A College Basketball Interlude

As long time readers know, I'm a huge NCAA College Basketball fan. I've periodically posted about Division I college hoops on these pages over the years, particularly concerning my beloved Mizzou Tigers. For those you who haven't been paying attention, my alma mater endured wandering in basketball wilderness following The Incubus Quin Snyder (TM).

Aside: For fun "Google" the phrase "incubus Quin Snyder." You get this. [Insert Smiley Face Emoticon.]

Fortunately, Quin was fired, and our Athletic Director hired Mike Anderson to coach the team, a choice which I loved. even though the Athletic Director wouldn't consider me for the job. Mike took the Tigers to the Beulah Land of the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament and brought respectability back to the basketball program.

Thus, when Anderson resigned last year in favor of his first love, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, I was shocked, dismayed and depressed. Nonetheless, I held out hope that Athletic Director Mike Alden would again work his magic and bring in a big name. What we got, was Frank Haith.

Huh?

Note his coaching record before Mizzou at Miami in the ACC:  Precisely one NCAA tournament appearance. Yes, people said he recruited well, but the proof is in the pudding, isn't it? What did he do with those recruits? Not much at Miami.

So the basketball season started this year, and I resigned myself to a season of mediocrity.

Lo, did my Tigers win.

And win.

And win.

Even though they're short and play a four guard, one big offense. Yet, people started to notice. From ESPN earlier this year:

Despite running out to a 9-0 record under coach Frank Haith, the Missouri Tigers find themselves ranked eighth in this week's ESPN/USA Today poll. They’re behind four teams that have already lost, including North Carolina, which has lost twice. While Missouri doesn't have as much name recognition as Ohio State, Kentucky, or Duke, the Tigers might be the most complete team in college basketball. My definition of "complete" is pretty simple: It’s whether a team that can produce at a high level on both ends of the court. I think Missouri fits the bill better than almost any other team.

By all means, read the whole thing and watch the videos. Amazing stuff.

And our lack of height, "vertically challenged," as Coach Haith calls it? Again ESPN on our lone big buy Ricardo Ratliff:

Ratliffe's tempo-free numbers are every bit as impressive. Ratliffe ranks No. 1 in the country in effective field goal percentage (77.1 percent) and true shooting percentage (75.8 percent). The former factors in 3-point shooting, which Ratliffe never does; the latter accounts for free throw accuracy. What's more, Ratliffe's eFG% is nine points better than the second-best player in the country, Denver's Brett Olson, and the rest of the pack that crowds the top of the list. Ratliffe is way out in front.

 And so:

Ricardo Ratliffe is the most important player in America. Missouri has a national-championship caliber backcourt. The Tigers have so many weapons. And they used all of them to beat Baylor Saturday. Ratliffe was dominant with 27 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Missouri gets by on limited size because of Ratliffe’s efficiency and versatility. With Ratliffe’s prowess, the Tigers have Final Four potential. Without him, they wouldn’t be a top-10 squad. He’s that much of a difference-maker for that team. With Missouri’s limited size, he’s the most crucial player in the country.

Such was on display Saturday, when Mizzou traveled to Waco, Texas for a road game against the number 3 Baylor Bears. Some video:



And analysis:




And some discussion:

EB: . . . Speaking of Missouri … on a normal Saturday, that was the win of the day. Yesterday, it was one of three. Either way, huge, huge victory for the Tigers on the road. This team has to be seen as a legit national title contender now, right?

MM: Definitely. Most of the top-10 teams are still figuring things out in one way or another. Not Missouri. The Tigers are confident in who they are. And they're as tough as any team in the country, too. Speaking of toughness … where was Baylor's?

EB: I really want to defend Perry Jones III from all those charges about him being soft … and then I watch him play, and I can't disagree! That's how I feel about this Baylor team. They have been incredibly impressive for much of this season, but I feel like they lack that hard edge in the middle of their lineup. Jones and Quincy Miller simply don't give that sort of look to your team. I wonder if that's an issue going forward.

MM: I agree that it's hard to defend Perry Jones when he disappears in a huge HOME game. I was waiting for him to have a Naismith moment -- "Forget this, there's no way we're losing this one!" -- but it never happened. And to be honest, the only time that has happened was during Baylor's win at BYU.

Finally, an interview with guard Kim English and more reaction.

And some more ESPN comments.

I'm feeling pretty darn good about this season, though I don't want to jinx it. The (Evil) Kansas Jayhawks await.

And Frank Haith: I'm sorry. I love you, man.

Cheers.

R. Sherman