Just don't say 'I'm not going to be the Alabama coach.' Non-denial denials from Southern Cal head coach Tim Floyd and Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith about Alabama's vacant basketball job. Smith was among three candidates out of the NCAA Tournament after the first round.

Meanwhile, maybe Billy Gillispie would be interested in the post. Things are getting even warmer in Lexington, and C&F isn't just talking about the weather.

Tournament results, schedules.

NCAA Tournament: LSU defeated Butler, 75-71, to move on, but And the Valley Shook calls for caution. Mississippi State has no reason for optimism after a 71-58 loss to Washington.

Tennessee's first round game tips today at 12:25 p.m. ET on CBS. LSU faces No. 1 seed North Carolina Saturday at 5:45 p.m. ET, also on the Eye.

NIT: Florida squares off with Miami tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Auburn meets Tulsa at 8 p.m. ET, apparently sans televison cameras.

Save the Cotton Bowl, yes. With a playoff, no. Jonathan Tu, subbing for Doc Saturday, asks that a once-great bowl be given a presidential shot in the arm. This has been a cause dear to C&F's heart for a while now. But could we do it without destroying the regular season?

Al Davis, Boy Wonder accidentally meet. Both were scheduled to give depositions around the same time. Sorry to disappoint you, but apparently no blows were exchanged.

Barnhart's bold prediction for 2009. "Mississippi State's offense will be better." Could it possibly be worse?

Don't drive drunk. You would think no one would have to say that anymore, but maybe we still do. Disclaimer: Still only unconfirmed reports of what would be allegations. But if true, unbelievably sad.

Wetherell apologizes to Samford. There's no indication that he apologized for openly if hypothetically discussing what would amount to conspiracy to commit fraud and sabotage Florida's national championship chances, though, in fairness, most boosters probably have his back on that one.

And while we're on the topic of Florida State, Bobby Bowden thinks the NCAA is just being mean, dadgummit!

You can go five miles over the speed limit. That's one thing. Or you can go 50 miles over the speed limit, and that's dangerous. ... It just seems like they're killing a flea with a hammer.

Um, Bobby -- several staff members and athletes committed major academic fraud. That's not going 50 miles over the speed limit, that's flooring it and not caring what the speed limit is.

C&F isn't the first to say this, but vacating the wins wouldn't even be open to debate if Bowden weren't in the running for winningest coach in Division I history. As hard as it might be to accept, this is the coaching equivalent of using steroids. Does Bowden really want the record if it comes with an asterisk?

No pets at Arkansas practice. Why? Heck if I know. All the other restrictions sounds reasonable. Maybe the Gypsy Coach of the South is just worried that Jake might show up.

At least he's not Andre Smith. But when you're Knowshon Moreno, that's not exactly what you want to be said about your pro day 40 time.