Before you ask: Basketball was called "the cage game" years ago and basketball players were called "cagers." This is how sports writers referred to basketball a few generations back — as recently as the late 1980s in my hometown newspaper, the Tulsa World — and I'm bringing it back. Sort of. Just for this particular segment. Thank you for your understanding.

THE SCHEDULE:

(Auburn opens its conference season Wednesday at Ole Miss)

Alabama 77, Kentucky 75 in Tuscaloosa

Tennessee 96, Georgia 50 in Knoxville

Arkansas 73, Texas A&M 71 in College Station

South Carolina 71, Florida 69 in Gainesville

Ole Miss 81, Vanderbilt 71 in Nashville

Idle: Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri

NOTABLES:

• Alabama shot 10-of-23 from long range against Kentucky; G/F Tevin Mack goes for 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting (6-of-8 from long range). Alabama came into the game having lost eight in a row to Kentucky.

• Georgia somehow finished 1-of-20 from long range while Tennessee shot 34-of-64 from the floor. The Vols also were 22-of-26 from the free-throw line. Only one Georgia player (F Derek Ogbeide, 17 points) finished with more than six points. Tennessee finished with 25 assists. Tennessee was +15 on rebounding. Tennessee has won 17 in a row at home.

• Arkansas led by seven points with one minute remaining and needed late free throws from guard Isaiah Joe to clinch the victory in College Station. A&M, not known for its long-range shooting, went 5-of-24 from three. Arkansas, not known for its free-throw shooting, was 11-of-22 from the line. PG Jalen Harris led the way for Arkansas with 15 points and nine assists to go with zero turnovers.

• South Carolina trailed by 14 during the second half at Florida, but F Chris Silva scored all of his 18 points after halftime to lead the Gamecocks to a surprising victory. He almost had a walk-off jam, too:

• Ole Miss trailed at Vanderbilt with nine minutes remaining, but the Rebels went on an 11-1 run to create some separation. G Breein Tyree led the Rebels with 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting. The Rebels went 19-of-22 at the line; Vandy was 17-of-29.

STANDINGS

Tennessee 1-0
Alabama 1-0
Arkansas 1-0
South Carolina 1-0
Ole Miss 1-0
Kentucky 0-1
Vanderbilt 0-1
Georgia 0-1
Texas A&M 0-1
Florida 0-1
Auburn 0-0
LSU 0-0
Mississippi State 0-0
Missouri 0-0

GAME DAY 2 SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, Jan. 8

Tennessee @ Missouri on ESPN2, 7 p.m.

Texas A&M @ Kentucky on SEC Network, 7 p.m.

Alabama @ LSU on SEC Network, 9 p.m.

Mississippi State @ South Carolina on ESPNU, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 9

Vanderbilt @ Georgia on SEC Network, 5:30 p.m.

Auburn @ Ole Miss on ESPN2, 6 p.m.

Florida @ Arkansas on SEC Network, 7:30 p.m.