10 Reasons I’m more excited about Missouri basketball than Missouri football

Before you make too many assumptions based off of the headline of this article, let me just point out that I will be following Missouri football and watching as many games as I can. I might even head to Columbia for a game or two. I’m just as big a fan of the football team as the next Mizzou alum, and if things fall right, I think they could certainly win another Big 12 title. I believe Blaine Gabbert will be at least a decent quarterback, and Derrick Washington may be the most underrated running back in the Big 12.**

**One of the previous statements is not true. Those who actually know me would immediately be able to spot it. Incidentally, I don’t think anyone of that ilk actually reads this. But I digress…

However, I’m much more excited about November, when the Tigers basketball team begins their follow-up to their second-best season in school history. It should be noted that as much as I like watching football, I have always liked playing/watching basketball a little bit more, especially Division I college basketball. Obviously, that and the fact that I covered the team that season makes me fairly biased. I won’t be mad if you disagree.

Without further rambling, here are my top ten reasons why Missouri’s men’s basketball team should be more exciting than the football team this school year:

Carroll and Lyons continue to excel in Portsmouth

DeMarre and Leo’s may have both lost on Friday, but unlike during the season, the team’s result didn’t matter as much as their individual performances. Lyons scored 16 points on five of 11 shooting in his team’s loss. But as he did several times during the season for the Tigers, he disappeared on the glass, grabbing only 2 rebounds in 31 minutes. Apparently the confident forward is trying to show off his three-point shot to the scouts, but he failed to impress Friday afternoon, missing all three attempts. Carroll’s shooting percentage was down as he made just five of 12 shots, but he still managed 11 points and fell just one rebound short of a double-double. Perhaps more impressively, Carroll’s stat sheet shows the unselfishness that made him far and away Missouri’s most valuable player this season. Carroll finished with five assists, although he also committed three turnovers.

It’s important to note that although the Portsmouth tournament features some 64 quality seniors, the most talented players didn’t make the trip to Virginia. The 15 seniors projected to be drafted in the top 42 by nbadraft.net are all preparing elsewhere. However, that site and I don’t necessarily agree. The latest mock draft actually has Lyons as the 13th selection in the second round, meaning they must be seeing something that I’m not. Lyons needs some serious work on his consistency and his physicality in the paint if he’s going to survive at the next level, but maybe this year’s draft class really is that weak. Incidentally, Lyons is slated one spot ahead of Kansas’ Sherron Collins (I think he’ll return to Lawrence) and six spots ahead of Memphis’ Robert Dozier, who outplayed Lyons in his team’s loss to Missouri (19 points, 16 rebounds = end of discussion). Also, in what must be a mistake, Micah Downs, the former Kansas reject who was a senior at Gonzaga, is slated to get drafted 55th. My sympathies to any team who actually spends a draft pick on the 6-7 forward who wouldn’t be good for much outside of an occasional three-pointer.

Carroll and Lyons both play their last game in Portsmouth tomorrow.

Tigers’ season ends

The Texas Longhorns defeated the Missouri Tigers 62-59 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Alyssa Hollins led the Tigers with 16 points.

Bubble could mean trouble

Teams desperately fighting for a spot in the NCAA tournament can be the most dangerous in late February or March. Just ask the No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers, who just got shocked by unranked Providence. The win might have saved the Friars’ season, and Kansas State is in a similar situation as they head into Wednesday night’s showdown at Mizzou Arena. Even though they blew a 16-point home lead against Kansas 10 days ago, the Wildcats are still one of the hottest teams in the conference. They’re also desperately in need of a signature win to show the committee. A victory at #11 Mizzou would probably work.

Coach Anderson didn’t seem to believe that the Wildcats will be any more motivated for this game, but that seems unlikely. I spoke with KSU forward Darren Kent Monday, and he seemed well aware of just how important this game is. Kansas State’s toughest remaining game after Missouri is at Oklahoma St., so it would seem like they’ll need either a win in Columbia or a good run in the Big 12 tournament to make the Big Dance. Additionally, Kent noted that even though the Wildcats have crushed Mizzou in Manhattan twice since then, the seven holdovers from last year’s team haven’t forgotten about the embarrassing loss they suffered to a shorthanded Missouri team in Columbia last season.

All that being said, the Tigers certainly have plenty of motivation as well. Along with avenging the loss in Manhattan, Missouri is fighting for a Big 12 regular season title and of course, a valuable high seed in the NCAA tournament. The homecourt advantage may be enough to reverse the shooting trends from the game in Manhattan — when all the Tigers except for Matt Lawrence struggled and Kansas State was lights out — and the Tigers’ have certainly developed some pride when it comes to defending their home court.

All motivation aside, this game is a dangerous one for Missouri. Kansas State may be one of the few teams in the conference with the athletic big men that can match up with Carroll and Lyons, as well as the quick guards who can handle the defensive prowess of Taylor and Tiller. Recently, Kansas State has even shown some depth that rivals that of Missouri (8 Wildcats played more than 13 minutes against Iowa State and Kansas). The Wildcats have shown they’re capable of winning in a hostile environment with victories at Texas and at Texas A&M, but they also showed some serious deficiencies in falling behind 18-0 at Allen Fieldhouse and getting crushed at Nebraska earlier this season. Then again, that seems like a long time ago, before the Wildcats won 8 of their last 9.

In the end, I think if Kansas State wants to earn the upset, they’ll have to get it in the first half, and maybe even in the first 10 minutes. Not only have the Wildcats lost huge leads at Texas and at home against Kansas, but the Tigers are so good in the second half (19-0 when leading at halftime), especially at home, that if they are winning or even close at the break, they’ll be very tough to beat in front of what is likely to be another sellout crowd.

Griffin out

Blake Griffin will not play tonight against Kansas. You have to think that makes Kansas the favorites to win this game.

Missouri defeats Kansas

The Missouri women’s basketball team defeated Kansas 74-60 Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

Jessra Johnson led the Tigers with 20 points. Check back later for more coverage of this game.