INSIDE TODAY:
BASKETBALL
WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Call Sports Editor Greg Bowers: 573-882-5729 or send email to: bowersg@missouri.edu or fax us: 573-882-5702 Visit us on the Web: www.ColumbiaMissourian.com/sports
The Missouri men’s basketball team is ready for Saturday’s season opener. Page 3B
SECTION B, Friday & Saturday, November 9-10, 2012
Missouri (4-5, 1-5 SEC) at Tennessee (4-5, 0-5 SEC) / 11:21 a.m. Saturday / KQFX FOX / KTGR 1580 AM
A DAY ON THE FIELD WITH NORRIS KRUSE By BRENDAN MEYER
Y
JAIME HENRY-WHITE/Missourian
Missouri tailback Marcus Murphy receives a punt during the game against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 1 at Memorial Stadium.
Easy to miss Missouri benefits from tailback Marcus Murphy’s quickness By RICHARD FERNANDEZ
sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com Four yards is all he needs. Three yards, and Marcus Murphy will call for a fair catch. But four is enough. It is enough room for him to make someone miss, he said. When fielding a punt, a returner must make a split-second decision based on how close the kicking team’s coverage is to him. The returner also needs to have his eyes looking up to catch the ball. Even with his eyes up, Murphy can sense when defenders are closing in. The junior from DeSoto, Texas, knows that if he can get past the first defender, he’ll be able to see the rest of the field clearly. When Missouri played University of Central Florida, Murphy caught a punt with a defender only four yards away from him. A teammate blocked the nearby defender just as Murphy made the catch. Free to return the ball, Murphy sharply cut to the left, surprising two Central Florida players in front of him and making them fall to the ground. He took it “to the crib.” The end zone has been a familiar place for Murphy. He has scored five touchdowns, more than anyone on the team besides Kendial Lawrence, who has eight.
“
Murph’s doing a heck of a job. Should be All-American punt returner this year.” KIP EDWARDS
Missouri cornerback
All of Lawrence’s scores came on runs, but Murphy’s are a mixed bag. He has just 32 rushing attempts on the season, compared to Lawrence’s 136. As the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, Murphy had to find other ways to have the ball in his hands. And he has. Murphy has touchdowns on three punt returns, one kickoff return and a run. After starting the season off just returning punts, Murphy earned a spot on kickoff returns. He even took one all the way back against the No. 1 team in the country, Alabama. “I tried to tell everybody in the last year or two that he was going to be doing this,” receiver T.J. Moe said. “He’s not disappointing.” Even his 9-yard touchdown run against
Kentucky looked more like a punt return because of the way Murphy quickly burst to the outside of the field. “Murph’s doing a heck of a job,” cornerback Kip Edwards said. “Should be AllAmerican punt returner this year.” When Edwards asked Murphy why he’s so good at returning punts, Murphy joked that it was because he is from Dallas. Murphy has always taken pride in having the ball in his hands, even while playing at DeSoto High School. Even back then, Murphy saw punt and kick returns as opportunities to show his ability and quickness. “I took pride in it in high school, and coming in now, it can get you some looks for the next level,” Murphy said. His returns have certainly gotten him noticed. Murphy has been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week twice so far this season. But it hasn’t all been easy for Murphy either. He missed the entire 2011 season with a shoulder injury. Murphy has also had a couple of low points this season. In a game against Vanderbilt, he dislocated his right ring finger after a 25-yard run. Against Kentucky, Murphy struggled to
Please see MURPHY, page 4B
Linebacker fires up Hickman football team Senior J’den Cox won’t let injury keep him off field By MATTHEW FAIRBURN
sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com J’den Cox could barely stand up. Cox, a senior linebacker on the Hickman football team, was leaning on teammate Jared Hyler as the Kewpies captains stood at midfield for the overtime coin toss in the team’s 10-7 win over Rock Bridge in the district semifinals on Friday night. Cox had left the game with an injury just moments earlier. With about seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Cox hit the turf clutching his ankle. As he writhed on the ground in pain, a concerned silence fell over the Kewpies crowd. Coach Arnel Monroe, who calls Cox his team’s fire, huddled around Cox with Hick-
KILE BREWER/Missourian
Hickman linebacker J’den Cox leads the Kewpies in a chant during halftime of their district semifinal game against Rock Bridge on Nov. 2. man’s training staff before helping him off the field. The student body began to chant Cox’s name. For a moment, the Kewpies’
Friday’s game
fire had been put out. But that didn’t last long, as Cox hobbled on the field to play overtime with his team’s season in the balance, lighting
No. 2 seed Hickman (9-1) at No.1 seed Francis Howell (10-1)
a fire under the Kewpies. “J’den’s a superhero,” junior defensive back Justise Keith said. “J’den doesn’t feel pain.” Cox said running wasn’t the issue, but stopping and cutting caused him a considerable amount of pain. But Cox wasn’t going to be kept off the field. “Sitting on the sideline to me is letting my team down,” Cox said. “It’s not an option to be hurt. I’m going to force myself to do what I have to do no matter what the pain has to be.” While Cox wasn’t at 100 percent, the rest of Hickman’s defense rallied around him, forcing a turnover in overtime to preserve a three-point victory. “How you answer adversity shuts up your critics,” Monroe said. “When J’den was down, I told them ‘We’ve got to answer.’ They fought for each other.”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
Please see HICKMAN, page 3B
WHERE: St. Charles
ou stand, 30 feet away. Norris Kruse says nothing. The infield dirt blows in the wind, the leaves rustle in the distance. He swings his arm back and throws the softball. It pins your glove square to your chest, the thwack of the mitt echoing across the vacant field. You rear back and do the same. He eagerly awaits, white hair waving in the wind, knees slightly bent, glove pinned to his chest. He’s smiling. “Man, I really enjoy this,” he says, raising his voice, the wind blowing his words your way. “My older friends, they won’t do this, and my younger friends, they are all working.” For 15 minutes, you just react. It doesn’t matter how different you are. He is not a 77-year-old retired P.E. teacher, or a 50-year softball veteran. You are just two kids, playing catch. “Let’s go hit,” he says, trotting to the dugout to grab his bat. You walk toward the mound. He walks toward the plate. You can’t throw a strike. He patiently waits. You find the strike zone. He drills the ball. “There it is!” he says, watching the ball drop in the left field grass. “That one felt good.” He’s played in tournaments in Utah, Las Vegas, Kansas, Ohio, and Illinois, and will be heading to Florida in January. He plays for the Red Weirs, an over-50 softball team in Columbia, and the Antiques, an over-75 softball team in Kansas City. He swings a bat in his basement and throws a ball against a wall during the offseason. “I love it, and if I quit now, I believe I’d have to find something else.” You sprint out to the field to fetch the balls. You kneel down and grab one, and prepare to hurl it his way, but as you turn around, you see Kruse running right behind. You pick up the balls together. “Your turn to hit,” he says. You walk toward the plate. He walks toward the mound. He throws only strikes. You drill them to left field. “Nice hit,” he says, as you both pause to see where the ball lands. “If I brought my better bat, that one would have been over the fence.” With every swing, you feel a rush of excitement. Each hit brings you back to a certain moment, a time when nothing else mattered. As you watch the ball soar, you think about playing baseball with your dad. You think about home run derbies in your backyard, and shagging fly balls with your friends. “My wife says I feel like I’m 15 when I’m out here,” Kruse says, smiling. “She’s watched me in tournaments, and she said she doesn’t ever see me move like that at home.” You play and talk, switching positions from pitcher to hitter, picking up balls and throwing them back in. After an hour, you head back toward the dugout. He picks up his bat, and you carry the balls. You slowly leave the field, and walk toward your cars. Before you drive off, he turns and smiles. “I’d love to do this again if you would like to.”
BRIDGET MURPHY/Missourian
Norris Kruse, 77, poses for a photo at a softball field near his home in Columbia on Thursday. Kruse plays first base for his softball team during its season from April to October. He also played first base on his high school baseball team.
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
Page 2B — FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012
10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
TENNESSEE
M
ost Missouri fans know a few things about the University of Tennessee. They know that the football team’s offense is good, and that its defense isn’t. They know Peyton Manning went there not too long ago, before moving on to a career full of pro bowls and MasterCard commercials. They know, also, that Tennessee stands in the way of Missouri’s first road SEC win. // Besides all that, here’s 10 things you didn’t know about Tennessee.
10
“Rocky Top,” the unofficial theme song of Tennessee football, was written in a hotel room in about 10 minutes. Songwriting tandem and married couple Boudleaux and Felice Bryant wrote the song in 1967 in the Gatlinburg Inn in Gatlinburg, Tenn. They were working on songs for another album and took a break to write “Rocky Top” in their spare time. It was first recorded by the Osborne Brothers later that year.
Smokey, the bluetick coonhound that has served as Tennessee’s live mascot since 1953, allegedly took a bite out of Alabama in 2006. Before the two teams played, Alabama receiver Mike McCoy fell out of bounds after catching a pass in warm ups and landed on Smokey IX. Alabama coach Mike Shula claimed that the dog bit McCoy and drew blood. Smokey’s owner, Earl Hudson, denied everything but did say, “What dog worth his salt wouldn’t defend himself?”
7
The University of Tennessee athletic teams got the name “Volunteers” because of the state’s willingness to volunteer for military service. During the War of 1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson, who was from Tennessee, gathered 1,500 volunteers from his home state to fight in the Battle of New Orleans. Later, Gov. Aaron V. Brown called for 2,800 Tennesseans to fight in the Mexican-American War. Thirty thousand people volunteered.
4 3
Neyland Stadium, where the Tennessee Volunteers play their football games, holds almost 100,000 more people today than it did when it first opened in 1921. The original capacity was 3,200, but 16 renovations later, it now holds 102,455 people. As interest has grown, so too has the stadium.
Many Tennessee fans tailgate on boats before home games. The Tennessee River runs adjacent to Neyland Stadium, and before games roughly 200 boats float on the river as fans party on the water to prepare for the game. The tradition was started by Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney in 1962, and ever since, the “Vol Navy” has been “sailgating” before entering Neyland Stadium.
1
2
An example of a law that no longer applies to present society (and probably never did): It is illegal to lasso a fish in Knoxville. So, for any Missouri fans traveling there for the weekend, heed this advice: Leave your fish lassos at home.
In 1974, broadcaster Walter Cronkite named Knoxville the “Streaking Capital of the World.” Streaking – or running around naked in public – had become a somewhat popular stunt at the University of Tennessee that year, with the apex coming on March 4, 1974. That night, more than five thousand men and women ran naked on the Cumberland Avenue strip on campus, an event the city’s website refers to as “stripping on the strip.”
SXC.HU
SXC.HU
9
The man who invented the Dumpster, a receptacle to store garbage and empty it into garbage trucks, was the mayor of Knoxville from 1952-1955. George R. Dempster patented the Dempster Dumpster in 1937, and it began to catch on nationwide in the 1950s.
8
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The school’s colors, orange and white, were chosen by Charles Moore, the president of the university’s athletic association, in 1889. The lighter shade of orange was based off the color of the common American daisy that grew in abundance on “The Hill,” an area on the east side of campus.
SXC.HU
— MIKE VOREL
6 5
The carbonated soft drink Mountain Dew was first invented and marketed in Knoxville by brothers Barney and Ally Hartman in the 1940s. It was initially meant to be used as a mixer with liquor, and while it can still be used for that purpose, it quickly began to stand alone as a carbonated beverage.
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012 — Page 3B
Missouri basketball ready for new season By JUSTIN YANG
go get 20 points in the next.� sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com The Tigers have much to be excited On Saturday before the season opener about heading into season play, espeagainst Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, cially Phil Pressey. The Los AngeKeion Bell, a senior guard on the Mis- les Athletic Club announced Thurssouri men’s basketball team, will wake day afternoon that the junior guard is up early, practice some shots and watch included on the preseason top 50 watch some game film. list for the Wooden Award, one of the Then he will do something different highest awards in college basketball. from his teammates. Last month, Pressey was named as an “Sleep,� Bell said. “Sleep until I come SEC Preseason Player of the Year. here for the pregame, Despite blowing out get something to eat their two exhibition and call my mom and opponents, the Tigers say a quick prayer.� still have some minor He says it helps his consistency issues to SIU-Edwardsville game. work out. Turnovers Stefan Jankovic will at No. 15 Missouri were an issue for Misphone his father, a for- WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday souri with center Alex mer handball player, Oriakhi still trying to WHERE: Mizzou Arena for some advice and get a feel for Pressey’s TV: KOMU quick conversation, just lobs to him in the post. like he does before any “They gotta get used other game. to playing with each Even though the players seem like other some more,� Haith said chuckthey’re treating the opener like any ling. “I think there were a couple of other game, Missouri coach Frank passes that Alex wasn’t ready for.� Haith said the team is excited to start Haith said the one thing he was workgames with actual consequences. ing on was the team’s consistency. He “You have stages throughout this pro- hopes he will get some of that with the cess,� Haith said. “You have excitement return of Bell to the lineup Saturday. for the first practice and then that Bell sat out the Tigers’ exhibition game wears on you a little bit, then you build Sunday with symptoms of pneumonia. into the first exhibition game and that For the players, the season opener wears a little bit, and now you want the will be another game. real game.� Oriakhi will do his usual routine of Haith was excited that the exhibition a prayer. games showed he had a wealth of capa“I just pray,� he said. “I’ll call my ble scorers from transfers to freshman. father on the phone, and then I’ll say a “We know that we have a number of quick prayer for the Lord and for him guys who could score the ball,� Haith to bless me and my teammates and said. “In the first game you have Ear- most of all just get a win.� nest (Ross) and Keion go get 20-plus And Missouri basketball will start a points and have a freshman (Jankovic) promising season.
Season opener
MU guard Phil Pressey passes the ball during the Tigers’ first preseason basketball game against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on Oct. 29. Missouri won the game 91-58. JAIME HENRY-WHITE Missourian
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COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
Page 4B — FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012
Lane makes most of second chance Tennessee’s tailback Marlin Lane got his chance to shine against Troy last Saturday after injury forced out starting tailback Rajion Neal. Now that Neal is back, the Volunteers have a quality duo to carry the ball for the rest of the season.
‘I’m proud of Marlin. He’s really stepped up and he’s performing the way he’s capable of.’ TENNESSEE COACH DEREK DOOLEY On Marlin Lane
By STEVE MEGARGEE
The Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee tailback Marlin Lane is making the most of a second chance. Lane couldn’t beat out teammate Rajion Neal for the Volunteers’ starting tailback spot and initially struggled in a reserve role. But he has come on strong since an ankle injury started limiting Neal. Lane’s career-high 132 rushing yards and game-winning touchdown somehow got lost amid the record-setting totals produced by Tennessee’s passing attack in a 55-48 victory over Troy last week. Now that Neal is working his way back into peak form, the Vols hope they can have two quality backs carrying their vastly improved rushing attack. Tennessee heads into Saturday’s game with Missouri averaging 162 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry this season after running for just 90.1 yards per game and 2.8 yards per attempt a year ago. “I’m just staying consistent and keep working hard,” Lane said. “That was the biggest part, just staying consistent.” That also was the toughest part of Lane’s development. Lane’s struggles with consistency as he recovered from a broken hand prevented him from making much of an impact early in the season. Tennessee coach Derek Dooley says that represents the biggest change in Lane since the beginning of the year. “These last two games, we’ve seen a Marlin Lane who’s the same at practice every day,
AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/The Associated Press
Tennessee running back Marlin Lane scores a touchdown in a 55-48 win over Troy on Nov. 3. Lane had a career-high 132 rushing yards against Troy after starting the year as a backup for Rajion Neal. and then he goes out and we know what we’re getting in a game,” Dooley said. “That was something we didn’t really get coming into the year and earlier in the year. I’m proud of Marlin. He’s really stepped up and he’s performing the way he’s capable of.” The Vols didn’t really need much from Lane early in the season because Neal was playing so well.
Neal rushed for 460 yards and four touchdowns through the first five games of the season, including a 151-yard performance against Akron and a 104-yard effort against Georgia in consecutive weeks. He injured his ankle on Oct. 13 and missed the Vols’ next two games. In his return to action last week, Neal rushed for 32 yards on seven carries and
caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee running backs coach Jay Graham said Neal is feeling better and getting more reps in practice this week. “I’ve played this game for a long time, so I wasn’t afraid,” Neal said. “I went out there saying, ‘Hey, if it’s going to get broke, it’s just going to get broke, but I’m going to go out here full speed and keep rolling.’ “ Lane hadn’t carried the ball more than nine times in any of Tennessee’s first six games, but he responded well to an increased workload after Neal’s injury. Over his last three games, Lane has rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries. Graham said he Lane’s improvement started even before Neal got sidelined. Graham said he noticed a difference in Lane during the off week that led up to an Oct. 13 trip to Mississippi State. Neal got injured during the Mississippi State game. “During the open week, I really felt he started pushing through and trying to practice as close to game day (intensity) as you can,” Graham said. “You’re going to play faster when you practice faster. He’s starting to understand what that means.” A healthy Neal and an improved Lane could give the Vols a quality duo to carry the ball for the rest of the season in their bid for a bowl berth. Neal has rushed for 532 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry this year. Lane has run for 428 yards and two touchdowns while gaining 5 yards per attempt. Tennessee’s coaches haven’t indicated how they might divide carries. “They’re both productive,” Dooley said. “It always depends on who’s kind of got that groove going in a game.”
FROM THE SPORTS FRONT
Tailback’s speed a big asset MURPHY from page 1B field punts. He fumbled the first two punts he handled in the game. Murphy quickly bounced back from both setbacks. But at his size, fielding punts seems dangerous. Murphy is generously listed at 5 foot 9 inches and 185 pounds. If he were to take a direct hit from a tackler, he might go flying. But that doesn’t seem to happen too often to the lightweight running back. “The main thing is when guys get hit hard, and you know, blasted, I feel that they let the tackler square up on him and make a good tackle,” Murphy said. “With me, I just try to make the tackler as awkward as I can, you know, just make it hard for him to wrap up and use fundamentals. “I just give him a last-minute move or just give him a head fake just to throw him off a little bit and take something off the impact.” Murphy protects himself with his quickness. Moe sees the returner’s small
STUART PALLEY/Missourian
Missouri tailback Marcus Murphy returns a punt for one of his two touchdowns during the game against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 1. size as an advantage, mentioning Dante Hall and Darren Sproles, smaller players with great success returning punts in the NFL. He may not be big, but Murphy doesn’t always have to try to avoid contact. Moe says Murphy can be a physical runner. “He’s a powerful little kid too,” Moe said. “He ran over somebody on Florida’s
defense on a sweep pass.” Murphy hopes to reach the end zone a few more times before the season is over. He wants the ball in his hands, and he doesn’t care how he gets it. “Once you get the ball in your hand it’s pretty much all the same,” Murphy said. “You’ve got to read your blocks and just make people miss.”
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012 — Page 5B
Latvian native follows dream at Missouri By TAYLOR VORTHERMS
sports@columbiamissourian.com Twelve years ago in a small apartment on the outskirts of Latvia’s bustling capital of Riga, a poster of Shaquille O’Neal shaped the future of Missouri basketball player Liene Priede. “My older brother had that poster, so whenever someone asked me who my favorite NBA player was, I’d choose him because I didn’t know any other ones,” Priede said. “It was always really annoying to him.” Priede shared her brother’s enthusiasm for basketball, and the sport eventually led her on a journey full of obstacles to the United States, where she impressed the coaches on the Missouri women’s basketball team with her talentand character. “We fell in love with her personality,” Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said. “She’s got a smile that can light up a room.” It’s a smile that emerges when she mentions her home, Riga, where her story began. MEGAN MAY/Missourian “Every building is a different style. It’s indescribable,” Priede Missouri guard Liene Priede in the Tigers’ exhibition game against Lindenwood on Tuesday. She picked up the said. “You just can’t find anything game of basketball at age 8 and eventually the sport helped her come to the United States. like it in America.” She said she misses strolling through the narrow streets lined what it really was. In my mind, I I kind of realized this is not what I’m to acquire a new understanding of a with tall buildings. She said the var- thought the goal was just to get the supposed to do.” different culture. After playing two ied architecture meshes perfectly ball.” Yet Priede stuck with it, despite years for Independence Commuto create an atmosphere unlike anyShe arrived to her first practice as her father and grandmother’s disapnity College in Independence, Kan., thing she has ever seen. the only one in sweatpants, unaware proval. Pingeton and assistant coach WilAt age 8, Priede asked her mother of the appropriate playing attire. “They just think it’s a waste of lie Cox watched her play and were if she could begin playing basketball As she chased the girls around the time,” Priede said. “My grandmoth- impressed. at the same sports school as her older court, she lost her balance and slid er was an artist and wanted me to This year is Priede’s second brother, where students where able to knees-first under the bleachers of the go to art school, but I never thought season at Missouri. The only thing choose a sport to concentrate on. gymnasium. I had talent in that area.” she misses more than Riga is her “I just chose it because he was “I got stuck, so my coach had to In ninth grade, Priede decided she mother, who watches her games on doing it,” Priede said. “I had no idea pull me out,” Priede said. “After that, wanted to play in the United States a computer screen.
Today’s game St. Louis University at Missouri WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Mizzou Arena Priede said her mother has always been proud of her, then reluctantly added that she assumes the rest of her family is, too, but the topic rarely comes up. “It’s a cultural thing. Our use for the word ‘love’ is different for Americans. Some people live their whole lives and never use it,” Priede said. “We keep stuff into ourselves.” Since moving to the United States, Priede said she has opened up as a result of the environment. “She feels so much more comfortable than she did a year ago,” Pingeton said. “But I think at times, it has been very hard.” Priede will return to Latvia this summer to play on the Latvian national team for the second time. She said adjusting to that level of intensity also poses a challenge. “They do not always treat you in a nice way, so you have to stick up for yourself, keep fighting and go through the hard times, because nobody is going to give you your spot,” Priede said. “That’s how it is with professional sports. Nothing is given to you. You have to earn it.” The Latvian team will travel to Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Hungary this summer. “I’ve been to half of Europe because of basketball,” Priede said. “I’ve learned so much about different cultures. It has just been an awesome opportunity for me.”
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
Page 6B — FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFFS
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
New England Miami N.Y. Jets Buffalo
W 5 4 3 3
Houston Indianapolis Tennessee Jacksonville
W 7 6 3 1
Baltimore Pittsburgh Cincinnati Cleveland
W 6 5 3 2
Denver San Diego Oakland Kansas City
W 5 4 3 1
East L T 3 0 4 0 5 0 5 0 South L T 1 0 3 0 6 0 8 0 North L T 2 0 3 0 5 0 7 0 West L T 3 0 4 0 5 0 7 0
Pct .625 .500 .375 .375
PF 262 170 168 180
PA 170 149 200 248
Pct .875 .667 .333 .111
PF 237 186 182 127
PA 137 201 308 246
Pct .750 .625 .375 .222
PF 199 191 189 169
PA 176 164 218 211
Pct .625 .500 .375 .125
PF 235 185 171 133
PA 175 157 229 240
NATIONAL CONFERENCE N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas Washington
W 6 3 3 3
Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans Carolina
W 8 4 3 2
Chicago Green Bay Minnesota Detroit
W 7 6 5 4
San Francisco Seattle Arizona St. Louis
W 6 5 4 3
East L T Pct PF PA 3 0 .667 254 185 5 0 .375 133 183 5 0 .375 150 181 6 0 .333 226 248 South L T Pct PF PA 0 0 1.000 220 143 4 0 .500 226 185 5 0 .375 218 229 6 0 .250 149 180 North L T Pct PF PA 1 0 .875 236 120 3 0 .667 239 187 4 0 .556 204 197 4 0 .500 192 188 West L T Pct PF PA 2 0 .750 189 103 4 0 .556 170 154 5 0 .444 144 173 5 0 .375 137 186
Thursday’s result Indianapolis 27, Jacksonville 10 Sunday’s games Atlanta at New Orleans, noon Detroit at Minnesota, noon Denver at Carolina, noon San Diego at Tampa Bay, noon Tennessee at Miami, noon Buffalo at New England, noon Oakland at Baltimore, noon N.Y. Giants at Cincinnati, noon N.Y. Jets at Seattle, 3:05 p.m. St. Louis at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, 3:25 p.m. Houston at Chicago, 7:20 p.m. Open: Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington Monday’s game Kansas City at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION EASTERN CONFERENCE New York Boston Philadelphia Brooklyn Toronto
Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington
Milwaukee Chicago Cleveland Indiana Detroit
Atlantic Division W L 3 0 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 4 Southeast Division W L 4 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 0 3 Central Division W L 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 3 0 5
Pct 1.000 .500 .500 .333 .200
GB — 1½ 1½ 2 3
Pct .800 .667 .500 .333 .000
GB — 1 1½ 2 3
Pct .667 .600 .400 .400 .000
GB — — 1 1 3
WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L 4 1 4 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 Northwest Division W L Minnesota 3 1 Oklahoma City 3 2 Portland 2 2 Denver 2 3 Utah 2 3 Pacific Division W L Golden State 3 2 L.A. Clippers 3 2 Phoenix 2 3 Sacramento 2 3 L.A. Lakers 1 4 Dallas San Antonio Memphis Houston New Orleans
Pct .800 .800 .750 .500 .500
GB — — ½ 1½ 1½
Pct .750 .600 .500 .400 .400
GB — ½ 1 1½ 1½
Pct .600 .600 .400 .400 .200
GB — — 1 1 2
Thursday’s results Oklahoma City 97, Chicago 91 L.A. Clippers at Portland (n) Today’s games Brooklyn at Orlando, 6 p.m. Milwaukee at Washington, 6 p.m. Philadelphia at Boston, 6:30 p.m. Miami at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. Dallas at New York, 6:30 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m. Houston at Memphis, 7 p.m. Charlotte at New Orleans, 7 p.m. Detroit at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. Cleveland at Phoenix, 8 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento, 9 p.m. Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m. Utah at Denver, 9:30 p.m. Saturday’s games Philadelphia at Toronto, 6 p.m. Washington at Indiana, 6 p.m. Dallas at Charlotte, 6:30 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago, 7 p.m. Detroit at Houston, 7 p.m. Boston at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix at Utah, 8 p.m. San Antonio at Portland, 9 p.m. Denver at Golden State, 9:30 p.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Florida Georgia South Carolina Vanderbilt Missouri Tennessee Kentucky
EAST Conference All Games W L PF PA W L PF PA 7 1 207 95 8 1 234 109 6 1 230 145 8 1 331 188 5 2 191 149 7 2 288 165 3 3 109 124 5 4 229 154 1 5 95 157 4 5 202 203 0 5 143 211 4 5 331 319 0 7 72 254 1 9 164 332
Alabama Texas A&M LSU Mississippi St Mississippi Arkansas Auburn
WEST Conference All Games W L PF PA W L PF PA 6 0 230 61 9 0 346 82 4 2 218 115 7 2 395 189 3 2 82 78 7 2 265 131 3 2 116 131 7 2 277 177 2 3 122 147 5 4 269 250 2 3 110 154 4 5 235 262 0 6 81 185 2 7 173 246
Saturday’s games Arkansas at South Carolina, 11 a.m. Missouri at Tennessee, 11:21 a.m. Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida, 11:21 a.m. Texas A&M at Alabama, 2:30 p.m. Georgia at Auburn, 6 p.m. Mississippi St. at LSU, 6 p.m. Vanderbilt at Mississippi, 6 p.m.
Semifinals D.C. United vs. New York Saturday, Nov. 3: New York 1, D.C. United 1 Wednesday: D.C. United at New York, snow Thursday: D.C. United 1, New York 0, D.C. United advances on 2-1 aggregate Kansas City vs. Houston Sunday: Houston 2, Kansas City 0 Wednesday: Kansas City 1, Houston 0, Houston advances on 2-1 aggregate Championship Sunday, Nov. 11: Houston vs. D.C. United, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 or Sunday, Nov. 18: Houston vs. D.C. United, TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals San Jose vs. Los Angeles Sunday: San Jose 1, Los Angeles 0 Wednesday: Los Angeles 3, San Jose 1, Los Angeles advances on 3-2 aggregate Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake Friday, Nov. 2: Real Salt Lake 0, Seattle 0 Thursday: Seattle at Real Salt Lake (n) Championship Sunday, Nov. 11 or Monday, Nov. 12: Los Angeles vs. Real Salt Lake-Seattle winner, 7 or 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18: Los Angeles vs. Real Salt Lake-Seattle winner, 8 p.m.
MLS CUP Saturday, Dec. 1: Eastern champion vs. Western champion, 3:30 p.m.
SPORTS ON THE AIR NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
TODAY 9:30 p.m., ESPN — Utah at Denver SATURDAY 7 p.m., WGN — Minnesota at Chicago
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
TODAY 4:30 p.m., ESPN — Michigan St. vs. UConn, at Kaiserslautern, Germany 6 p.m., NBCSN — Ohio St. vs. Marquette, at Charleston, S.C. 7:30 p.m., ESPN — Maryland vs. Kentucky, at New York 8 p.m., NBCSN — Georgetown vs. Florida, at Jacksonville, Fla. 10 p.m., FSN — Indiana St. at UCLA
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TODAY 3 p.m., NBCSN — Notre Dame vs. Ohio St., at Charleston, S.C.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TODAY 7 p.m., ESPN2 — Pittsburgh at UConn SATURDAY 11 a.m., ABC — Louisville at Syracuse or Miami at Virginia 11 a.m., CBS — Arkansas at South Carolina 11 a.m., ESPN — Northwestern at Michigan 11 a.m., ESPN2 — Wisconsin at Indiana 11 a.m., FSN — Kansas at Texas Tech 11 a.m., NBCSN — Harvard at Penn 12:30 p.m., FX — Colorado at Arizona 2 p.m., FOX — Oregon St. at Stanford 2:30 p.m., ABC — Penn St. at Nebraska 2:30 p.m., CBS — Texas A&M at Alabama 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 — West Virginia at Oklahoma St. 2:30 p.m., FSN — Teams TBA 2:30 p.m., NBCSN — Air Force at San Diego St. 6 p.m., ESPN — Mississippi St. at LSU 6 p.m., ESPN2 — Georgia at Auburn 6 p.m., FOX — Kansas St. at TCU 6 p.m., FSN — Southern Miss. at SMU 6 p.m., NBCSN — Boise St. at Hawaii 7:07 p.m., ABC — Notre Dame at Boston College 9:30 p.m., ESPN2 — UCLA at Washington St. 9:30 p.m., NBCSN — Fresno St. at Nevada
GOLF
TODAY Noon, TGC — PGA Tour, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, second round, at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 9 p.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, Singapore Open, third round SATURDAY Noon, TGC — PGA Tour, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, third round, at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 9 p.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, Singapore Open, final round
NASCAR
TODAY 11 a.m., SPEED — Nationwide Series, practice for Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz. 1 p.m., SPEED — Sprint Cup, practice for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz. 2:30 p.m., SPEED — Nationwide Series, final practice for Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz. 3:30 p.m., SPEED — Truck Series, pole qualifying for Lucas Oil 150, at Avondale, Ariz. 5 p.m., SPEED — Sprint Cup, pole qualifying for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz. 7 p.m., SPEED — Truck Series, Lucas Oil 150, at Avondale, Ariz. SATURDAY 10:30 a.m., SPEED — Sprint Cup, practice for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz. 11:30 a.m., SPEED — Nationwide Series, pole qualifying for Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz. 1:30 p.m., SPEED — Sprint Cup, “Happy Hour Series,” final practice for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz. 3 p.m., ESPN — Nationwide Series, Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz. 6 p.m., SPEED — K&N Pro Series, at Avondale, Ariz.
SOCCER
SATURDAY 8:55 a.m., ESPN2 — Premier League, teams TBA
TENNIS
TODAY 1 p.m., ESPN2 — ATP World Tour Finals, round robin, at London (same-day tape)
Cougars volleyball advances to conference title match By AMY STROTH sports@columbiamissourian.com Playing from behind is not something the Columbia College volleyball team is used to doing. However, for much of the first set of Thursday’s match against William Woods, the team struggled to keep pace. The Owls earned 15 points from unforced Columbia College errors. Missed serves, hitting errors and shanked returns plagued the Cougars throughout the first set of the semifinal match of the American Midwest Conference tournament. Thanks to timely kills by Kahoriz Feliz, Carol Berger and Kelly Corkum, Columbia College was able to come back and win the first set 25-21. Feliz ended the night with a team-high 13 kills, Berger with nine and Corkum with eight. In the second set, the Cougars began to look a little more like themselves, playing with less errors. Serving did prove to be a weak point, though. Five serves were missed during the set. Columbia College went on to win the
second set 25-13 and third set 25-11. Cougars coach Melinda Wrye-Washington was less than impressed with her team’s play at the beginning of the game. The team’s poor ball-handling choices were uncharacteristic and frustrating. “I told them to quit trying to be an all-world team,” Wrye-Washington said, describing her exchange with the team during the timeout halfway through the first set. “They were trying to do too much. They needed to settle down.” Senior setter Paula Ferreira agreed that the team was overly ambitious at the beginning of the match. “You have to take it one point at a time,” Ferreira said. “Or else you get anxious.” Wrye-Washington looked at Thursday’s match, as well as Tuesday’s win over Stephens College, as preparation for Saturday’s AMC championship match. She said that being the No. 1 seed gave the Cougars a good opportunity to adjust to the pressure. After all, they don’t want a repeat
of last season’s AMC championship match. Missouri Baptist University swept the Cougars in three sets in 2011, winning 25-23, 25-18, and 25-23. “We didn’t play at all,” Ferreira said of the heartbreaking loss. “I spent the whole day in bed afterwards, just thinking.” She recalled how disappointing the event had been for herself and the entire team, vowing not to let history repeat itself. The Cougars have two days to prepare for the championship match, in which they will take on Park University — a team that they have dropped sets to in both games earlier this season. The Columbia College players are confident that they have what it takes to win back the AMC title that has been theirs 22 times in the past 25 years. “It’s what we do at Columbia College,” Corkum said. “We win.” The No. 1-seeded Cougars will host the No. 3-seeded Park University in the AMC Championship at noon Saturday.
Cougars women’s soccer team ends season in AMC title game By HARRISON MCLEAN
sports@columbiamissourian.com The Columbia College women’s soccer team’s inaugural year came to a close Thursday in a 2-1 overtime loss to Park University in the American Midwest Conference tournament championship. The Cougars, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, took the lead in the 23rd minute when junior midfielder Stephanie Hale put a free kick over the top of the defensive wall and into the back of the net. It was the first time Park, the tournament’s top seed, had trailed in a game since an Oct. 3 loss to Avila and the first goal they had allowed since Oct. 13 against Missouri Baptist. The Cougars held the lead until the 54th minute when Park senior Dana Hemmingson, Park’s leading scorer,
FROM THE SPORTS FRONT HICKMAN from page 1B Cox’s teammates might not have shown their concern over the injury, but others in attendance couldn’t hide their distress over the star linebacker’s pain. Cox said his girlfriend was freaking out in the stands as he was being helped off the field. MU wrestling coach Brian Smith was also in attendance. Cox, a threetime state champion wrestler, is set to officially sign with the Tigers wrestling team on Nov. 15. Smith is unable to comment on Cox until he officially signs the papers, but Cox said Smith was joking about it the next day when the two were together at Missouri’s Black and Gold exhibition meet. “He told me, ‘Oh, you were just being dramatic,’”Cox said shaking his head with a smile. Cox and the Kewpies will now get set to face Francis Howell on Friday in the district championship game. Just a few days after the injury, Cox was a full participant in Hickman practice on Monday. When asked about the nature and severity of Cox’ injury, Monroe laughed. “That’s a Belichick,” Monroe said with a chuckle, referring to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who is traditionally secretive about his team’s injuries. Despite not revealing Cox’s injury, Monroe was confident the Kewpies would have their fire for Friday night’s game. Cox said Monroe wouldn’t have much of a say in whether he takes the field. “He’s not going to keep me off the field anyways,” Cox said. “I’m going to sneak out there even if I have to put another number on. This is my senior year.”
scored her 22nd goal of the season and tied the game. The game remained scoreless until the end of regulation, thanks in part to what head coach John Klein called the save of the year by Cougars junior goalkeeper Erica Ramirez in the 69th minute. After playing through the first 10-minute overtime period with no score, Park got the game-winner just 30 seconds into the second period on a goal by freshman Mikayla Fisher. A lot of the Columbia College players remained on the field as Park celebrated, Klein said, taking in the final moments of their season. “Wow, 101 minutes of soccer and then it’s over,” he said. “The players were pretty dejected from the loss, but they kept their composure and were professional shaking hands.”
The victory sends Park (126) to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament, while Columbia College (10-10) ends its season. Sophomore midfielder Amanda Caldwell said that despite falling short of a conference championship, the Cougars still had a strong first season as a program. “I think everyone except our coaches and players was thinking we’d just get blown out of the water our first year,” Caldwell said. “But we became so strong and skilled together, I’m thrilled we got this far.” After the game, four Cougars were recognized on AMC All-Conference teams. Junior defender Elise Castellanos received the most votes out of the defenders named to the All-Conference first team and was joined on the first team by Hale and freshman
forward Kelly Ross. Freshman defender Mallory Page was also named All-Conference honorable mention. The Cougars will lose no players to graduation going into next year and established a solid core as the season progressed. Klein said he thinks these players, along with any newcomers to the program, can use their first season at Columbia College to build for the future. “These players are always going to remember how close we got this year, and we’re going to use that going forward,” Klein said. Caldwell agreed and gave a warning to the Cougars’ future competition. “Everyone really wanted this conference championship, so we’re going to be hungrier than ever next year,” she said. “Everyone had better watch out.”
USC’s Kiffin has allowed a former top team to slip By JIM LITKE
The Associated Press School officials at Southern California fired a student manager after he admitted taking the air out of some footballs before last week’s home game against Oregon. Good. Now they can resume searching for who took the wind out of Lane Kiffin’s sails. Just kidding about that last part, if only because Kiffin hardly needs help. Most coaches are lucky to land even one dream job, but the former boy-wonder is fast wearing out the welcome at his third. Kiffin’s entree into the coaching business came early and his pedigree likely had a lot to do with it. Monte Kiffin currently works as defensive coordinator for his son as USC, but built a reputation as a defensive genius in the NFL and college ranks stretching back to before Lane was born. They became a package deal at Tennessee in 2009, when the Volunteers threw Lane a lifeline right after the late Raiders owner, Al Davis, fired him (with a 5-15 record) in Oakland. How much longer father and son stay together at USC remains to be seen. That’s the funny thing about these shenanigans. A solid defense is the one thing USC probably counted on when it hired the Kiffins to clean up after the NCAA punished the program for the mess Pete Carroll left behind two years ago. That was likely what the student manager thought, too, believing a deflated football would be easier for the Trojans to
throw and catch. He didn’t count on Oregon finding it easier, too, or imagine the Trojans would turn in their worst defensive performance ever in a 62-51 loss. But bad defense alone doesn’t explain how a loaded team that was No. 1 in plenty of preseason polls finds itself stumbling to 6-3. The Trojans also happen to be the most-penalized team in major college football, in no small part because of late hits and retaliatory fouls that a few players have chalked up to “brotherhood.” “Guys are looking out for each other, (but) you need to play within the rules,” is how All-American receiver Robert Woods put it recently. “We’ve made dumb mistakes. I retaliated and got a penalty, too.” That’s a funny thing, too. Part of the reason USC was supposed to be back in contention was Lane Kiffin’s new-found maturity. He did a good job holding the program together last season, despite the crippling sanctions the NCAA imposed, but suddenly it seems he’s up to some old tricks. He bailed on a post-practice news conference a while back after a harmless question. Not long after, USC was called out for having a player switch jerseys in a game against Colorado to run a trick play. So if you’re wondering where the players got the idea that it’s OK to retaliate after the whistle, or how a student manager concocted a scheme to deflate some footballs after the game officials had checked, the top might be a good place to start looking.
It seems Kiffin can’t stop being cute. At Tennessee, he named a just-born son Monte Knox Kiffin, then said he’d be called “Knox,” a reference to the Vols’ Knoxville location. When he left for the USC job, the joke was that he could spare his next child similar embarrassment by giving him the middle name: “Mercenary.” At his introductory news conference at USC, he tried to reassure a fan base that he would run a “clean, disciplined program.” But even as he was speaking, his recruiting coordinator, Ed Orgeron, who followed Kiffin from Tennessee to USC, was busy getting back in touch with some Volunteer recruits to tell them how much more fulfilling the coursework is at Southern California. The tone was set. USC is still clean, but after back-to-back humiliations by Oregon and Arizona, especially on the defensive side, “disciplined” is in question and the blame is being passed around. “They can control the rest of their season,” Kiffin said. “There’s a lot of teams in the country that can’t after everything that’s happened.” But it’s not just the players who need to step it up. Already, there have been a few calls to fire Monte, a possibility his son dismissed after last week’s debacle. “You can’t make major changes in season,” Lane Kiffin said. “That never works.” Of course, neither did taking the air out of the football. Better get back to the drawing board and fast.
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, November 9-10, 2012 — Page 7B
Gators open season on ship
No. 10 Florida will play Georgetown in once-in-a-lifetime event on USS Bataan
St. Louis has high hopes with new coach By R.B. FALLSTROM
BOB SELF/The Associated Press
Crews build the grandstands and assemble the basketball court on the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship in preperation for tonight’s 2012 NavyMarine Corps Classic at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla. The 10th-ranked Florida team will take on Georgetown at 8 p.m. CDT. By MARK LONG
The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of the first things Florida coach Billy Donovan did upon boarding the USS Bataan was ask about touring the gun turret. Forget the wind, the open-air backdrop, the chilly temperatures and potential court condensation. This was bigger than basketball, and Donovan knew it. “To be on this ship, sharing a moment like this, means more than I can ever express,” Donovan said. No. 10 Florida and Georgetown were thrilled to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime event — Friday’s season opener on the deck of an ambitious assault ship. Both teams toured the 844-foot Bataan on Thursday, posing for pictures and talking to everyone wearing a uniform and taking part in the NavyMarine Corps Classic. Donovan even invited three former Navy basketball players assigned to the Bataan to help run shoot-around. Georgetown coach John Thompson III was equally taken back. “For these kids to get the opportunity to come here and meet the sailors and the Marines that are on the Bataan,” said Thompson, “most of them, if not all of them, would never get this opportunity. Georgetown is a learning institute; that’s part of
our job.” Donovan handled a much different part of the job Thursday. He suspended starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin indefinitely for an undisclosed reason. Donovan declined to divulge what the 6-foot-2 junior did, but said it wasn’t anything criminal or anything that would be considered an NCAA violation. Donovan said “information was brought to me” early Thursday that led to the suspension. “You’ve got a group of 12 other guys that are looking to see how a coach is going to respond with what’s right and what’s wrong,” Donovan said. “This was the right decision to have him not be a part of this game because he needs to understand there’s a level of accountability and responsibility that he has being part of this team. “It’s important for our guys to understand there’s a commitment you have to make each and every day — on the court, off the court, in school and in every aspect of your life.” The Gators, who have won 21 consecutive season openers, also will be without swingman Casey Prather. He sustained his second concussion in nine days this week. Throw in the unexpected departure of forward Cody Larson last month and Florida will be playing with five returning players and four freshmen against Georgetown. “He has enough pieces where he can quickly
substitute and make changes,” Thompson said. “They’re down two quality players, and all that means is two other quality players are going to get minutes.” Coaches have plenty of other worries. Temperatures were expected to dip into the 50s and wind could be a factor. Plus, there’s a chance condensation would build cause slippery conditions on the outdoor court. “Whether there’s wind or how the lighting is, both teams are going to have to be dealing with that,” Donovan said. “I don’t think anybody gets an advantage. ... The only thing that could interrupt the game is if you’ve got guys slipping and sliding like an ice skating rink.” Officials tested the court Wednesday night and found no issues. Just to be safe, though, they will have more than a dozen workers drying the court during timeouts. “I’m telling my guys it’s not going to affect you at all,” Thompson said. “The backdrop’s not going to affect you, the weather’s not going to affect you. That’s how we’re approaching it.” Florida and Georgetown haven’t played since the NCAA tournament’s round of 16 in 2006, a game the Gators won on Corey Brewer’s circus shot in the final minute. “This is a game that is bigger in my opinion than any game we’ve had the opportunity to play,” Donovan said.
The Associated Press ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis has four starters back from a team that went 26-8, ended a 12-year NCAA tournament drought and is picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10. There’s one major void that’ll be hard to fill. The Billikens begin their bid for follow-up success Friday night in the opener against South Carolina-Upstate without the man who rebuilt the program. Interim coach Jim Crews will be guiding them instead of Rick Majerus, who took a leave of absence in August for health reasons and has not been in contact with the program. “Were we surprised? Absolutely,” Crews said Thursday. “Were we shocked? I’m not sure anyone was shocked, because Rick has had health problems for a long time and he’s been very open about it. “You connect the dots sometimes.” Crews’ biggest early challenge will be filling in for his top returning starter and center. Point guard Kwamain Mitchell is out until probably January with a broken left foot, and starting center Cory Remekun is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee strain sustained in practice on Wednesday. Mitchell averaged 12 points and led the team in assists and steals. The 58-year-old Crews played on the undefeated Indiana national championship team in 1976 and has 24 years of head coaching experience at Evansville and Army. He had done some TV work since getting fired at West Point in 2009, and joined Majerus’ staff last year thinking it would be a one-year commitment. The two coaching styles are compatible, which has eased the transition. Crews is following Majerus’ blueprint with a team that ended up one victory shy of the school record last season, emphasizing stout defense and controlling tempo. Last season, the Billikens allowed just 57.6 points per game, eighth-lowest in the nation.
A look inside the upcoming college basketball season State, Nov. 11, on the USS Midway in San Diego. The original Battle on the Midway was spectacular. This one might have a tough time matching the magic of that game — a president in attendance, that purplish twilight — but two ranked teams on an aircraft carrier just has to be cool.
College basketball came down to the blue bloods last season, with Kentucky adding to its Hoops Rushmore resume in a Final Four that included Kansas, Louisville and Ohio State. While Indiana is the preseason No. 1 for the first time in 33 years and big names like Duke, North Carolina and Arizona are loaded with talent, it’s the little guys who could make the most noise this season.
Kentucky vs. Duke, Nov. 13, Atlanta. Two heavyweights get an early test in the season. It may not have a moment like Christian Laettner’s jumper in the 1992 NCAA tournament, but there’ll be enough talent to make this a must-watch game.
Just look at the preseason All-America team. It features Creighton’s Doug McDermott, Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum and Murray State’s Isaiah Canaan, players who could be stars anywhere.
TOP TEAMS Indiana: The long climb from the embarrassment of an NCAA phone-call scandal appears to finally be over. The Hoosiers have 7-foot center Cody Zeller and the kind of team that could make a title run. Kentucky: The Calipari Method: Sign future NBA players, win, lose them to the NBA, repeat. Louisville: Rick Pitino flexed his coaching muscles with one of the best jobs of his career last season and may not be done with most of the players from that team back. Ohio State: Jared Sullinger and William Buford are gone. Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft are not. Thad Matta rarely leaves the cupboard bare. Michigan: Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. make up a backcourt that could help the Charlotte Bobcats win more games. They certainly will in Ann Arbor. Creighton: Can’t tout the midmajors and not include one
JAMES CRISP/The Associated Press
Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel and coach John Calipari in an exhibiton against Northwood on Nov. 1. Kentucky won 93-61. team to watch. Coach’s son Doug McDermott is an unstoppable force and the Bluejays have plenty of returning players to help him out. Baylor (women): Brittney Griner and company are good enough to be mentioned here. Might give a men’s team or two a run for its money.
TOP PLAYERS Cody Zeller, Indiana. Might be the best player in Clan Zeller, which is saying something coming from that family. Tim Burke, Michigan. Led Wolverines in scoring and assists last season. Don’t expect a sophomore slump. He’s too good to have one. Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State. Played in the shadow of Jared Sullinger last season. Won’t this
year, especially after a confidence-building run through the NCAA tournament. Doug McDermott, Creighton. Missouri Valley player of the year, third nationally in scoring, preseason All-American — might want to keep an eye on this guy. C.J. McCollum, Lehigh. Score, score and score some more. Pretty good rebounder and can dish as well. Isaiah Canaan, Murray State. Not many players from Murray State can — at least realistically — say they bypassed the NBA to return to school. Canaan did and could be a national player of the year candidate.
BEST NONCONFERENCE GAMES Syracuse vs. San Diego
North Carolina at Indiana, Nov. 27. Another power-program showdown, this one will be a gauge for the Hoosiers to see if they live up to the hype. Florida at Arizona, Dec. 15. They played a memorable overtime game at Florida last season, won by the Gators. This one will feature some of the best groups of big men in the country on the floor at the same time. Kansas at Ohio State, Dec. 22. Rematch of last year’s Final Four game won by Kansas will feature plenty of new players for the Jayhawks and a couple of familiar ones for the Buckeyes. Kentucky at Louisville, Dec. 29. Another rematch of last year’s Final Four with two teams who don’t like each other will be a nice late Christmas present.
ing a year for Carson to be eligible and the sophomore point guard isn’t likely to disappoint with that wicked crossover and super hops. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA. Bruins coach Ben Howland landed a stellar recruiting class this season, led by the left-handed Muhammad. The key is getting him on the court; the NCAA is still investigating whether he received improper benefits from boosters of an AAU team. Grant Jerrett, Arizona. Arizona coach Sean Miller says Jerrett is as far along as any incoming big man he’s seen — and he’s seen a few good ones. Steven Adams, Pittsburgh. The former rugby player from New Zealand should fit right in with the Big East bangers. NEW COACHES Kevin Ollie, Connecticut. Replacing a three-time national champion (Jim Calhoun) won’t be easy. Doing it as a first-time coach on a one-year contract will add a degree or two of difficulty.
be pretty sharp himself.
TRANSFERS TO WATCH Mark Lyons, Arizona. He went to the NCAA’s final 16 three times before graduating from Xavier. Alex Oriakhi, Missouri. Was a key contributor to UConn’s 2011 national title run. The powerful big man could have a similar impact on the Tigers. Aaric Murray, West Virginia. One of three transfers landed by coach Bob Huggins, he could have the biggest impact after leading La Salle in scoring at 15.2 points a game and in rebounding at 7.7. Ryan Harrow, Kentucky. In case the Wildcats didn’t have enough talent with another top recruiting class, they added Harrow from North Carolina State. Trey Zeigler, Pittsburgh. A former McDonald’s All-American, he was allowed to leave Central Michigan when his father, Ernie, was let go. -— the Associated Press
Larry Brown, Southern Methodist. Of all the options for the 71-year-old Hall of Famer to end up, few saw this one coming.
NEWCOMERS
Frank Martin, South Carolina. With one of the more surprising moves in the offseason, Martin will try to rebuild another program after making Kansas State relevant.
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky. The bluest of coach John Calipari’s blue chippers this season, the 6-foot-10 forward has an elevated game and the hair to match it.
Danny Manning, Tulsa. Danny probably won’t need a miracle in his first coaching job. Learned from one of the best as an assistant under Bill Self at Kansas.
Jahii Carson, Arizona State. Sun Devils fans have been wait-
Richard Pitino, Florida International. Rick’s son has proven to
DAVE MARTIN/The Associated Press
Murray State guard Isaiah Canaan shoots during the NCAA Tournament. He bypasssed the NBA to return to school this season.