 – Florida 64. Gators give it away late – drop first game of the year. Arizona scored final seven points of game. Video highlights.

2. Auburn 64 – Furman 50. 17 points and career-high six rebounds for Chris Denson.

3. Arkansas 97 – Alcorn State 59. Fourteen Razorbacks played – 13 of them scored.

4. Vanderbilt 71 – Alabama A&M 46. Commodores win back-to-back games for the first time this year. Video highlights.

5. Loyola 59, Mississippi State 51. Bulldogs drop to 3-6 – shoot 37.5% from the field. Players from 1963 game on both sides honored at halftime.

6. Iona 81 – Georgia 78. Bulldogs now 2-7 – worst start since 1970-1971 season started 1-8.

7. VCU 73 – Alabama 54.  Third straight loss for Crimson Tide -didn’t make a field goal in the first 10 minutes.

8. Oklahoma 64 – Texas A&M 54. Scoring off the bench – 33 points for Oklahoma, 13 for Texas A&M.

9. Kentucky 88 – Lipscomb 50. First double-double of Kyle Wiltjer’s career – 23 points and 12 rebounds. Video highlights.

Saturday SEC Basketball
Kentucky 88 – Lipscomb 50
Oklahoma 64 – Texas A&M 54
VCU 73 – Alabama 54
Iona 81 – Georgia 78
Loyola 59, Mississippi State 51
Vanderbilt 71 – Alabama A&M 46
Arkansas 97 – Alcorn State 59
Auburn 64 – Furman 50
Arizona 65 – Florida 64
New Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash reportedly has interest in staying at Wisconsin as head coach
Vanderbilt has sold more than 17,000 tickets for the Music City Bowl
Florida has sold just 6,500 tickets for the Sugar Bowl
The non-football members of the Big East are officially leaving the conference, creating more uncertainty around possible expansion and realignment of major conferences, including SEC
Follow the SEC every single day at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Last week, basketballer Rotnei Clarke decided to get word to the press that he’d asked for a release from his Arkansas scholarship.  Over the weekend, new coach Mike Anderson considered the situation.  Yesterday, the Razorbacks’ leading scorer from a year ago was given his release.

“Upon receiving a written request and meeting with (Clarke), as part of our review process, it is clear to me that it is in the best interests of everyone for Rotnei to continue his academic and athletic career elsewhere,” AD Jeff Long said via statement yesterday.  “We wish him well and hope that he finds what he is searching for at a new institution.”

Anderson also released comments yesterday: “Shortly after I arrived, I met with him and was given every indication that he wanted to be a part of our program moving forward.  Recently, Rotnei informed me of his intent to leave the University of Arkansas.  At that time, I informed him that he would need to speak with the athletic director regarding his request.  I then recommended to Jeff Long that we grant him a release to allow him to speak to other schools.”

“We will continue to build our program with student-athletes who are committed on and off the court to being Razorbacks,” Anderson continued.  “That is how this program was built, with guys who are dedicated to the hard work, pride and passion it requires to be a part of the championship tradition of Razorback Basketball.”

Last week, Clarke told CBSSports.com: “I love the school and the fans, but I just don’t feel as though it’s the best fit for me basketball-wise.”  He also said, “I have spent the last couple of months getting to know Coach Anderson, his staff and his system.  And I still feel as though it’s best for me to finish my career somewhere else.”

Clarke averaged 14.2 points per game over his 92-game UA career.  He holds the school record for most points in a game with 51 versus Alcorn State in 2009-10.  He was one of the deadliest three-point gunners in the SEC.

Without Clarke — and Glenn Bryant and Jeff Peterson who also transferred out — the Hogs will have just six returning scholarship players next season.  Four of Arkansas’ five spring signees, however, are expected to be academically eligible.

It’s one thing to have 10 scholarship players.  It’s another thing to have 10 scholarship players when trying to run up and down the court with a “40 minutes of Hell” style of play.  

Making matters worse, the departures of Clarke and Bryant will be another hit on UA’s APR score.  The Hogs are already being docked one scholarship due to a history of low scores.  (Peterson had already graduated, so his departure will not count against the program.)

As for Clarke, he’ll have to sit out a year before playing his final season of college ball at his new school.

On June 1st, folks in the Ozarks were wondering if Mike Anderson was going to have too many players and not enough scholarships on his first Arkansas basketball team.

Things have changed.

Glenn Bryant (who’s transferring to Eastern Michigan) and Jeff Peterson have left the program in the last two weeks.  The eligibility of incoming Top 100 recruit Aaron Ross is now in question.  And the Hogs leading scorer from a year ago might be on his way out, too.

According to Shawn Arnell of The Arkansas Radio Network, long-distance gunner Rotnei Clarke has asked for his release from Arkansas.  Yesterday, UA officials refused to comment on the report.  But on Wednesday, Clarke’s father had asked “not really” when asked by the media if his son was planning to transfer.

However, Clarke has asked for a release previously.  He did so when John Pelphrey was fired, before Anderson was hired.

Clarke has started 91 of his 92 games in Fayetteville, averaged 15.2 points per game last year and holds the school record with 51 points in a 2009-10 game against Alcorn State.

Clearly, Clarke is one of the best shooters in the Southeastern Conference and he’s also the kind of player others rally around.  Losing Clarke would be a gut shot to Anderson’s first Razorback squad.

Stay tuned…