Fire Moore!

More on Norfleet and his recruiting process with Missouri

Login to view embedded media
Recruited by Blake Baker himself to LSU. Got some run as a true freshman. Hopper/Bailey replacement?

Mosley did not make the trip to Arkansas. Not that it matters, just wanted to let others know.

I got this thought that about every ten years there's an elite basketball recruit from Mizzou's backyard that stays home. So I looked it up. These are the guys off the top of my head.

Stipanovich '78
Peeler '87
Rush '98
Hansbrough '04
Michael Porter Jr '16
Aaron Rowe '25?

There's obviously elite recruits coming from here every couple years that don't go to Mizzou like Jayson Tatum, Ben McLemore, Willie Cauley-Stein, etc. But it seems to be Mizzou gets one about every 9 years. And I'm counting Hansbrough because there's a rumor that he would have come here if Quin hadn't been fired. I have no idea if that's true but it's more fun to believe that it is.

So it would seem Mizzou is about due for the next one. Aaron Rowe comes to mind as a possibility. Anybody else coming up that could stay here?

Am I missing any other elite local guys that stayed home?

I know 3-4 people from high school who just graduated from the J school and all of them seem to never miss a opportunity to make fun of mizzou sports. Seems like of weird to root against your own school

Gotta think that a few more may be headed out the door.

The article is behind a paywall. Here is a summary:

Remember the last one our HC had to go out and get in a "make or break year?"

We don't know how it's gonna turn out, but the kid has upward momentum, has OC'd two conference championships, been "recruiter of the year in his conference," has a brother in the same position in the NFL, and is not a sad retread.

I'm in.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Keep hearing Casey Woods is being targeted for a return tour by the staff.

HCDG getting some love from CBS for NCOY

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...tino-among-early-picks-for-coach-of-the-year/

Fun read from Alex Scarborough of ESPN with several stories from long-time coaches:

Edit: Updated Illini from -3 to -7.

We were only 3 point KenPom dogs to kU and UK. 7 point dogs to Illni. We are 9 point dogs to Arky, with a 23% chance to win.

Just remember tonight. A win is monstrous. But a loss is projected/expected. We will probably be 3-2 in our most difficult stretch. A great stretch for this team and has solidified us as a projected NCAAT at large.

Looking to buy 2 tickets for the game on 1/21 and it says there’s a promo code available. If anyone would be willing to share (or has tickets of their own for sale…) I’d appreciate it!

Fresno State's starting C is in the transfer portal. Has one year of eligibility thanks to his COVID year.

Schmidt has been the Bulldogs’ primary center for the past two seasons - He started all 27 games for the ‘Dogs over the past two years. He started all 14 games at center in this past 2022 season and started 10 of 13 at center in 2021 with three starts at guard. Schmidt was honored as a Second-Team All-Mountain West selection this season. He also started four games as a true freshman in 2019 at center.

Click to expand...

Link

The article also references another O lineman in the portal who was a contributor.

High praise here! https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/b...pa-on-new-oc-kirby-moore-the-next-sean-mcvay/

Anyone have any insight which side is the visitors bench at Arky? Since we were in St Louis Thursday night and at Mizzou last night, this hot streak may be dependent on our attendance and the hog pen is only 90 miles down the road from Lamar.

I know Drew does a Tiger Tipoff before Each game, but I have some free time at work and wanted to discuss a few things prior to that.

At the beginning of the year Arkansas had one of the most talent filled rosters in Men's basketball. They had length, they had wings, they had versatility. They WERE a legit Final Four contender. Then the season started. It has not been a bad season for the Razorbacks. They are 11-2 and those two losses are to a then ranked Creighton team playing at full strength (Ryan Kalkbrenner is now hurt) and to a 12-1 LSU team. Both very respectable losses. They lost to Creighton by 3 in Hawaii and by 3 to LSU in what was there worst offensive perfomance of probably the last two years. They shot 4-25 from behind the arc against LSU. If they would have shot 24% from behind the arc (two more makes) they win that game. So Arky is a good team. They are currently 16 in ESPN's power rankings.


This issue Arky has? DEPTH. Nick Smith, their highly prized freshman and projected Lottery pick is out indefinitely. Trevon Brazile, who all Mizzou fans know well, is out for the year. What this has meant for Arky is this, VERY EXTENDED minutes for the starters. Anthony Black, their 6'8" point guard, Ricky Council IV, their 6'6" wing that can get into the lane at will and Davonte Davis, their 6'4" wing all played FORTY MINUTES against LSU. Arkansas' bench played a TOTAL OF 12 minutes. What was a strength is now a weakness. They have NO depth.

What they do have is a talented starting 5. If you are playing man defense, Ricky Council IV is going to get to the rim on you. He goes down hill and when he gets going, HE GETS GOING. He is athletic, has a mid range game and attacks the rim and the paint area. He is a problem for ANY team. Anthony Black, is the type of guard Dennis Gates wants to recruit here. He handles the ball well. He is always calm. and at 6'8" he is a match up problem for most point guards. Jordan Walsh, is a 6'7" junkyard dog. He guards, he scrambles for loose balls, he does the dirty work and does not need the ball. Imagine a slightly taller Tre Gomillion (sans the occasional ballhandling responsibilities). Makhi MItchell is a 6'9" kid with a motor. Their starting 5 is GOOD.

But, that is all they have. They don't shoot from the outside. Because they are not deep, they did not rush tempo against LSU. They really can't. What they do well, is limit their turnovers, keep the game close and overwhelm you with drives to the basket if you are in man to man defense.

This is not as tough of a game as many fans will think. I see us playing a LOT of zone. I see Black exhausted by the end of this game because he has to guard Honor, or Hodge or Gholston or East who should all be fresh because we go 9 deep. I see Council frustrated because his driving lanes are clogged up and he has to settle for jumpers just out of his range. I also see a couple of players that have not been counted on playing having to play because Kobe gets someone in foul trouble.

Having said all that, because this game is in Bud Walton Arky can win. If they do, it will have to be a rock fight like our team had to play last year. If they do win it will be a game in the low 60s or 50s and we just shoot like shit.

If they Tigers shoot 33% or better from behind the arc, this game is a win.

Having said that, I predict the Tigers win 73-62.

M-I-Z!!!

@GabeD @drewking0222 What do you think?

I’m making the 3 hour trek from Dallas to College Station to watch our ranked Tigers. Does anyone have any contacts either with Mizzou or TAMU that could help me with tickets? I’d love to be able to sit down by Mizzou’s bench. Prices on secondary websites are outrageous given that TAMU’s arena won’t exactly be full, plus would love to bypass those dumbass site fees.