Georgia

[ozark trout fisher]

Have to cheer a bit for the Hogs at this point. They are by far the best chance to sneak team #3 from the SEC at this point and avoid epic embarrassment for the conference. They are really the only conference bubble team that's winning games right now. It's a good time to get hot.

The RPI has gotten into more reasonable territory as well. They are very close to cracking the field, might just need to get to 10-8 in conference. A win over Kentucky would lock up a bid, but I don't think it's necessary. The big wins are already there for ya'll. It's just time to avoid bad losses, but we all know that can be hard in the SEC.

Missouri and Arkansas may have close to the same tourney resume at this point. But Arkansas is trending up while Missouri appears to have called it a season a few games early. The selection Committee says they don't really care about how you finish, but that's a bunch of bull. "Hot" teams will just about always get the benefit of the doubt if two teams have a similar resume. That's why Missouri (IMO) is out until further notice and Arkansas may just sneak in. And I have no problem with this. Arkansas might be capable of winning a game in the Dance. Missouri might not be capable of beating Mississippi State at home on Saturday. In December and January, sure, we were better, but that only matters to a point.

[BATCAB27]

Have to cheer a bit for the Hogs at this point. They are by far the best chance to sneak team #3 from the SEC at this point and avoid epic embarrassment for the conference. They are really the only conference bubble team that's winning games right now. It's a good time to get hot.

The RPI has gotten into more reasonable territory as well. They are very close to cracking the field, might just need to get to 10-8 in conference. A win over Kentucky would lock up a bid, but I don't think it's necessary. The big wins are already there for ya'll. It's just time to avoid bad losses, but we all know that can be hard in the SEC.

Missouri and Arkansas may have close to the same tourney resume at this point. But Arkansas is trending up while Missouri appears to have called it a season a few games early. The selection Committee says they don't really care about how you finish, but that's a bunch of bull. "Hot" teams will just about always get the benefit of the doubt if two teams have a similar resume. That's why Missouri (IMO) is out until further notice and Arkansas may just sneak in. And I have no problem with this. Arkansas might be capable of winning a game in the Dance. Missouri might not be capable of beating Mississippi State at home on Saturday. In December and January, sure, we were better, but that only matters to a point.

I'm not cheering one bit for the hogs. Or the Jayhawks, Raiders, Broncos, Chargers or Cubs.

[ozark trout fisher]

I admit I will have a tough time cheering for Suitcase Mike. But if it can keep the SEC from going down as one of the worst major conferences ever it might be kind of worth it.

But forget about basketball. Less than two weeks until spring football. Apparently Eddie Printz is really going to be giving a chance at the starting job. No chance he wins it, my guess is its just to push Mauk a little to avoid complacency. I am already excited for September. I'm really interested to see who's going to step up on the d-line to replace Sam and Ealy. Big shoes to fill, but that position group has rarely been a weakness for Mizzou. Also, I'm curious as to who will be our top receiving threats behind DGB. There's some good talent behind him, but it's still relatively unproven. Jimmie Hunt stands out as the most likely breakout candidate,but who knows. I think we are losing too much to be the east favorite but I could very realistically see anything from 7-5 to 10-2. Of course you are never too many injuries away from 5-7 or worse in that conference. Just ask Florida.

I hereby declare basketball season over in favor of the spring football preseason. And yes, that means we've completed our transition to the SEC when football is probably more relevant than basketball in late February.

[Quillback]

Personally, I'm ready for some baseball. Should be a good year for the Cards.

As far as the NCAA's, I'll probably root for the Shockers. Even if the Hogs make it, I don't expect them to last long.

[Jerry Rapp]

Anderson was a liar, Haith was a cheater. Haith brings in players who failed at other schools hoping they will make him a great coach. Pass the trash. But yet, Kim Anderson remains in oblivion. Corey Tate coaches at the local JC and he does pretty good with players trying to make it to D1. Look at SLU. Build a team. The NCAA/NBA has really screwed up, but they are making money.

[ozark trout fisher]

Greg Marshall.

Give him $10 Mill. Make him the highest paid basketball coach in history. But I dream. Haith will be here at least one year. Then we'll get a mid-major or mid-tier major conference coach.

I'd honestly be up for hiring Kim Anderson just for a change of pace, though. We had Mike Anderson and the "40 Minutes of Hell" now we are Transfer U. I wasn't in love with either, though both have had fun moments. I think there is a major longing for continuity and high quality, well coached basketball. The only time we've gotten that (either in the Anderson or Haith era) is 2011-12, and that had everything to do with a roster full of incredibly talented seniors.

[joeD]

Mizzou boosters and fans will not tolerate any "rebuilding." Especially when the football team is doing well on the field and off. The climate for large and visible schools is to win NOW. Coaches understand this. Fans don't.

Let me put it this way:

If you love and support your school, especially sports, you show up to games regardless. Support your school. In Mizzou's case, just look at all the empty seats on any given broadcast. We're a bunch of whiners who will only support a winner. Face it, the fan base of Mizzou hasn't gotten over Norm Stewart.

[snap]

Guess I am just greedy!!! when we were bad in football, we were good in basketball....now we are good in football and not where we would like to be in basketball......why can't we have both??? agree with you Al.... 99%

[ozark trout fisher]

Guess I am just greedy!!! when we were bad in football, we were good in basketball....now we are good in football and not where we would like to be in basketball......why can't we have both??? agree with you Al.... 99%

Yeah, we can and should be competitive every year (or almost every year in both sports. There is no way at Missouri that our basketball program should be the one dragging us down. They need to shell out big money to a proven commodity if/when they finally give up on Haith.

Or if they insist on going for another bargain hire, at least appease the huge section of the fanbase who still wants a Stewart connection and give Kim Anderson the chance that everyone is curious to see what he could make of. He'd be extremely inexpensive compared to any other viable candidate, and if the experiment failed massively after a couple years we wouldn't really be down anything for it. If nothing else it would bring some excitement. And personally, I think it could work. He'd need a good staff to help him transition to big-time recruiting, but he's already a much better coach than either Mike Anderson or Haith. We might have less talent and go further with it.

But we don't want some one hit wonder mid-major guy, and definitely not someone who is a .500 coach in a major conference. We can do better than either. Frank Haith is fine, but he strikes me as "generic college basketball coach". Nothing innovative, nothing special, no real culture in the program. That's fine if you are okay with beating your cupcakes every year to pad the win total, and going 9-9 or 10-8 in the SEC. We are not fine with that.

[snap]

where is Kim Anderson these days??? I had the pleasure of observing a Missouri basketball practice years ago during the Norm years......Norm was working the crowd, which was cool, while Kim was teaching/coaching the floor.........OTF.....thinkin' you on to something there!!!