2009-10 Result: 23-11 (10-6 Big 12) lost to West Virginia 68-59 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach: Mike Anderson 177-87 in eight seasons (88-46 in four years with the Tigers).
Twenty-four Tigers have graduated to the National Basketball Association including DeMarre Carroll, Keyon Dooling and Linas Kleiza.
Missouri has made 23 trips to the NCAA Tournament qualifying for the Elite Eight in ’44, ’76, ’94, ’02 and ’09. The Tigers have also reached the Sweet Sixteen on three occasions.
Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/30 vs. Georgetown, 12/2 at Oregon, 12/8 vs. Vanderbilt, 12/16 vs. Oral Roberts, 12/22 vs. Illinois, 12/30 vs. Old Dominion.
Stat of Identity: 10.9 steals per game: #1 in the nation.
Key Returners:
Laurence Bowers 22.5 mpg, 10.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Marcus Denmon 21 mpg, 10.4 ppg
Mike Dixon 16.6 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 1.7:1 A/T
Kim English 24.1 mpg, 14.0 ppg
Justin Safford 20 mpg, 8.6 ppg
By Paul Casey Gotham
Ten Tigers averaged double-digit playing minutes last year. The result was an up-tempo attack that created almost 11 turnovers per game. At the same time, Missouri ranked second in the nation in turnover ratio. It’s no coincidence that Missouri earned its third consecutive invite to The Dance. Missouri’s 54 wins over the last two seasons ranks second in the Big 12, and Anderson returns over 50 percent of last year’s point production and 64 percent of the team’s rebounding.
Kim English and Marcus Denmon return in the back court. English led the scoring last year hitting a team-leading 68 three-pointers. Denmon matched English from behind the arc, but took almost 20 fewer attempts. As a sophomore, English established himself as someone who can go off the dribble and create shots. He topped the 20-point plateau 10 times last year including a 20-point output against Clemson in the NCAA tournament and 20 points against Illinois.
Expect sophomore Mike Dixon to see time off the bench. Dixon also connected for for double figures against Illinois and against West Virginia in the second round of the East Regional.
Junior college transfer, Matt Pressey gives Missouri depth at guard.
Justin Safford and Laurence Bowers return to the front court. The duo combined for 18.8 points and 9.9 rebounds a year ago.
Freshmen, Phil Pressey (younger brother of Matt), Rickey Kreklow and Kadeem Green will look to crack the lineup.
Is Missouri starting to assert itself at the top of both major NCAA sports, or is it just my imagination (their football loss this weekend to Cornhuskers notwithstanding).
It certainly looks that way. Mike Anderson is a stand up guy. His kids ALWAYS play hard. You have to beat them because they won’t beat themselves.
Pete —
Mizzou has teased us in the past, especially with hoops. I remember Norm Stewart’s teams were typically very good but just couldn’t get to elite status. He was always a guest coach at a basketball camp I went to for 3 summers in a row in DesMoines. The other “ordinary HS coaches” would just sit there in awe … now I know why.
Anyway … I still have doubts the Tigers can sustain a lofty status, but we’ll see. But ya know what … getting your two programs firmly into Top 20 neighborhood is pretty good … ND would love to be able to say that 🙂
I think they have teased in football as well, but still Top 20 in both is impressive indeed. They are, as is said in current parlance, relevant. Maybe some day for ND (we hope!).