Kim, We Hardly Knew Ye...

[joeD]

North Carolina Central is not exactly a powerhouse. But it is a school that Mizzou and Kim Anderson, in his third year, were defeated by on their home court. Which, basically, and should, seal Coach Anderson's fate. He is done. Granted, he walked into a mess, and that's not even counting his remaining players. But, a coach and his team must show improvement. I don't see any. Also, it's not as if the SEC is getting worse. In fact, as a conference it's getting better, and I don't see Mizzou competing in any meaningful way. 

While a nice story, former player coming back to his alma mater to rejuvenate a problem program, it proved too much for a successful D2 coach. It will be a difficult sell to bring someone of consequence to Mizzou, but they must try, and try hard.

[Al Agnew]

They are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  No matter how good a coach you are, you're only as good as the players you get.  Kim's problem is that with all the turmoil at Mizzou ever since Haith, and the terrible record so far in his tenure, getting good players to come to Mizzou is exceedingly difficult.  The guys he's got now may turn out to be very good by the time they are juniors and seniors, but none are immediate impact players, and they don't have enough experienced players to settle these young guys down when they need it.  So the only way to really know whether Kim can turn this thing around is to give him another couple of years...but if he can't do it, then you've wasted two more years.  On the other hand, there's little chance of getting a really good coach to replace him, until the latest turmoil blows over and that coach can see a chance of turning around recruiting.  Any new coach is probably going to have to spend another two or three years getting this thing turned around.

The game today was worrisome.  I didn't expect them to beat Arizona, but Kim waited too long to change the game plan, and the players got frustrated with all the open threes hitting the bottom of the net.  The game plan was obviously to double team the 7 footers down low and dare Arizona to beat them with the three, when Arizona hadn't shown themselves to be a good three point shooting team.  Well, they couldn't miss on threes.  That run of three pointers in the first part of the second half was obviously demoralizing to the players trying to execute the defensive game plan.  

Kim has recruited some talent; it's just not high immediate impact talent.  He needed high impact talent to start winning immediately.

[ozark trout fisher]

It is now official now that he will be gone. Such a shame. A good guy, stabilized the program in every way except on the court. 

After the circus of the Frank Haith era and the end of Mike Anderson's tenure, I would have been down to cool my heels for about five very quiet, trouble-free years of 17-win seasons under Anderson. But unfortunately he wasn't able to come even close to that lowered bar. The move had to be made but I don't think anyone feels good about the way this worked out. 

The word from people connected to the athletic department is that Mizzou is willing to open up the check-book and offer big-boy money to lure a recognizable coach from another power-conference school. Alden has stuck to bargain-basement hires lately and that produced Haith and Anderson. The new AD (Jim Sterk) will want to avoid stepping on that landmine. So think along the lines of Tom Crean or Frank Martin more so than some guy from the Patriot League. It's safe to assume they'll try to offer a huge check to Gregg Marshall to see if he feels moved, but I doubt that works. He can hold out for Duke or Michigan State when those positions open. If a small-school coach ends up getting hired that's a pretty solid indication none of their top candidates were willing to budge. 

But I agree with being ambitious. With the program laid this low, they desperately need to alter perception, and fast. It's worth remembering that 3 years ago this was regarding as a good/very good basketball program. Offer enough money and the odds are high Mizzou can get someone who's a lot more proven than you think. 

[Al Agnew]

I agree with everything you said.  If they end up hiring a coach from some mid-major, even one that is thought to be an up-and-comer, it will mean the big boys turned them down.  Sterk knows they have to get a splashy hire to generate some excitement and put rear ends in the seats.  That ain't gonna happen with some obscure coach.  My preference would be Marshall first, Frank Martin second, then Crean, then Cuonzo Martin, of the names that are being bandied about.  I'd say there's more likelihood of actually getting Crean and Cuonzo than the other two.  After that group, it's kind of a toss-up.  The biggest problem is that it looks like there is going to be quite a bit of turnover in the ranks of the high major teams this year, and Mizzou will be competing with some programs that are at least as good an opportunity as they are.

[joeD]

1. Crean is overated. Has done nothing in talent rich Indiana.

2. Frank Martin?  A lot of emotions, but no titles.

3. Cuonzo?  Public relations.

4. Marshall? No chance.

5. Which leaves coaches who've been dismissed, or..

6. Maybe a successful smaller D1 coach ready to make a move "up."

7. Don't want an assistant coach for some reason, regardless of pedigree.

8. Honestly, I have no idea who would take this mess.

[ozark trout fisher]

What an effort last night. KA is not done yet.

Back to the search...Tom Crean's primary problem is that he is not...Bobby Knight, and IU fans are insane. He built Indiana up from a far, far worse place than even Missouri is in right now. He has won two Big Ten Titles and made a couple Sweet 16s. Let's be real, Indiana is no longer an elite basketball program and hasn't been for a long time. They are much more like Ohio State or Illinois than Duke or Kentucky. That's not an insult, by any means, but Knight's big run was awhile ago.

He has done well there, a mediocre season this year aside.

If he replicates his IU performance at Mizzou he would be welcome for as long as he wants to stay. And he probably would, in a bad SEC.

Go get him.

[Quillback]

I watched a couple of Mizzou games this year, vs Arkansas who they beat and vs Kentucky who they hung in for a bit pretty well.  Thing that struck me most was how many empty seats there were, especially for the Kentucky game.  

[ozark trout fisher]

4 hours ago, Quillback said:

I watched a couple of Mizzou games this year, vs Arkansas who they beat and vs Kentucky who they hung in for a bit pretty well.  Thing that struck me most was how many empty seats there were, especially for the Kentucky game.  

Yes, that's been the problem, and, wins and losses aside, it's why Kim Anderson had to go. 

Sadly those two games you mentioned were far and away our two biggest crowds of the year. It's BAD. 

All of that said, last night took all that misery away for a few hours. If I may say so myself, us Missouri fans who have hung tight throughout this run of futility deserved to win a postseason game involving multiple buzzer beaters probably more than any major program in existence. It sure as heck isn't the NCAA tournament, but we got a feel of "March Madness" for one night, and it felt good.

It's been a truly hellish three seasons. I love Kim Anderson as a person and a True Son, but we need to burn the memory of these past few years and never speak of it again. Heck, I think he would agree with that.

Mizzou doesn't have talent, outside of Jordan Barnett and Kevin Puryear, but otherwise the program is fairly stable in terms of good character kids and a number of guys who will be with the program for years to come. Mizzou can absolutely get back to relevance with a good hire within about two years. It should not be a major problem for a good coach to double the win total next year, and be in the NIT conversation by Year 2. The program foundation that Frank Haith dynamited to the core has been at least partially rebuilt. Now we need someone who can bring in some high-major players. 

We have to nail this hire though. I am going to be honest: if it is not a high quality coach from a Power Conference program (or, in dream-world, Gregg Marshall) I am going to be very disappointed. This is not the time to get cute. We need to pay $4-5 million if necessary and get to work. I say that because I know we can afford it. Of the teams with open jobs this year, the only one that would have a chance to outbid us would be Indiana, but our top target is their coach, so that hardly matters. Illinois is more attractive, but I've been given the impression by those in the know that Missouri might willing and able to make up for that by paying more. Same story with schools like NC State. 

[Al Agnew]

It's really hard to tell how much real talent these kids have...probably not much, but they are young, and they have been beaten down by the losses.  They have fought very hard in most of their games.  The only ones they seemed to give up on were those where they couldn't make any shots at all and the other team was just so much bigger and stronger that they got discouraged.  They seem to really love Kim, and this bunch seems to be VERY good kids, unlike some of the ones that transferred.

I've really pulled for them all year, because I liked their effort, if nothing else.  When Hughes hit the buzzer beater three to send it to overtime, I jumped off the couch and shouted, "FINALLY!"  They've missed so many pivotal shots this year that it was so great to see just one go down.  And then Puryear hitting the winning shot in overtime was special.

I really hope that everybody that saw a lot of minutes this year returns.  They still won't be a great team, but these guys should get better with the kind of experience they've gotten this year.  One real go-to shooter to go with them, and/or one real quality big man, and they could be a dangerous team.  Unfortunately, it will be tough for whoever ends up being the coach to bring in that impact player for next year...but maybe the year after.

[joeD]

I'm tired of effort and good kids.  I don't beam with Missourily pride with the special relationships a personable coach has with players.

I want wins and tournament appearances. My Billikens seem to be on the right track, with an aggressive recruiter of a coach .

Mizzou needs to step up. They have the money.