Normally a hotbed for hockey and concerts, the St. Pete Times Forum is undergoing a transformation that will be all about basketball. The 12 men's Southeastern Conference college basketball teams and their fans have started arriving for the SEC tournament, which will begin on Thursday at the facility. Today's practices are closed to the public. Ticket books for all sessions are $300 and available at www.secsports.com. Single-session tickets are $50 each (plus any applicable fees) and can be purchased at the box office or any Ticketmaster outlet by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by logging on to www.secsports.com. Four games will be played Thursday, beginning with Kentucky-Mississippi at 1 p.m. and concluding with Florida-Arkansas at 9:45 p.m. ...more

March 11, 2009

The five young men gathered on the University of Florida's practice court one day last month. On the wall above them hung four hunks of hardwood, each bearing the logo of a Final Four. Florida's freshmen crammed their lanky bodies together and stared into a photographer's lens. Then, forward Chandler Parsons spoke. ...more

November 6, 2007

For men's and women's college basketball teams, the journey begins this weekend. Some programs will stage the traditional 'Midnight Madness' showcases tonight. Others will open with lower-profile practice sessions on Saturday. ...more

October 12, 2007