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“Showdown for Relief” will happen. #Mizzou basketball to face Kansas on 10/22. Tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday

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Kansas Jayhawks basketball players celebrate on the court after defeating the Missouri Tigers 70-66, at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri on March 5, 2011. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The University of Missouri and Kansas University basketball programs are coming together for a one-time charity exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. at Kansas City’s Sprint Center. The event – Showdown for Relief – is to raise awareness and financial support for hurricane relief efforts.

MU, KU and the Sprint Center, along with the Kansas City Sports Commission, have agreed that proceeds from the game will be donated to organizations assisting victims of the natural disasters that have occurred recently in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Money raised from the game will be contributed to the organizations that the five living former U.S. Presidents have come together to support: the Houston Harvey Relief Fund, the Rebuild Texas Fund, the Florida Disaster Fund, Juntos y Unidos Por Puerto Rico and the Fund for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In order for this scrimmage to take place, both school needed a waiver from the NCAA to play the extra exhibition game.

“The opportunity to use the platform of college basketball to help so many people in need is the most important aspect of this event,” Mizzou head coach Cuonzo Martinsaid. “This scrimmage will not only be fun for fans of Mizzou and Kansas, but also for people all over the world.”

“It’s a great opportunity for two schools to do something together for the better of the masses,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “and be able to send a significant amount of money to people that are suffering right now.”

Tiger Scholarship Fund members and MU students can purchase tickets starting Tuesday. Remaining tickets from Missouri’s allotment will available for purchase at SprintCenter.com starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Ticket prices are: $200 courtside, $120 for lower-level sides, $75 for lower-level ends, $40 for upper level and $20 for students (upper-level seats).

It’s official. Jontay Porter is a #Mizzou Tiger

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It was one of the worst kept secrets in Columbia, but Jontay Porter, the younger brother of prized recruit Michael Porter Jr., made it official on Wednesday evening when he announced he would join the Tigers basketball program for the 2017 season.

The 6’10” forward rounds out the freshman class with includes Blake Harris, CJ Roberts and Jeremiah Tilmon.

Mizzou will open up the season at home on Friday, November 10 against Iowa State.

#Mizzou in the Final Four? Porter Jr. says that’s the goal

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Michael Porter Jr., the top prospect in the country is not only thinking about making the NCAA Tournament, he’s thinking of doing something that has never happened in the history of Missouri Tigers basketball.

“I want to bring this team back to a Final Four, national championship-caliber level. I think we’re going to surprise people,” Porter told ESPN.

There is certainly reason to be excited about Cuonzo Martin’s first team.  In addition to Porter,  Blake Harris and Jeremiah Tilmon. a couple of top-100 prospects will play along with 4-star guard C.J. Roberts and former Canisius sniper Kassius Robertson. Plus, Jordan Barnett, Kevin Puryear and Terrance Phillips.

However, publicly stating that he wants to take Mizzou to the Final Four puts a target on the back of the Tigers, but that doesn’t concern Porter.

“I think it’s exciting that a lot of people have pretty high hopes. I don’t feel any pressure. I welcome it.”

Columbia College looking for new head women’s basketball coach

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Jessica Keller, (photo/Columbia College)

Columbia College head women’s basketball coach Jessica Keller resigned to accept a top assistant coach position at NCAA Division I Illinois State University.

Keller compiled an overall record of 75-24 in three seasons at Columbia, including a 55-17 mark in the American Midwest Conference. She coached the Cougars to a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances over the past two seasons. Columbia started the 2015-16 season with a school-record 19-straight wins and achieved the highest ranking in school history at No. 3 in the NAIA Division I Coaches’ Poll, as the Cougars were ranked in 31 out of 34 polls during her tenure. She was part of the WBCA’s inaugural 30 under 30 class, recognizing up and coming talent in coaching.

 

Prior to coming to Columbia, Keller served as the assistant coach at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota for three seasons and as a graduate assistant coach at Quincy University, where she completed her Master’s in Business Administration. The Belle, Missouri native also played women’s basketball at Quincy from 2005-2009. She was a three-time All-Great Lakes Valley performer and was named the GLVC Player of the Year in her senior season.

Porter Jr. helps land Mizzou their point guard. Blake Harris is in. “I’m officially a Tiger”

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I say in the headline that Michael Porter Jr. helps land a point guard for the Tigers, because the number one recruit in the country has been publicly pushing for North Carolina native Blake Harris to join him at Missouri next season after the pair were committed to Washington.  On Sunday, the top 30 recruit made it official with is announcement via Twitter.

Let’s not kid ourselves, this one was all on Porter Jr. Without him, no way Cuonzo Martin lands Harris, who chose the Tigers over Michigan, UCONN, Rutgers and NC State. That hasn’t happened around here in a long time…where Mizzou outbids bigger schools.

The Tigers hope their not finished yet.  They hosted uncommitted five-star forward Kevin Knox this weekend and are expected to entertain four-star center Jeremiah Tilmon, who de-committed from Illinois last week.

Harris is the No. 29 point guard in the Class of 2017.  This wasn’t too much of a surprise, but still a good get for Porter Jr to talk Harris into joining him at Mizzou.  Harris was a one-time Washington signee who was granted his release after the university fired Lorenzo Romar earlier this month.

Cuonzo Martin’s new assistant coaches bring #SEC and Midwest connections to #Mizzou

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Chris Hollender (photo/UMKC Athletics)

CBS Sports first reported that Cuonzo Martin has rounded out his coaching staff at Mizzou, with the hiring of Oakland’s Cornell Mann and UMKC’s Chris Hollender as assistants, joining Michael Porter Sr. who spent his first day in the office on Tuesday.

Hollender joined the UMKC men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in July 2015 after three seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State in the SEC. At every stage of his coaching career, team win-loss records have improved following Hollender’s arrival.  UMKC recorded the second-most victories in a season (18) in program history during the 2016-17 campaign. Additionally, the Roos made the first postseason appearance in the program’s 30-year Division I history, which included a victory over Green Bay to advance to the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational before falling to eventual CBI champion Wyoming.

While in Starkville, Hollender played an integral part in the recruitment of Quinndary Weatherspoon, who became a second-team All-SEC selection and led the Bulldogs in scoring with 16.5 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds per contest as a sophomore.

Mann was named the assistant coach for the Oakland men’s basketball team in June of 2016. Mann previously spent four seasons at Iowa State. Mann was a member of the Iowa State coaching staff from 2011-15 and helped the Cyclones achieve unprecedented success. ISU went to a school-record four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and achieved a 99-40 overall record. Mann was pivotal in recruiting Michigan-native Monte Morris to Iowa State who was one of the nation’s top point guards after being named a two-time Bob Cousy Award Finalist. During his time at Iowa State, he added a Michigan-to-Iowa State pipeline and was also the lead defensive coach.

Info courtesy UMKC Athletics/Oakland Athletics

Walton and Hughes leaving Mizzou basketball

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Mizzou Men’s Basketball announced Tuesday that sophomore guard K.J. Walton and freshman guard Frankie Hughes will transfer from the program.

“We wish K.J. and Frankie the best in their future academic and athletic pursuits,” head coach Cuonzo Martin said. “We will support both of them as much as possible, and assist in their transitions to the best of our ability.”

Walton averaged 6.0 points per game for his career, including a 6.7 mark this past season. He appeared in 63 career games, with 24 starts. Hughes appeared in 30 games in his only season with the Tigers, averaging 7.6 points per game.

“True Son” Anderson heads across the border into Kansas to continue his passion for coaching

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Kim Anderson addresses fans and faculty of Pitt State

Pittsburg State University introduced Kim Anderson as the men’s basketball coach on Monday.  Anderson, 61, comes to Pittsburg State after serving the past three seasons as head basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Missouri. He has a 301-162 (.650) career collegiate coaching record.

Anderson is back in Division II, where prior to his three seasons at Mizzou, Anderson coached 12 seasons at MIAA Conference Central Missouri, leading the Mules to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship as well as two additional Division II Final Four appearances (2007, 2009) while compiling a 274-95 (.743) record at the school.

Anderson led UCM to seven trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and seven 20-win seasons. In his final season with the Mules he guided the squad to a 30-5 overall record and the D2 national title. His Mules teams captured six MIAA regular season titles (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and four MIAA Tournament titles (2005, 2007, 2009, 2013). He was selected the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2014.

A native of Sedalia, Mo., Anderson played basketball at the University of Missouri from 1973-77 under legendary coach Norm Stewart. He was a first-team All-Big Eight selection as a senior in 1977 as well as the Big Eight co-Player of the Year that season.

Anderson’s first official day on the job with the Gorillas is April 10.

Kim Anderson’s comments

Porter Jr. “I’m coming home”

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With one simple tweet on Friday afternoon, Michael Porter Jr. made Mizzou basketball relevant again in the state and in Division I basketball.

Michael Porter Jr will follow his father to Mizzou (photo/Twitter @TheMPJ1)

His announcement comes less than 24 hours after Mizzou basketball announced they had hired his dad, Michael Sr. as an assistant coach to Cuonzo Martin.

Porter Sr. joins #Mizzou coaching staff. Does Porter Jr. and Jontay soon follow?

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Cuonzo Martin may have found the linchpin to helping turn around the Mizzou men’s basketball program with the addition of Michael Porter Sr. to his coaching staff.  The former Mizzou women’s basketball assistant is back in Columbia after spending the last year at Washington, helping coach the men’s team under Lorenzo Romar.

Michael Porter Jr. is the top recruit for the Class of 2017. Jontay Porter is a high-level recruit for the class of 2018, but could reclassify and move up to play with his older brother. Michael and Jontay played at Father Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia winning a state championship in 2016.

They won the state championship in Washington this season, playing for Nathan Hale High School in Seattle.

Porter Jr., in an teleconference with the media, stated he is exploring his options after being released from his National Letter of Intent by Washington yesterday.