SB Nation - Zaire Taylor

Study Hall: Mizzou-Truman State

Bill C. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:35 -0000

Why tweak a format that worked so well last year, right? While Statsheet.com doesn't track exhibition games, I still do, meaning you get the data tables without the pretty Statsheet graphs. Regardless, here's a statistical look back at the laughingest of exhibition laughers.

Mizzou 96, Truman State 33

	Truman	Mizzou
Points Per Minute	0.83	2.40
Points Per Possession (PPP)	0.46	1.33
Points Per Shot (PPS)	0.79	1.32
2-PT FG%	29.2%	57.9%
3-PT FG%	16.7%	18.8%
FT%	55.6%	72.4%
True Shooting %	33.1%	56.0%

	Truman	Mizzou
Assists	5	14
Steals	6	20
Turnovers	29	12
Ball Control Index (BCI) (Assists + Steals) / TO	0.38	2.83

	Truman	Mizzou
Expected Offensive Rebounds	13	14
Offensive Rebounds	8	24
Difference	-5	+10

Damn...hold them to one less point, and we perfectly triple their score. Inexcusable.
Obviously we're not going to try to glean too much from any of this, but there's statistical domination, and there's statistical domination. I mentioned last week that Mizzou is as safe as anybody when it comes to avoiding slip-ups in these types of games, simply because when the athletic advantage is this significant, an opponent will have to shoot about 85% from the field to have a shot. And if Truman had indeed shot 85% from the field, they'd have ended up with around 26 more made field goals and 52-62 points...and they'd have still lost.
Didn't you miss having BCI in your life? I know I did.
Nice walk-up crowd, by the way. There's nothing truly amazing about attendance of 8,120, but considering we drew 4,300 for the first exhibition last year, I think that number's pretty outstanding.

If you're looking for red flags, here's what I've got to offer:

Missouri was 3-for-16 from 3-point range. A lot of the misses were open looks from people we know to be good shooters. Kimmeh and Justin Safford combined to go 1-for-5 from downtown, for instance. If there's a worry at all, it's that Miguel Paul and Michael Dixon combined to go 0-for-6. With such a small sample size, however, we'll obviously wait and see how the next few games go before we call this an actual worry.
Twelve turnovers is a bit much for an opponent like Truman State, even in a game where the starters averaged only 17.6 minutes. Kimmeh led the way with three, while Dixon and Laurence Bowers had two each, but ten of the turnovers came before halftime, and things got shored up tremendously in the second half. Again, this isn't a concern yet.
I mentioned wanting to see good things from Marcus Denmon, wanting him to prove to me he could be the second good long-range shooter that we needed, and he clearly didn't show that in opportunity #1. As with the others, this isn't a concern yet, just a missed opportunity. He's got plenty more chances to show what he can do. Meanwhile, he played great defense all night, and that's lovely.

That's about all I've got as far as negatives go. Player stats after the jump.

Player Stats

Player	AdjGS*	GmSc/Min	Line
Laurence Bowers	16.11	0.90	18 Min, 14 Pts (6-for-12 FG), 12 Reb (8 Off), 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 2 TO
Keith Ramsey	11.04	0.69	16 Min, 9 Pts (4-for-6), 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl
Zaire Taylor	10.35	0.52	20 Min, 7 Pts (1-for-1), 2 Reb, 3 Stl
J.T. Tiller	9.67	0.60	16 Min, 13 Pts (5-for-6), ridiculously good man-to-man defense
Kim English	9.67	0.48	20 Min, 10 Pts (3-for-8), 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 3 Stl, 3 TO
Tyler Stone	9.18	0.92	10 Min, 7 Pts (3-for-4), 7 Reb (3 Off)
Michael Dixon	7.03	0.41	17 Min, 10 Pts (5-for-9), 3 Reb, 3 Stl, 2 TO
Justin Safford	6.64	0.42	16 Min, 10 Pts (3-for-7), 4 Reb
John Underwood	4.79	0.40	12 Min, 4 Pts (2-for-5), 5 Reb (4 Off)
Steve Moore	3.91	0.30	13 Min, 2 Pts (1-for-2), 6 Reb (4 Off)
Miguel Paul	3.32	0.18	18 Min, 3 Pts (0-for-4), 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl
Jarrett Sutton	2.93	0.42	7 Min, 5 Pts (2-for-4)
Marcus Denmon	0.39	0.02	17 Min, 2 Pts (1-for-5), 2 Reb, 2 Stl

* AdjGS = a take-off of the Game Score metric (definition here) accepted by a lot of basketball stat nerds. It does the same thing my previous measure of choice did (it takes points, assists, rebounds (offensive & defensive), steals, blocks, turnovers and fouls into account to determine an individual's "score" for a given game), only the formula is more used and accepted. The "adjustment" in Adjusted Game Score is simply matching the total game scores to the total points scored in the game, thereby redistributing the game's points scored to those who had the biggest impact on the game itself, instead of just how many balls a player put through a basket.

I had a friend in town from Chicago, and the first thing I told him as we headed to the game was, if Laurence Bowers is really good, we're going to be great this year. Again, it was only Truman State (how many times can one person say that in one post?), but let's just say that his numbers were gaudy enough to excite me. You expect good numbers, but his were great. Eight offensive rebounds, and a nice touch on the 17-footer that Leo and DeMarre patented last year, plus a couple of steals and a couple of blocks? Yes, please.
Compared to my expectations, the person who impressed me most on Friday was Tyler Stone. I mentioned this in yesterday's podcast, but he was a lot bigger than I expected, and he was very smooth around the hoop. I'm not sure his range goes beyond 8 feet yet, but we've got plenty of bigs (Bowers and Safford, to name two) with good range--we need a guy with post moves and strength, and Stone's showing was encouraging. Obviously I'll wait to see him do that against a real opponent before I get too encouraged, but he looked really good.
As I also mentioned in the podcast, I cannot tell you the morbid enjoyment I got out of watching J.T. Tiller guard D2 guards man-to-man. It was almost uncomfortable to watch after a while. Meanwhile, Zaire Taylor and Kim English seemed perfectly content with distributing the ball and getting younger guys some opportunities to make plays. I assume we'll see more shots from both of them when the games get real. It really was fun, though, to watch English looking to get Jarrett Sutton the ball every second that he was on the court.
Get John Underwood a sandwich. Send him to The Diner for three Stretches every morning. Dude needs to gain some weight as soon as humanly possible. He had a really nice block and looked decent around the basket, but he's going to get pushed around this year. Get 20 pounds on him, and he could be a really nice defensive force in future seasons.
Not sure what to think about Steve Moore. He looked neither good nor bad, really.

Keys to the Game Revisited

From Friday's preview.

Show up. Mizzou did indeed show up.
Rebound. A 54-24 rebounding edge, and a +15 margin in expected rebounds. I consider those to be, uhh, pretty good numbers.
Marcus Denmon. Like I said, he didn't show much beyond good defense, but he's got plenty of opportunities to show what he can do.

Summary

Eight! Eight points in the second half! Great defense is fun to watch.

Mizzou Links, 11-6-09

Bill C. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:46:43 -0000

Do be sure to check out the latest step in the Joe Davis Fail Project...I'd say it's funny, but it's every bit as pathetic as funny...

Mizzou-Baylor Links

PowerMizzou: Bears Insider: Five Questions for Saturday
Mizzou Athletics (via Facebook): I thought the Baylor game wasn't on TV?
So FSN will piece together a game’s worth of highlights, cut down to an hour’s length, via the camera angles that are being fed to the instant-replay booth. Audio will be supplied by the Tiger Radio Network, so you hard-cord Tiger fans won’t have to turn down the volume – you’ll have the dulcet tones of Mike, Chris and Coach on your TV.

The Mizzou/Baylor replay of "Big 12 No-Huddle" will show on these FSN affiliates (all times local):

Tuesday, Nov. 10
- FS Southwest (Noon)
- FS Midwest (1 p.m.)
Wednesday, Nov. 11
- FS Midwest (9 p.m.)
Thursday, Nov. 12
- FS Southwest (Noon)
Waco Tribune: Former Marlin star finally shining at Missouri

"He’s an extremely talented guy," Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert said. "Somehow Danario always finds a way to get open. And whenever he’s open I try to get him the ball, because really on any play he can take it to the house."

Like most college coaches, Baylor coach Art Briles took notice of Alexander in the midst of recruiting his more heralded high school teammate at Marlin, quarterback Jeremy Sanders. Yet even somewhat overshadowed, Alexander’s future appeared blindingly bright.

"He’s a big, agile kid that runs a little bit better than you think he does," Briles said. "He’s tough with the football, he’s got great hands and he’s a big target. Whatever he’s doing, it doesn’t surprise me at all."
Waco Tribune: John Werner's College Predictions: Another road loss for Baylor
Waco Tribune: How they match up
Palestra.net: Mizzou Looks to Start November Hot

Mike Anderson: 'I have one of the best backcourts in the country'

Evan Pfaff — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:38:45 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

According to Mizzou coach Mike Anderson, Zaire Taylor makes up half of one of the bestback courts in the nation. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Ryan Fagan of The Sporting News recently interviewed Missouri basketball coach and asked him replacing the departed seniors, Kim English and the underrated Mizzou backcourt.

SN: In the kind of system you run, how important is it to have veteran guards like Tiller and Taylor?
MA: I think it's very important as a starting point. If you're going to start a team, you've got to start with the guard position. J.T., if you look at the guys on the Wooden list at this time, he's one of the few guys on there averaging about 8 or 9 points, and that's talking about the better guards in the country. To me, I think I have one of the best backcourts in the country, especially for what we do.

Read the entire interview.

Poll

Coach Mike Anderson is right in saying that Mizzou has one of the best backcourts in the country.

BtB 2009-10 Big 12 Preview

Chris Dobbertean — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:10:30 -0000

With six NCAA entrants, all of whom won at least a game in the Tournament, with two reaching the Elite Eight, the Big 12 had a pretty good 2008-09 season.

Thanks to some returning star power and some high-profile recruits, 2009-10 could be a banner year for the conference.

Sure the Griffin brothers left Oklahoma, but Willie Warren is ready to turn into a star. Chinemelu Elonu may have shocked everyone by going to the NBA, but Bryan Davis could be a more than capable replacement at Texas A&M. Their archrivals, Texas, lost J.J. Abrams, but Damion James is back, and he'll be joined by McDonald's All-American Avery Bradley and the highly-touted Jordan Hamilton.

And then there's Kansas, where Cole Alrdich and Sherron Collins decided to return, the Henry brothers are now on board, and a star recruit named Elijah Johnson may struggle to see the floor.

But that's just the start of what should be a very exciting year in the Big 12. This year's league should be similar to the Big Ten in that while the bottom teams--three in the case of the XII--don't stand much of a chance at all, the remainder of the squads all have somewhat legitimate NCAA hopes. More on each team's specific chances after the jump.

Let's first take a look at the 2008-09 Big 12 standings.

Big Twelve Conference Standings

(updated 4.2.2009 at 10:13 PM EDT)

	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
Kansas Jayhawks	14	2	27	8
Oklahoma Sooners	13	3	30	6
Missouri Tigers	12	4	31	7
Texas A&M Aggies	9	7	24	10
Texas Longhorns	9	7	23	12
Oklahoma St. Cowboys	9	7	23	12
Kansas St. Wildcats	9	7	22	12
Nebraska Cornhuskers	8	8	18	13
Baylor Bears	5	11	24	15
Iowa St. Cyclones	4	12	15	17
Texas Tech Red Raiders	3	13	14	19
Colorado Buffaloes	1	15	9	22

Now, here are my picks for 2009-10, presented in reverse order. If a team's name appears in red, click the link to visit the school's SBN site for further analysis throughout the season. You can also visit Big 12 Hoops for more info and analysis.

Colorado (last NCAA: 2003) During the offseason, Jeff Bzdelik talked to the Minnesota Timberwolves about a coaching role but ultimately remained in Boulder, where he's won less than one-third of the games he's coached. This year may not be much better. The backcourt will be the Buffaloes strength, as Cory Higgins averaged over 17 points and nearly 3 assists a game, Dwight Thorne III was the team's only other player to average in double-digits (12 ppg), and Australian point guard Nate Tomlinson had a solid freshman campaign (7.4 ppg, 3 apg). The returning frontcourt players don't offer much in terms of anything, as last year's Big 12 rebounding and defensive statistics will tell you, but another Aussie, 6-11 C Shane Harris-Tunks, and 6-7 JC transfer Marcus Relphorde may be the prescription for those woes. The Buffs travel to Maui this year, where they seem destined for the consolation bracket, as they open with Gonzaga.

Nebraska (last NCAA: 1998) The Huskers had a respectable season last time around, finishing at .500 in the Big 12 and earning an NIT invitation. Neither of those results is likely for Doc Sadler's club this year, as he lost four key players from that team, including leading scorers Ade Dagunduro (12.8 ppg) and Steve Harley (10.8 ppg). Point guard Cookie Miller (7.3 ppg, 3.6 apg) transferred to Miami (OH), leaving another hole. Guards Sek Henry (8 ppg) and Ryan Anderson (7.1 ppg) lead the returnees, who are joined by a busload of newcomers. The theme of the class is size. 6-11 Puerto Rican C Brian Diaz will play after a redshirt year, and he'll be joined by two German big men, 6-11 Christopher Niemann and 6-8 Christian Standhardinger. Sadler even picked up 6-8 Quincy Hankins-Cole from the JC ranks. He's joined by his Polk State College (FL) teammate, G Lance Jeter, who is expected to bring a new dimension to the backcourt. NU will play Tulsa in the Las Vegas Classic in December, then either Nevada or BYU.

Texas Tech (last NCAA: 2007) The Red Raiders won only 3 Big 12 games last year, and Pat Knight will be counting on five new arrivals, including three JC transfers, to help improve that total. Leading scorer John Roberson is back to lead the offense. Roberson averaged nearly 14 points and more than 6 assists a game last year, so he's a pretty good building block. Senior Nick Okorie averaged 11.3 points a contest, so the starting backcourt is pretty well set. Knight may even go to a three-guard set, as JC transfer David Tairu, a former teammate of Okorie, is expected to boost the Double-T's defense. Frosh Nick Davis could be a bench scoring threat, especially outside, where the graduated Alan Voskuil will be missed. In the frontcourt, Mike Singletary (12.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Trevor Cook (7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), and C Robert Lewandowski (6.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg) are all serviceable players. Two 6-6 JC transfers, Brad Reese and Theron Jenkins, will be expected to contribute immediately; however, as they give Knight some flexibility the current forwards don't offer. The Red Raiders will host the Duel in the Desert, a four-team round-robin tournament, where Oregon State figures to be their main opposition for the crown.

Baylor (last NCAA: 2008) The Bears had high hopes last year, and a 15-3 start, featuring a run to the 76 Classic final seemed to justify them. Then, the wheels came off completely. Baylor then dropped 10 of their next 12, a run that started with a six-game Big 12 losing streak. They nearly stole the league's auto bid, but fell to Missouri in the Big 12 final. Scott Drew's team then built on that momentum and reached the NIT final, which they lost to Penn State. Now Baylor will have to attempt to be more consistent without three of last year's prominent performers. Point guard Curtis Jerrells (16.3 ppg, 4,9 apg), the team's heart and soul is gone. So are F Kevin Rogers (12.76 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and guard Henry Dugat (9.4 ppg). Drew has a strong backcourt, even without Jerrells, as LaceDarius Dunn (15.7 ppg) and Tweety Carter (10.6 ppg) can both score, and Carter can do a decent job running the point (3.2 ppg). Expect freshman A.J. Walton to see some time running the offense as well. The arrival of Mark McLaughlin and Nolan Dennis means the Bears will be set at shooting guard for the next four years. Meanwhile, the frontcourt will be bolstered by 6-10 Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh, who will be supported by returnees Quincy Acy, Josh Lomers, Anthony Jones, and Fred Ellis, none of whom averaged more than 5.4 a contest last year. Baylor plays in another tournament near a Disney park this year, featuring in the Old Spice Classic in Florida, where they'll open with Alabama.

Iowa State (last NCAA: 2005) Greg McDermott hasn't had much luck in his three seasons in Ames, but he must have felt like he found a four-leaf clover and horseshoe while a shooting star flew overhead when Craig Brackins announced he was foregoing NBA millions for at least one more season. Brackins very nearly averaged a double-double last year, scoring more than 20 a game and grabbing nearly 10 boards. While the Cyclones may not have enough besides him to challenge for a conference crown, his return makes them a serious postseason threat. ISU's biggest issue is scoring, as they ranked 10th in the league last year in offensive output, and Brackins was the only player to average in double-figures. Expect the two starting guards, Diante Garrett, who very nearly averaged 10 a game, and Lucca Staiger (8.2 ppg) to step up. 6-11 Canadian Jamie Vanderbeken (5.5 ppg) should also benefit from the attention opposition defenses will pay to Brackins. McDermott also has high hopes for his two JC transfers, 6-9 F LaRon Dendy and 6-6 Marquis Gilstrap. The Cyclones will play in the Chicago Invitational Challenge, facing St. Louis in the semifinal, then either Northwestern or Notre Dame.

Missouri (last NCAA: 2009) Considering that he was losing three starters to graduation, including his two leading scorers and rebounders, you couldn't have really blamed Mike Anderson if he left Columbia after reaching last year's West Regional final. Yet, Anderson spurned the advances of numerous suitors to stay at Mizzou. Now he has to figure out how to get more out of the many returnees on the roster, none of whom matched the contributions of the departed DeMarre Carroll (16.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Les Lyons (14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), or Matt Lawrence (9.2 ppg). The Tigers two leading returning scorers and rebounders are both in the backcourt, J.T. Tiller (8.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Zaire Taylor (6.7 ppg, 3 rpg). Both also averaged more than 3 assists per game, so Anderson can rest assured that his offense will be run well. Missouri's Mr. Basketball from last year, Mike Dixon, Jr., is the point guard of the future. 6-6 Kim English averaged 6.5 points in only about 14 minutes per contest, so his numbers should increase significantly with more action, especially if he continues to shoot well from the perimeter. The frontcourt is a major concern, however, as none of the returnees even cracked 4 ppg or 3 rpg last year. Junior Justin Stafford did average 3.4 points in 9-plus minutes of action, so he could turn into a consistent performer. The fact 6-10 freshman Keith Dewitt couldn't get eligible for this season was a major blow to MU. The Tigers will play in the South Padre Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend, opening with CAA contender Old Dominion, then facing either Mississippi State or Richmond.

Oklahoma State (last NCAA: 2009) I saw the Cowboys drop two of three at the Old Spice Classic last year, and not look terribly good doing it. (They managed to beat Siena in the 7th/8th place game that was delayed by a leaky roof caused by a freak November thunderstorm.) In the end, Travis Ford's squad improved enough to win 9 league games, beat Tennessee in the NCAA tournament, and scare Pittsburgh in round two. This time around, Ford will have to run his four-guard offense without two key cogs, as point guard Byron Eaton (14.3 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 2.2 spg) and Terrel Harris (13.9 ppg, 1.7 spg) graduated. Swingman James Anderson (18.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), a challenger for all-Big 12 honors, is back, as is Obi Muonelo (12.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg). Keiton Page (8.6 ppg), a sharpshooter who's 5-10 on a very good day, will see more action this time around. Eaton's spot at the point will probably be filled by a freshman--most likely Ray Penn. 6-6 Marshall Moses (7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is the only frontcourt player to see significant time last year, so Kentucky transfer Matt Pilgrim will be asked to contribute immediately. The Cowboys will play in the Thanksgiving Las Vegas Invitational. Bradley will be their first opponent, followed by either Illinois or Utah.

Texas A&M (last NCAA: 2009) The Aggies easily knocked BYU out of the tournament for the second year in a row, part of one of the dreariest NCAA sessions I've ever experienced. Somehow, the Aggies are one of only six schools to win an NCAA game in each of the past four seasons, but that's a streak they may have trouble extending without C Chinemelu Elonu, who decided to go to the NBA, despite only averaging 9.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg, and swingman Josh Carter (13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg). The good news for Mark Turgeon is that just about everyone else is back, led by 6-9 Bryan Davis (10.8 ppg, 6.5 apg), who should move over to the center spot., and point guard Donald Sloan (11.8 ppg, 3.2 apg). With sophomore Dash Harris averaging 2 assists per game, while seeing only 13 minutes a contest, Turgeon could even move Sloan off the point to give himself another scoring option. 6-7 freshman Khris Middleton could be a replacement for Carter. The fact that 6-9 Kourtney Roberson won't be eligible for the Aggies is a major blow to a thin frontcourt, however. A&M will have a good idea of how they'll fare nationally after their three games in Anaheim at the 76 Classic, where they open with Clemson.

Kansas State (last NCAA: 2008) The Wildcats lost four contributors after last season, most prominently F Darren Kent (9 ppg, 5.8 ppg). but hopes are high in Manhattan. The starting backcourt is highly-regarded, in a league full of highly-regarded backcourt performers. Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen are the team's two leading scorers, averaging 15 and nearly 14 points per contest respectively, but both were equally adept at dishing the ball to their teammates, combining to average nearly 7 dimes a game. But the depth of the backcourt will be tested after Buchi Awaji and Fred Brown both left the program. Incoming freshmen Martavious Irving and Nick Russell will be expected to replace them. Frank Martin also expects big things from two other newcomers in the frontcourt, 6-9 F Wally Judge, another highly-touted recruit from the DC area and 6-8 UConn transfer Curtis Kelly. They'll join a unit led by returnees Jamar Samuels (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Dominique Sutton (7.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg). Martin will hope his team will gel enough for the Puerto Rico Tip-off, where the Wildcats open with Boston University.

Oklahoma (last NCAA: 2009) Look for the Sooners to play a completely different style this year, without Blake and Taylor Griffin manning the frontcourt. The Willie Warren-led (14.6 ppg, 3.2 apg) backcourt will be the focus this time around. Warren will have to take on more of a leadership role now that Blake Griffin and point guard Austin Johnson (8.6 ppg, 3.9 apg) is gone. Expect him to not spend as much time on the perimeter this season. Tony Crocker (9.6 ppg) and Cade Davis (4.7 ppg) will be expected to take on more of the scoring load as well. In the frontcourt, Orlando Allen and Ryan Wright averaged under 2 points a contest each in very limited action, so who knows if they can adequately fill in for the Griffins. 6-9 300 pound freshman Keith "Tiny" Gallon, a big man who can shoot the ball well will see a lot of action. The Sooners head north for Thanskgiving, where Jeff Capel's men will face at least San Diego and Houston in a six-team Great Alaska Shootout field.

Texas (last NCAA: 2009) Rick Barnes has few question marks this year. Unlike the Sooners, his frontcourt is pretty well set, thanks to the return of 6-7 swingman Damion James (15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg). James will again team up with 6-6 Gary Johnson (10 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and 6-10 Dexter Pittman (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) to form one of the most formidable frontcourts in the college game. While Texas has three returning guards who saw significant time last season, their roles will undoubtedly diminish because of three newcomers. 5-9 junior Jai Lucas will be eligible after sitting out last year after transferring from Florida. He'll run the offense. Lucas will be joined by two highly-regarded freshmen, 6-3 Avery Bradley and 6-7 swingman Jordan Hamilton, both of whom should challenge for more than just All-Freshman honors. The Longhorns will get to showcase their old and new talent at the CBE Classic in Kansas City, where tjhey should make the final, as they face rebuilding Iowa in the semifinals. Pittsburgh or Wichita State awaits them on night two.

Kansas (last NCAA: 2009) The Jayhawks fell five points short of a regional final appearance last year, but this time around such a result would be considered a major disappointment, when you consider all that Bill Self has coming back and coming in. Sherron Collins (18.9 ppg, 5 apg) and Cole Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg) will obviously lead the way, but the Morris brothers, Marcus (7.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Markieff (4.6 ppg. 4.4 rpg) should be better in their second go-round, as should Tyshawn Taylor, who nearly averaged 10 points a contest. 6-6 Xavier Henry, one of the top recruits in the country, will provide even more scoring punch to the backcourt. His brother C.J, a Memphis transfer, even came along for the ride. Another transfer, Jeff Withey, got to practice against Aldrich last year, so the 7-footer who left Arizona could turn into another force inside. In the early season, the Jayhawks will be tested by games against Memphis (in St. Louis), La Salle (in Kansas City); at UCLA, Temple, and Tennessee, and in Lawrence against California and Michigan.

As the Jayhawks are virtually everyone's preseason number 1, they'll hold the Big 12 auto bid in my 2009-10 Final Preseason Bracket, which I will release on November 9. The conference should have a big presence in this year's tournament, so check back in then to see how many at-large bids I'm predicting at the start of the year.

To wrap up this preview, here is my preseason All-Big 12 team, featuring the best returning players from last season.

Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Player of the Year: Sherron Collins, 5-11 G, Sr. (Kansas)

Remainder of the Team
Cole Aldrich, 6-11 C, Jr. (Kansas)
Craig Brackins, 6-10 C, Jr. (Iowa State)
Damion James, 6-7 F, Sr. (Texas)
Willie Warren, 6-4 G, So. (Oklahoma)

Poll

Who is your pick to win the Big 12 this season?

Baylor

4 votes

Colorado

1 votes

Iowa State

2 votes

Kansas

31 votes

Kansas State

2 votes

Missouri

12 votes

Nebraska

1 votes

Oklahoma

3 votes

Oklahoma State

2 votes

Texas

74 votes

Texas A&M

3 votes

Texas Tech

1 votes

136 votes | Poll has closed

Mizzou Links, 10-23-09

Bill C. — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:58:39 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

Who hasn't written a "Danario Alexander better late than never" profile at this point?

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Mizzou-Texas Links!

MUtigers.com: Football Fan Primer
The Trib (Dave Matter): Writer's Block
BTS: What's going on with the Texas offense? Is it simply a case of no continuity at running back and identifying a No. 2 receiver?
Ballou: Every time we ask the coaches what is going on with the offense, they laugh and say they don't know either. They do. The chemistry isn't what it was last year, and they aren't producing at the rate they'd like. McCoy has been sick before their two biggest games (Tech & OU) - but even to him, that's not the excuse. They just keep saying they need to play better and execute better. He has Jordan Shipley, but beyond that, it's who steps up at wideout on a game to game basis.

I think the loss of two great glue guys in WR Quan Cosby (who caught everything) and RB Chris Ogbonnaya has hurt them too. I also think that Fozzy Whittaker is the best running back they have, but he's been hurt too much. He finally had his chance against OU and showed why, when healthy, he should get the majority of the carries.

Bohls: Colt has not been Colt all year. Never in a rhythm. Misses Quan Cosby and Chris Ogbonnaya. Their wide receivers have not been consistent, one reason Mack demoted Chiles and Kirkendoll this week.
The Missourian: Despite injury, Blaine Gabbert expects to spur offense for MU football team
The Missourian: 10 things that make Texas a bad homecoming opponent
The Trib: Behind the Stripes Webcast: Episode 11, Pt. 2

Oh yeah, and Texas? You can keep your big fan, we'll keep ours.

Rosters Set for Mizzou's Black and Gold Game

Evan Pfaff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:15:12 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

Will Zaire Taylor be smiling after Mizzou’s Black & Gold game? (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Prep for the big homecoming football game against Texas the following day by catching the Tigers take on the Tigers for only $5 (or free with Student ID) this Friday in the annual Black & Gold game.

With players watching on, honorary coaches MO Governor Jay Nixon and UM System President Gary Forsee selected the teams Tuesday after practice at Mizzou Arena.

Their selections:

Black Squad
Honorary coach: Governor Jay Nixon
G-Zaire Taylor
G-Kim English
G-Mike Dixon
G-Jarrett Sutton (first half)
F-Keith Ramsey
F-Steve Moore
F-Tyler Stone

Gold Squad
Honorary coach: UM System President Gary Forsee
G-J.T. Tiller
G-Marcus Denmon
G-Miguel Paul
G-Jarrett Sutton (second half)
F-Laurence Bowers
F-Justin Safford
F-John Underwood

Follow Evan on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MizzouHoops

Poll

Who will win the Mizzou Black & Gold game?

The Black Squad

16 votes

The Gold Squad

14 votes

With Jarrett Sutton playing on both teams, it is too hard to predcit.

9 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

Mizzou Links, 10-16-09

Bill C. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:55:42 -0000

Mizzou-OSU Links!

The Trib (Dave Matter): Writer's Block: Talking Cowboys

BTS: What kind of impact has coordinator Bill Young made on the defense and the program in general?

Chatmon: Bill Young has had a great impact on the defense. He preaches forcing turnovers and aggressive play. His main thing was to put his players in positions to use their talent and make plays and it is clear the defense has improved. How much remains to be seen.

Haisten: In every sense, the Cowboys are better. There are fewer missed tackles and fewer blown coverage assignments. During last week's 36-31 victory at Texas A&M, OSU totaled nine quarterback pressures, four sacks and eight pass break-ups. In 13 games last season, OSU's defense managed only 16 sacks. Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma had a combined total of 196 pass attempts against the Cowboys. In those games, OSU totaled only three sacks. Through five games this season, the Cowboys have 11 sacks. For the 12-game regular season, they are on pace for 26. Seven of this year's 11 sacks have been recorded by linemen. Last season, OSU got only 9½ sacks from linemen. Entering the Missouri game, the Cowboys are 60th in total defense (improved from last season's 93rd), 37th in rush defense (improved from 52nd) and 89th in pass defense (improved from 109th).
KC Star: Mizzou can get season back on track with redemption at OSU
Tulsa Beacon: OSU hosts Missouri without Dez Bryant, Kendall Hunter
The Missourian: 10 Things to think about while driving to Oklahoma State
Pistol Pete, the mascot version, is super creepy. The Cowboy mascot is supposed to be a likeness to Frank Eaton, the real-life cowboy known as Pistol Pete. There's just one problem. When it comes to mascots you got to go full-on caricature or not go at all. Okie St. ended up with a regular-sized guy, a super gigantic head and way too realistic facial features. It makes for a terrifying combination. There's a lot of pain behind those enormous eyes.
Daily Oklahoman: OSU's Keith Toston does it all for mom
Daily Oklahoman: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert puts up big numbers
PowerMizzou: Cowboy Insider: Five questions for Saturday
The Trib: Behind the Stripes Webcast: Episode 10, Part 1
The Trib: Behind the Stripes Webcast: Episode 10, Part 2

Mizzou Links, 7-21-09

Bill C. — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:28:40 -0000

Don't have your Mizzou-Illinois tickets yet? Waiting for Sean Weatherspoon to talk some trash about Juice Williams before diving in? Well it's time...almost. Place your Braggin' Rights ticket order this Friday.

Funny stuff from Mike Leach about what it will take to beat Mizzou in Reno this fall:

[W]hen Missouri, a fellow Big 12 member, comes to Mackay Stadium for Nevada’s home opener Sept. 25, Leach has some advice for the Wolf Pack.

"The one thing I would say is get those clacker things out," said Leach, who was referring to thundersticks, the plastic tubes that create noise that were given to the nearly 25,000 in attendance last year. "Whatever those plastic things (were) that you slap together like penguin’s fins. Bring those things and have them carefully orchestrated. I really do think that that was quite a deal (last season)."

The KC Star has more about E.J. Gaines' commitment to Mizzou...

Meanwhile, the Galveston County Daily News checks in on local-boy-made-good Will Ebner.

Playing mostly special teams, Ebner had 21 tackles, three for loss, and a quarterback hurry. Ebner said getting on the field his freshman season will help him heading into this year.

"That experience helped out a lot," Ebner said. "The biggest thing was earning the respect of the other guys on the team. They saw what I was capable of last season, which helped me be accepted by them."

To basketball, where the new trio of Mizzou seniors--Tiller, Taylor, Ramsey--is ready to lead Mizzou as well as the last trio.

Finally, to baseball, where SimmonsField.com (as always) has the latest Mizzou Baseball quotes & notes...

Lance Stephenson? Eh?

Bill C. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:52:15 -0000

Lance has visited Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s and Lance Stephenson Sr. recently said his son would take two more.

Memphis and Arizona may still be involved, but no visits have been set, as far as we know.

Other potential schools in the mix include Missouri, Pittsburgh and UNC-Charlotte, according to a source.

-- ZAGSBLOG, on the ongoing recruiting saga of Lance Stephenson.

Who's Lance Stephenson? This is Lance Stephenson. And this. And...this.

The Missouri mention is a new twist. Granted, I'd be willing to bet a decent amount of money that he ends up at Cincy at this point, and probably pretty soon, but still...an interesting twist.

The Beef and I had an e-mail conversation about Stephenson this morning. And really, this goes back to the "Culture vs Caliber" debate I've talked about a lot on RMN. Does the culture of the program matter more than the caliber of the talent/athlete? Mizzou's chemistry was unbelievable last year; if Anderson could bring in a guy like Stephenson, with other-worldly talent and an awful "me first" reputation, and make him a team player and contributor, and if he was absorbed into the team culture of guys like J.T. Tiller, Kim English, and Zaire Taylor, not only would the sky be the limit on the 2009-10 team, but I think recruiting could see a major upswing as a result.

On the other hand, if he comes in and pollutes the water, pouting the first time he doesn't play 20 minutes in a game or get enough shots, and if the ongoing strangeness involving his eligibility were to continue, then this would not at all be a gamble worth taking. My fascination with grey areas makes me want Missouri to take this chance, but my love of and comfortability with known knowns (in this case, ridiculously good team chemistry) wants me to tell Mike Anderson to run away screaming. But after 2008-09, Anderson gets a free pass from me on this one. If, after the Stefhon Hannah drama blew up in his face, he still feels it's worth the risk to try to woo Stephenson here, so be it. If not, I'm more than okay with that.

Poll

Mizzou potentially trying to jump into the Lance Stephenson recruitment:

Wonderful idea. I mean, have you SEEN this guy play?

43 votes

Good idea

56 votes

Bad idea

48 votes

WHAAAAAAAAT??? Worst. Idea. Ever.

22 votes

169 votes | Poll has closed

Weekend Links 3/29

MRickman84 — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:30:08 -0000

There were a few interesting links the last couple of days, especially on the NFL Draft front, so I figured I'd throw them up in the time between now and when we get our Carolina Challenge stuff compiled. Enjoy.

Dan Collins' latest interview with Dino Gaudio ended with the quote regarding the Deacs': "the future is incredibly bright." The article is a must-read for any Wake fan.

Clemson F Trevor Booker will return for his senior season.

Coach Grobe is the keynote speaker at an April 25 banquet at the Forks Cafeteria in Winston-Salem for the Anthony J. Trentini Foundation, which gives scholarships to local high school athletes.

The ACC sure got showed up by the Big East in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Bleacher Report thinks that the New Orleans Hornets and former Demon Deacon Chris Paul are really suffering from their slow-down approach to their offense.

Great SI.com article about Missouri guard Zaire Taylor and his poetry.

The Raiders are working out both Alphonso Smith and Chip Vaughn. Smith is visiting a bevy of teams including the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots.

The Cleveland Browns brought in Aaron Curry on Saturday.