The Missouri Tigers have been kicking butt and taking names throughout the 2011-12 college basketball season.
With an 18-1 record, the Tigers are now knocking at the door of the top spot in the college basketball polls. Mizzou is now ranked No. 2 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Media and Coaches polls. Only No. 1 Kentucky stands between Mizzou and the top spot in college hoops. Mizzou has not been ranked this high this late in the season since the 1990 season when it was ranked No. 1.
The Tigers have been on a roll all season, but they really solidified their spot at No. 2 with last weekend’s 89-88 victory over then No. 3 Baylor in Waco, Texas. It was Mizzou’s most impressive victory of the season. Despite the close score, Mizzou controlled the tempo of the game and dominated the much bigger Baylor team on the boards.
Mizzou also garnered some individual national honors as well as senior forward Ricardo Ratliffe was named the Big XII Conference Player of the Week and the National Player of the Week. The 6’8” Ratliffe was a beast against the taller Baylor team with 27 points, eight rebounds and two blocks to lead Missouri.
All of the honors and accolades that the Tigers have received so far have been well-deserved. They are one of college basketball’s most entertaining teams to watch with its combination of speed, shooting and team chemistry.
In his first year on the job as head coach, Frank Haith has taken this veteran group and turned them into a legitimate Final Four contender. Haith has to be the leading candidate for National Coach of the Year at this juncture.
Mizzou’s four-guard offense has been breathtaking to watch at times. They move the ball and play so unselfishly. The ball always finds the open man, who ultimately nails the 3-pointer.
The Tigers have five players who score in double figures, led by senior Marcus Denmon’s 17.6 points a game. Ratliffe averages 14.6 points while leading the nation in field goal percentage at an astonishing 77 percent from the field. Senior Kim English averages 14.4 points while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. Junior Michael Dixon averages 12 points as the ace sixth man while sophomore Phil Pressey averages 10 points and a team-high six assists a game. The 5’10” Pressey is one of the nation’s top point guards.
What could make the Tigers postseason run more exciting is that it could possibly come through St. Louis. The NCAA Midwest Regionals will be held in St. Louis in late March and Mizzou could be in line for a top seed in the St. Louis regional. That would be something else.
A few key games on the horizon that could determine the Tigers’ ultimate seeding will be their two meetings with rival Kansas on Feb. 4 in Columbia and Feb. 25 in Lawrence. The rematch with Baylor will be on Feb. 11 in Columbia.
With 12 games left in the regular season and the Big XII Tournament left to play, it should be quite a ride for Mizzou fans.
ll.) in a battle of nationally-ranked girls’ powerhouse programs. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
St. Joseph’s is led by the standout senior backcourt of 6’1” twins Maddie and Morgan Stock and 6’3” junior center Sydney Stipanovich. Bolingbrook is the three-time defending Illinois Class 4A state champion. Bolingbrook has team loaded of Division I prospects, which are led by forward Morgan Tuck who has signed with Connecticut.
The rest of the lineup is as follows: MICDS vs. Westminster (girls), 9:30 a.m., MICDS vs. Parkway South, 11 a.m.; Belleville East vs. Belleville West, 12:30 p.m.; Alton Marquette vs. Glenbard East (Ill.), 2:15 p.m.; Webster Groves vs. McCluer, 3:45 p.m.; Vianney vs. Cardinal Ritter, 7 p.m.
Vianney enters the contest ranked in the Top 25 in the latest USA Today national prep rankings for the first time in the school’s history. Vianney is currently No. 24. They will face Cardinal Ritter and standout guard Cameron Biedscheid, who is nationally-ranked player who’s headed to Notre Dame.
Condolences
I would like to pass along condolences to the family of William Coby, Sr., who recently passed away. Coby was the father of former Chaminade College Prep basketball standout Billy Coby, who was a great player during the late 1990’s. William Coby Sr. was also a tremendous coach and leader in youth sports in the University City community for more than 40 years. He was a past president of the University City Sports Association. Mr. Coby was a wonderful man and he will be missed in the youth sports community. I feel very blessed to have known him.
