Stoops Finds New Home in Austin
Just months after his departure from the Kentucky Wildcats, former head coach Mark Stoops has landed a new role within the Southeastern Conference. Stoops is joining the Texas Longhorns as a special assistant to the head coach, a move confirmed on Monday. This hiring places the winningest coach in Kentucky's history on the staff of a conference opponent, adding a new layer of intrigue to future matchups.
Stoops concluded a 13-year tenure in Lexington, where he compiled a 72-80 record and led the Wildcats to eight consecutive bowl appearances from 2016-23. His time was highlighted by a 10-win season in 2018 that saw Kentucky finish ranked No. 12 in the nation. The move to Austin reunites him in the same conference as the team that ironically sealed his fate; a dramatic 16-13 overtime loss to the Texas Longhorns last season contributed to Kentucky's 5-7 finish, one win short of bowl eligibility.
At Texas, Stoops will serve in an advisory role, similar to positions previously held by other former head coaches. This type of role is often seen as a way for experienced coaches to remain involved at a high level while awaiting their next head coaching opportunity.
Quick Hits
- Florida Gators Clinch SEC Basketball Title: With a blistering 111-77 victory over Arkansas, the Florida Gators have clinched at least a share of the SEC regular-season basketball championship. The win, their first regular-season conference title since 2014, also secured the #1 seed for the upcoming SEC Tournament. The Gators have been on a tear, recovering from a 5-4 start to go 18-2 since.
- Alabama Baseball Wins Frisco Classic Despite Final Loss: The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team was crowned champions of the Frisco Classic over the weekend. Despite dropping the final game to Houston 8-2, the Tide's earlier victories against Iowa (12-2) and Oregon State (8-7) were enough to secure the title via tiebreaker. Infielder Justin Lebron was named the tournament's MVP for his stellar performance, which included going 6-for-13 with two home runs and seven RBI.
- Kentucky Hoops Preps for Crucial Road Test: Coming off a convincing 91-77 victory against Vanderbilt, the Kentucky Wildcats are now preparing for a significant road game against the Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday. A victory for the Wildcats would mark their 20th of the season as they look to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume heading into the final week of the regular season.
- Vols Golf Competes in Cabo: The No. 18/20 ranked Tennessee Volunteers men's golf team is currently competing at the Cabo Collegiate at Twin Dolphin Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico. The tournament is the team's second event of the spring season.
Portal Watch
Activity in the SEC transfer portal has been quiet over the last 12 hours, with no new entries or commitments to report from across the conference.
Recruiting Buzz
There have been no new football or basketball commitments announced for any SEC programs today.
Games to Watch
While no SEC games were on the schedule Monday, the action heats up Tuesday night with a critical matchup in Bryan-College Station. The Texas A&M Aggies will host the Kentucky Wildcats at 6 p.m. in a game with significant implications for SEC Tournament seeding and NCAA Tournament bubble hopes for the Aggies.