Comes to Tigers after four years in NFL: Thomas McGaughey has been named LSU’s special teams coordinator. He comes to the Tigers after spending the past four years as assistant special teams coordinator with the New York Giants. During that time, McGaughey earned a Super Bowl ring for coaching the Giants. During his career, McGaughey has coached for eight years in the NFL and for two years at the collegiate level at his alma mater, the University of Houston.
Dawgs moving on: One day after proclaiming himself “more healthy than I’ve ever been,” Trey Thompkins scored 22 points to lead Georgia past Auburn 69-51 today in the opening game of the Southeastern Conference tournament. Georgia (21-10) has a chance to again bolster its NCAA tournament hopes when it faces Alabama, the Western Division’s No. 1 seed, in Friday’s SEC quarterfinals. Thompkins, a 6-foot-10 junior, is ranked among the SEC leaders with his averages of 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds despite battling ankle, shin and toe injuries. He said Wednesday he is “100%, ready to go” for the postseason. He added 10 rebounds to help support his claim. LSU closes out the first day of SEC tournament play when the Tigers take on Vanderbilt at 9 p.m.
School looking into CBSSportline report: Arkansas is reviewing a report suggesting coach John Pelphrey had contact with a pair of 2012 recruits in violation of NCAA rules. The report from CBSSportsline.com includes a picture of Pelphrey with Sylvan Hills (Ark.) High standout Archie Goodwin and teammate Trey Smith at a high school tournament in December. NCAA rules say coaches cannot have off-campus contact with a prospect until the July 1 following the prospect’s junior year in high school. Goodwin and Smith are still juniors and will lead Sylvan Hills into the Arkansas Class 5A state championship game on Friday. University spokesman Kevin Trainor says the school was first made aware of the potential violation today. Pelphrey has a 69-58 record in four years at Arkansas and hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament since his first season, 2007-08. The Razorbacks (18-12) were set to play Tennessee tonight in the opening round of the SEC tournament in Atlanta.
Hornets star still not cleared to play: Chris Paul is practicing again for the first time since he was diagnosed with a mild concussion Sunday night. The New Orleans Hornets All-Star guard participated fully in today’s practice, which consisted only of non-contact drills and shooting. As practice wrapped up, Paul spent extra time shooting free throws and 3-pointers and even made a trick shot from behind the backboard. Hornets coach Monty Williams says Paul has not yet been cleared to play in games, but that could change on Friday when Paul is scheduled for his next neurological exam. Paul has missed two games since his hard collision with Cleveland’s Ramon Sessions Sunday night. The Hornets’ next game is at home Saturday against Sacramento.
