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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).

#Mizzou proves they must be near perfect if they hope to win in the SEC. Five plays that prove that point

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J’mon Moore is hoisted by center Trystan Castillo after the Tigers score a touchdown (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

“We’ve found ways to win and we’re responding to adversity,” said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops after his Wildcats defended their home turf in a 40-34 final against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday night.

That’s the type of quote Mizzou fans are hoping to hear from Barry Odom.

“In a game of evenly matched teams, it’s going to come down to who makes more plays,” Odom said. “I’ve been in games like that before. It usually comes down to six or seven plays over the course of the game. There’s a deciding factor, and that’s the way it was tonight.”

I’ll give you my take on the handful of plays that were the difference for a Tigers team that has zero margin for error if they expect to win in the SEC.

1.  Tucker McCann’s 45 yard field goal is blocked.  McCann was 2-for-3 on FG attempts with his longest attempt made from 27 yards.  If it weren’t for McCann’s acting skills, he would have been 1-for-3 after he pushed his second attempt of the game wide right, but tumbled to the ground drawing a penalty when a Kentucky player dove at his feet.  With the five-yard bump, McCann made that kick.  However, testing McCann’s leg from 45 yards is just not wise.  The way Mizzou was converting on third and fourth downs by running the football, I would have chosen to go for it on 4th and 6 from the Kentucky from the 28.  Which brings me to key play number two.

2.  3rd and 6 from the Kentucky 28.  The Tigers were 8-of-17 on third down conversions…a pretty good rate.  After converting earlier on the drive with an Ish Witter run on 3rd and 8, offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, with his team in four down territory, elected to send all four receivers straight to the end zone for basically a 3rd down Hail Mary.  Drew Lock’s pass was broken up leaving the Tigers to rely on McCann’s inaccurate leg and poor snapping.  Heupel could have tried another run, perhaps a safety route for Lock to check down.  Even if the Tigers gain three yards, a 4th and 3 from the 25 is still better than a 42-yard attempt to McCann.

3.  Damarea Crockett’s fumble.  The Tigers came into the game with a horrible turnover ratio, ranked 127th in D-I.  After Cale Garrett intercepted Stephen Johnson’s ugly pass attempt, Mizzou was in business at the Kentucky 34, trailing 20-17.  The Tigers cut the lead to three after a long 13-play drive that resulted in a field goal.  On the Tigers first play, UK’s Darius West got a helmet on the ball and Crockett coughed up the football turning it right back over to the Wildcats.  Kentucky answered with a nine-play drive to go back up 27-17.

From that point on, the Tigers had to continue to play catchup.  Drew Lock’s inflated numbers will look impressive with three touchdown and 355 yards, but the reality is the Tigers once again felt like they needed to take deep shots down the field.  Lock was fortunate to connect on a couple of those to Emmanuel Hall and Josh Johnson, thus boosting his numbers.

[Read more…]

#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.”

Porter Jr. on playing for Mizzou fans: “It could be something real, real special”

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Michael Porter Jr. accepts his National Player of the Year Award (photo/Gatorade)

Michael Porter Jr. was honored as the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, and plans to reopen his college recruitment.  If Porter Jr. ultimately winds up at Mizzou, he certainly wasn’t tipping his hand.  Porter Jr. won the national honor after leading Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School to a 29-0 record and the Washington 3A state championship. Porter Jr. averaged 36 points and nearly 14 rebounds a game this season.

During a conference call on Wednesday with reporters, Porter Jr. confirmed that his father, Michael Porter Sr, has been offered a spot on Cuonzo Martin’s staff at Mizzou.  Porter Jr. said he would like to play for his dad in college but it’s not a guarantee the two would end up in the same spot and his dad is still deciding if he even wants to coach this season.

“My dad doesn’t know if he will coach next year or if he will coach…It is not a for sure thing I follow my dad,” said Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. says he’ll ask Washington University from his national letter of intent after his godfather, Lorenzo Romar, was fired.

Porter Jr. started his high school career at Tolton High School in Columbia and while he’s keeping his options open, he knows the excitement his return to Columbia would bring, saying “I’ve been shown a lot of love from Mizzou fans. It could be something real, real special to be able to come home.”

#Mizzou closer earns #SEC Freshman of the Week honors

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T.J. Sikkema (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Mizzou Baseball freshman lefty pitcher T.J. Sikkema was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.  Sikkema saved two of Mizzou’s wins in their sweep at Alabama.  The Tigers winning streak is 19 games, tied for longest streak in the nation.

Sikkema struck out ten in 5.1 innings and didn’t allow a run to the Crimson Tide.

Sikkema has a 27.0 shutout inning streak and is tied for the SEC lead in strikeouts (46) while ranking third in ERA (0.33) and third in opponent batting (.143). He has earned a decision, four wins and three saves, in each of his last seven appearances and is averaging 15.15 strikeouts/nine innings this season, the top mark in the nation among freshmen.

The Tigers host Little Rock on Tuesday before hosting Arkansas this weekend.

Martin ready to hit the ground running at #Mizzou (VIDEO)

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Cuonzo Martin hopes this is his last coaching job.  Finally, a basketball coach who looks at the University of Missouri as a destination job.

Martin, who grew up in East St. Louis, considers himself a Midwest guy and when the job opening became available he and his wife Roberta were ready to make the move.

Martin thinks Mizzou has first class facilities and a fan base that can get behind and rally this team.  He calls himself an old school coach, comparable to Norm Stewart and Gene Keady, who he played for and was an assistant with at Purdue.

Listen to Martin’s Q & A and be sure to check out my podcast here on Tuesday morning when I give my initial thoughts on Martin.


Watch Cuonzo Martin’s introductory press conference

#Mizzou women dancing as a 6th seed in NCAA’s (VIDEO)

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The Mizzou women’s basketball team celebrates their selection

The Mizzou women’s basketball team was picked as a 6th seed for the NCAA Tournament and will begin their run on Friday against 11th seeded South Florida in Tallahassee, FL at 4 p.m. Central Time.

“We’re just so blessed to be playing in national tournament,” said Cierra Porter.

“I’m trying to squeeze everything I can out of this last go-around,” said senior Lindsey Cunningham.  “We’re capable of going on a run.”

The Tigers went 21-10, winning 21-games for the second consecutive year and will face a South Florida team that went 24-8 and was ranked from 20th to 23rd for a good portion of the season.

The Tournament

Host and three-seed Florida State (25-6) will face Western Illinois (26-6). Florida State lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament, 56-54, to No. 8/12 Miami. Western Illinois earned one of 32 automatic bids as the Summit League Tournament Champions. Western Illinois defeated IUPUI 77-69.

South Florida conference rival, UConn, is again the overall No. 1 seed of the tournament in the Bridgeport Region. Notre Dame is the No. 1 seed of the Oklahoma City Region and Baylor is the No. 1 seed in the Lexington Region. South Carolina is the No. 1 seed in Stockton Region.

Watch the team’s reaction

Spoiler Alert! #Mizzou wins in OT — Anderson “See you tomorrow.” (VIDEO/AUDIO)

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Kevin Puryear is greeted by Jordan Barnett (21) and Cullen VanLeer (33) after hitting his game winning shot (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Sophomore Kevin Puryear hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, (his fifth of the game) and Kim Anderson and the Missouri Tigers live for another day after the Tigers rallied to beat Auburn 86-83 in overtime Wednesday night at the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

It was story line we have seen over and over from Mizzou this season.  Hang around in the first half, even have the lead.  The Tigers were up 36-35 at the break.  Then, like so many other times, the other team would start to pull away, Mizzou would inch back, and fall further behind until it was too late for a final charge.

“I think it’s God’s will. I think it’s justice we win this game,” said Anderson after the game.

Auburn led 72-62 after a layup by T.J. Dunans with just over five to play.  This may have been the time you decided to shut the game off and go to bed.  Missouri was still down 78-72 when Cullen VanLeer hit a three point with 21 seconds to go.  After an Auburn turnover, VanLeer missed a three, but Puryear grabbed the rebound and Frankie Hughes knocked down a three with three seconds left to force overtime.

Listen to Kim Anderson’s postgame

In the extra time, Hughes hit another three-pointer to tie the game at 83-83 with 1:22 to play.  This time, after Dunans missed a layup, the Tigers got the ball, called timeout and set up a play for Puryear’s winning three-pointer.

“It’s been a long season, and we needed that,” Puryear said.

Puryear finished with a career-best 30 points, including a career-best 5 of 9 from beyond the arc.  As a team, Missouri hit 16 three-pointers.

Mizzou will now play Ole Miss in the second round of the SEC Tournament, scheduled for approximately 8:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 9, at Bridgestone Arena

Kim Anderson wanted another year. “In the end, it was not my decision” (AUDIO)

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Missouri Tigers head coach Kim Anderson gives hand signals to Terrence Phillips in the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri on February 21, 2017.  Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Mizzou basketball coach Kim Anderson took questions during his time slot on the weekly SEC Basketball Teleconference.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way Anderson handled himself with the media on Monday morning, being upfront and honest with his answers.

“We just didn’t win enough games,” said Anderson.

Anderson said he found out ten days ago, just before he and the team were scheduled to leave for Mississippi State when he was told by Athletic Director Jim Sterk that he wanted to make a change.

“It was business as usual for me,” but Anderson admitted, “It’s hard to concentrate on what you’re doing, but I thought our staff did a great job.  Certainly I would have loved to have another year.”

Anderson is 26-67 heading into this weekend SEC Tournament in Nashville, TN. The Tigers will play Auburn on Wednesday night, just four days after those two teams wrapped up the regular season.

Listen to Anderson’s teleconference. (10:00)

“A national search will begin immediately to identify and recruit the very best person to lead Mizzou Basketball into the future and we will utilize the services of a search consultant to assist in the identification and evaluation of candidates who are capable of returning our program to national prominence,” said Missouri Athletic Director Jim Sterk in a press release.

Marshall: “I could easily retire at Wichita State,” when asked about #Mizzou coaching job

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Witicha State’s head basketball coach Gregg Marshall displays his championship tee shirt after his team defeated Illinois State, 71-51 to win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on March 5, 2017. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Gregg Marshall, fresh off the Shockers victory in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Sunday evening in St. Louis, was asked about the coaching vacancy at the University of Missouri.

“I’m flattered, it’s very humbling.  I don’t have a crystal ball, but I could very easily retire at Wichita State.”

Marshall’s contract has him tied up for another seven seasons, but the Wichita State men’s basketball coach admits he would listen to offers.

He also says his family is very happy in Wichita.  The 54-year old sees retirement on the horizon as well.

Listen to Gregg Marshall’s response


CBS Sports also reported on Friday that the American Athletic Conference is talking internally about upgrading their conference and is giving Wichita State serious consideration.  A conference move for the Shockers could certainly increase their chances of keeping Marshall for the long haul.

The conference is home to schools such as Cincinnati, Memphis, UCONN, Houston and Tulsa.  There are currently 11 schools in the conference. There is no timeline and if a move would ever occur.

Mizzou Athletic Director Jim Sterk asked for Kim Anderson’s resignation.  The announcement became public on Sunday afternoon.  Anderson will coach the team through the SEC tournament.  Anderson will speak for the first time on Monday at 11:24 A.M. CT, during his regularly scheduled SEC Teleconference.  You can follow the conversation through me on Twitter @Missourisports