Kim Anderson yells instructions to his players during the first half of their game against Texas A & M (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Kim Anderson yells instructions to his players during the first half of their game against Texas A & M (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Mizzou men’s basketball coach Kim Anderson’s recent postgame interviews haven’t started with his thoughts on the game, but more how he is handling in-house disciplinary issues.”

“First of all I want to address some of the disciplinary situations that have arisen in the past few days. Tramaine Isabell remains withheld from competition. He and I have had ongoing positive dialogue so we’re still visiting,” said Anderson “Most recently, Montaque Gill-Caesar and Namon Wright are suspended, which happened this morning, for a violation of team policies. I’ve said this before and I’m going to get this done because the University of Missouri Men’s Basketball team has high standards for how its student athletes conduct themselves and I’ll reevaluate the situation later.”

Anderson continued.

“It’s really disappointing as a coach, but obviously part of our job is to win basketball games, but part of our job is to help these guys grow up and help them understand. I’ve had some great conversations with Tramaine Isabell and I don’t know where we’re going. I want to win basketball games, but I said this when I was hired, and it’s that I’m a teacher. I want to help these kids grow up and if this is the way I can help them grow up whether we win or lose, that’s the way I’m going to do it.”

Missouri trailed after the first half 38-31 and Texas A & M’s Danuel House made an observation when he looked across after court as the teams came back out to get ready for the second half.

“When they started warming up for the second half,” House said of the Tigers, “the guys didn’t look into the game.”

A & M coach Billy Kennedy disagreed with that statement, but after looking at the way the second half played out, one may lean towards House’s assessment.  However, fatique certainly played a factor.

Gill-Caesar, Wright and Isabell contribute nearly 20 points a game combined.  With only eight scholarship players dressing for Anderson, he leaned heavily on Keith Shamburger and Wes Clark, who played all but three minutes.

The Tigers were outscored 45-30 in the second half.

The Aggies outscored Missouri 44-22 in the paint, and with just over 11 minutes left in the game, the A&M lead was 15 on a layup.  The Tigers were no closer than 12 the rest of the way, and the game ended with Texas A&M finishing on a 6-0 run.

Discipline issues haven’t been anything new for Anderson in his first year, which saw his record drop to 7-16 and 1-9 in the SEC.  Shamburger, Keanau Post, Ryan Rosburg, and Johnathan Williams III are the only players who haven’t been suspended.