Sports: Peck looks for upsets at SEC tournament

Peck looks for upsets at SEC tournament

By JILL MARTIN, TIMES WIRES

GAINESVILLE -- Carolyn Peck escaped the worst seed of the SEC tournament by a coin toss.

The women's basketball team earned the No. 11 seed after Tammy Wilson, the SEC associate director of media relations, flipped a coin Sunday.

The first tiebreaker between teams is head-to-head games. Next is winning percentage vs. the No. 1 seed, then No. 2 seed, etc..

Florida (9-18, 1-13) finished tied with Mississippi and split the season series. It faces No. 15 and sixth-seeded Vanderbilt (19-8, 9-5) at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in North Little Rock, Ark.

The Commodores, who tied for fifth, beat Florida 64-58 on Feb. 23.

"In tournament time, anything can happen," forward Brittany Davis said. "Each game is a little different, and we can definitely go in there and win some games."

Though the Gators lost their first eight SEC games by an average of 30.9 points, they have been competitive lately, beating Mississippi and losing their past five by an average of 6.4 points.

"I think we're a team that a lot of people are not looking forward to playing because we have been inconsistent. And when we're good, we're pretty dang good," Peck said. "It makes me nervous, and I happen to be coaching that team that has nothing to lose and everything to gain."

The winner plays No. 3 seed Georgia at 9:30 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals. SOLD: He hasn't practiced yet, but Tampa native Andre Caldwell already has hit the big time.

Less than a month after Caldwell, the younger brother of former Gators receiver Reche Caldwell, signed, a poster autographed by the Jefferson receiver was sold on eBay for $24.99. One bid was placed. The seller was in Tampa, according to the Web site.

Assistant AD Jamie McKloskeysaid he wasn't aware of the sale but it wouldn't be the first issue Florida has had with fans selling autographed memorabilia.

"If a person shows up at fan day and asks an athlete to autograph an item, we'd ask them not to sell that item," McKloskey said.

NCAA rules state if an athlete uses his or her skills directly or indirectly for pay, the athlete loses his or her eligibility.

The poster depicted several football players and an overhead view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Other Florida athletes autographs sold on eBay during the past few days include photos of freshman forward Matt Walsh, backup center Bonell Colas, guard Justin Hamilton and a poster signed by Peck and the women's basketball players.

LINEMAN IN ACCIDENT: Max Starks was in a one-car crash Tuesday morning. Starks, who started every game last season at left tackle, was taken to Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and released Tuesday after getting stitches on his forehead.

Starks, who was driving by himself, was on rain-soaked Stadium Road when his car skidded, according to a University Police Department release.

The release said the car skidded over the sidewalk, shrubs and palm trees. He hit a brick wall of the student dining center. The UPD fined Starks for not wearing his seat belt and a violation of special hazards.

DISCIPLINED: Football coach Ron Zook ordered receiver Reggie Lewis to take anger management classes. Lewis, a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, shoved Jacksonville Wolfson basketball coach Bruce Rosebrock after Wolfson beat Jacksonville Englewood in a playoff game.

Rosebrock did not file charges, saying he preferred Lewis get help. Lewis must complete the classes by the end of the semester.