The Maneater: Basketball Preview

Kim English

learns to

post up p. 7

Breaking down

the Big 12 conference p. 4

Faith in Haith?

The new coach

hopes so

2011�12

BASKETBALL

PREVIEW

p. 5

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Haith embraces new home Missouri’s new coach is out to turn skeptical fans into strong supporters.

student-athletes.

The Miami basketball program was also accused of serious wrongdoing in the Yahoo! report.

Haith was accused of approving Shapiro sending current Miami senior DaQuan Jones a $10,000 check during his recruitment.

The NCAA is currently investigating and has yet to rule on Haith’s status, although they have ruled Jones must sit out the 201112 season while the investigation is on-goRyan Hood ing.

Staff Writer Haith opted to avoid discussing the matter at this season’s MU basketball media Days after an EF-5 tornado devastated day, stating “There’s nothing more about the town of Joplin, killing 162 people and that I can talk about right now than I’ve destroying roughly 30 percent of the town's already said, we’re focusing on playing infrastructure, first-year Missouri basket- basketball.”

Haith’s attempts to sway fans’ perball coach Frank Haith assisted in the relief ception of him dates back to the sumeffort.

Haith, a native of Queens, N.Y., who mer, shortly after his hiring.

"When I was hired I'm not sure peohad no prior ties to the Show-Me State, deple knew much about me," Haith said livered goods as part of the United Way's United for Joplin campaign for the tornado- back in July. "A big part of my job was to reach out and get to know the peoravaged town.

His personal contributions to the re- ple of this state and allow them to get covery effort in Joplin did not stop there. to know me. I needed to show them Haith played an integral role in organizing what we are all about."

With two regular season and three last month's One State, One Spirit Classic exhibition game in Joplin against Missouri exhibition games under their belt, the Southern, an event that raised more than process of assimilating to Haith's style is well underway. $100,000 in tornado relief funds.

When asked to describe his coach's de"(Haith) came here with no prior connections to the state," senior guard Kim meanor on the sidelines, junior guard MiEnglish said after the exhibition. "To have chael Dixon needed just one word to sum it the idea to bring his team to a nationally- up: enthusiastic.

Before becoming coach at Miami, Haith ranked Division II team's floor and raise worked as an assistant under Rick Barnes money is a testament to his character."

After seven years coaching at Miami, at Texas from 2001 to 2003. It was during Haith came to Missouri amid controversy. that time Haith received his first sense of Missouri had just been publicly rebuked by the passion the community has for MU basPurdue coach Matt Painter after reports sur- ketball, something that has been confirmed since coming to MU. faced that Painter-to-MU was a done deal.

"Being here in Fans were hoping this community, for a big-name hire, and the appointment “Being here in this it's been pretty obto me that of Haith did not go community, it’s been pretty vious this is important over well.

In seven years obvious to me that this is to the community that's exciting at the helm for the important to the community and for me, real excitHurricanes, Haith's teams were 43-69 and that’s exciting for me, ing," Haith said. "I know that there's in ACC play and real exciting.” a tremendous at129-101 overall. to the The 2007-08 season Men’s basketball coach Frank Haith tachment community and was the only one in our basketball prowhich Haith led Miami gram." to the NCAA TournaIn addition to his role in rebuilding Joment, where it lost in the second round. The Hurricanes participated in the NIT on four plin, Haith has thrown out the first pitch at a Cardinals game, toured the state meetoccasions under Haith.

After the knee-jerk backlash against the ing with MU supporters and recently held a hire settled down, and just when it appeared clinic for kids at Mizzou Arena.

The two-hour clinic, held Nov. 5, feathe Tigers were ready to put the tumultuous off-season behind them and play basketball, tured 179 elementary-age participants and was conducted by Haith, members of his scandal struck.

On Aug. 16, Haith was implicated in the coaching staff and Tiger players.

"I can't tell you how many times the parmassive Miami booster scandal unearthed ents talked about our players and being conby Yahoo! Sports.

The scandal mostly revolves around the nected with our players," Haith said. "That's football program and illegal benefits Miami tremendous, and being in a community like booster Nevin Shapiro gave to recruits and that, it's a blessing for me."

BEN WALTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Coach Frank Haith calls a play from the sidelines Monday night at Mizzou Arena. Haith has led the Tigers to a 2-0 record after the 81-63 victory over Mercer.

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Men’s basketball coach Frank Haith speaks to the media and members of the MU administration April 5 at Mizzou Arena. Haith plans to change the Tigers’ famous up-tempo offense to a half-court style offense.

HAITH’S HISTORY A look at coach Frank Haith’s path to Missouri.

Student Assistant, Elon College

Assistant Coach, Elon College

Grad. Assistant Coach, Wake Forest

Assistant Coach, UNCWilmington

Assistant Coach, Texas A&M

Assistant Coach, Penn State

Associate Head Coach, Texas A&M

Assistant Coach, Wake Forest

Assistant Coach, University of Texas

Associate Head Coach, University of Texas

Head Coach, University of Miami

Head Coach, University of Missouri

1985-88

1988-89

1989-90

1990-92

1992-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-01

2001-03

2003-04

2004-2011

2011 -

BasketBall Preview 3

Iowa

State AT A GLANCE

BREAKDOWN The Maneater takes a look at the games that will decide Missouri’s Big 12 fate.

Seth Boster & Ryan Hood

COACH: Fred Hoiberg (second season) TOP RETURNERS: guard Scott Christopherson and forward Melvin Ejim TOP NEWCOMERS: forwards Royce White and Anthony Booker; guards Chris Allen, Chris Babb, Tyrus Mcgee; center Percy Gibson LAST YEAR: Missouri won 76-70 at MU.

of The Maneater staff

Texas MATCHUP PREDICTION:

A&M

JAN. 16 AT MU: Missouri loses FEB. 18 AT TAMU: Missouri loses

THE LINE

FAVORABLE: Texas A&M was forced to learn an entirely new system at the onset of practice after assistant coach Glynn Cyprien took over for first-year coach Kennedy, who was placed on medical leave of absence. The adjustments will take time. The Aggies lack good guard play, so MU’s fourguard lineup should have a big advantage.

AT A GLANCE

AT A GLANCE

COACH: Billy Kennedy (first season) TOP RETURNERS: forwards David Loubeau and Khris Middleton; guards Dash Harris and Naji Hibbert TOP NEWCOMERS: guards Jamal Branch and Jordan Green LAST YEAR: Texas A&M won 91-89 at TAMU.

KEY FACEOFF

Kim English vs. Khris Middleton

UNFAVORABLE: Texas A&M’s top two returners, Loubeau and Middleton, are matchup dilemmas for the Tigers without forward Laurence Bowers. Ratliffe held his own against Loubeau in their regular season matchup, but Loubeau dominated in their Big 12 Tournament matchup. English will have his hands full with Middleton, who led TAMU in scoring 16 times last season. The Tigers have dropped eight straight games to their future SEC foe.

Oklahoma

State AT A GLANCE

4 BasketBall Preview

THE LINE

FAVORABLE: Iowa State will rely on six play a second of collegiate basketball last year. W are expected to start for the Cyclones after sitt transfer rules. Missouri, on the other hand, has Hoiberg has a lot of confidence in his batch of coach, let alone one in his second year with a such extremely unique circumstances?

UNFAVORABLE: The Cyclones are arguably team in the Big 12. White, a Minnesota transf 6-foot-8-inch, 240-pound frame, has already views. He was selected as the Preseason Big Year and didn’t even play regulation basketbal expected to play in different positions. He coul ros for the Tigers. Michigan State transfer Chr seen making 27 starts in MSU’s Final Four sea point guard. The Cyclones enter the season w as well as numerous question marks. Flying u be their greatest advantage right now, and the overlooking them.

Kansas St

THE LINE

KEY FACEOFF

UNFAVORABLE: Martin’s defensive culture faded behind Pullen’s explosive performances last season. Martin has emphasized defense over the offseason and if his team latches on to his style, the Tigers could find their rhythm disturbed

by Martin’s patented scheme.

Kansas MATCHUP PREDICTION:

FEB. 4 AT MU: Missouri wins FEB. 25 AT KU: Missouri loses

THE LINE

MATCHUP PREDICTION:

JAN. 25 AT OSU: Missouri wins FEB. 15 AT MU: Missouri wins

KEY FACEOFF

Matt Pressey vs. Keiton Page

MAT

JAN. wins FEB. wins

FAVORABLE: Martin and crew will be in search of an iden- Michael Dixon vs. Rod tity without guard Jacob Pullen. Rodriguez and Gipson will be looked on to make immediate contributions. No one on the roster but McGruder averaged double-digit points last year and much of the offensive burdens will fall on him. The Tigers could prey on the Cats inconsistencies this season.

COACH: Bill Self (ninth season) TOP RETURNERS: forward Thomas Robinson; guards Elijah Johnson, Thomas Robinson TOP NEWCOMERS: guard Naadir Tharpe LAST YEAR: Kansas won 103-86 at KU. Kansas won 70-66 at MU.

THE LINE

UNFAVORABLE: For what Oklahoma State lacks in size it could make up for in athleticism. Olukemi and Nash are unique talents in forward bodies with guard mentalities. If those two can pose threats in the lane, Page, who ranks 10th on the Cowboys’ all-time three-point list, is a prime outlet.

JAN. 11 AT M Missouri win FEB. 29 AT I Missouri los

COACH: Frank Martin (fifth season) TOP RETURNERS: forward Jordan Henriquez; guards Rodney McGruder, Will Spradling and Martavious Irving TOP NEWCOMERS: forwards Thomas Gipson and Adrian Diaz; guard Angel Rodriguez LAST YEAR: Missouri won 75-59 at MU. Kansas State won 80-70 at KSU.

AT A GLANCE

COACH: Travis Ford (fourth season) TOP RETURNERS: guards Keiton Page, Jean-Paul Olukemi, Markel Brown, Reger Dowell and Fred Gulley TOP NEWCOMERS: forward Michael Cobbins; guards LeBryan Nash; center Marek Soucek LAST YEAR: Oklahoma State won 76-70 at OSU.

FAVORABLE: Missouri could find dilemma this year when it faces teams with inside presence. That is exactly what Oklahoma State must find this season. It’s not unlikely that the Cowboys put five guards on the floor with Page, Brown, Gulley, Dowell, Olukemi and explosive top recruit Nash in the mix. There will be a complete change of scenery in the Cowboys’ offense from last season.

MATCHUP PREDICTION

FAVORABLE: The Jayhawks are a roster in transition following the departures of Brady Morningstar, the Morris twins and Tyrel Reed. Kansas’ top two freshmen, Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor, have both been ruled ineligible for the season. MU has a very experienced roster, as the current senior class already has the most wins in program history. ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew will be in Columbia on Feb. 4. The show will make KU’s final trip to Mizzou Arena for the foreseeable future an even stiffer road test.

UNFAVORABLE: Kansas lacks its usual dominant upperclassmen presence, but there is no shortage of talent in Lawrence, Kan. Junior forward Thomas Robinson returns poised for a breakout season now that he is out form underneath the spotlight of the Morris twins. Robinson recorded a double-double last year at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers haven’t won at KU since 1999, and the fervor in Lawrence will be kicked up a few notches thanks to MU’s impending departure for the SEC.

KEY FACEOFF

Phil Pressey vs. Tyshawn Taylor

MU: ns ISU: ses

Baylor

KEY FACEOFF

N:

AT A GLANCE

Ricardo Ratliffe vs. Royce White

Texas

yers who did not play White, Allen and Babb ting out due to NCAA s a senior-filled squad. transfers. But can any a program, win under

y the most intriguing fer with a remarkable y received stellar re12 Newcomer of the ll last season. White is ld create matchup terris Allen, who was last ason in 2010, will play with plenty of promise under the radar could e Tigers would regret

tate

AT A GLANCE

MATCHUP COACH: Billy Gillespie (first season) TOP RETURNERS: forwards Robert Lewan- PREDICTION: JAN. 28 AT MU: Missouri dowski and Jaye Crockett TOP NEWCOMERS: guards Cameron Forte, wins MAR.3 AT TT: Missouri wins DeShon Minnis and Ty Nurse LAST YEAR: Missouri won 92-84 at MU. KEY FACEOFF:

Ricardo Ratliffe vs.

TCHUP PREDICTION:

7 AT KSU: Missouri

. 21 AT MU: Missouri

Robert Lewandowski

dney McGruder

Texas AT A GLANCE

Tech.

COACH: Rick Barnes (14th season) TOP RETURNERS: forward Alexis Wangmene; guard J’Covan Brown TOP NEWCOMERS: guards Myck Kabongo and Sheldon McClellan LAST YEAR: Texas won 71-58 at UT.

THE LINE

FAVORABLE: The Red Raiders are the youngest team in the Big 12. Gillespie welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad, none of which come in as being highly touted recruits. Lewandoski is the lone returning starter. The Tigers’ fourguard lineup should have its way with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders visit Columbia on Jan. 28, which will be an uphill battle for such an inexperienced team.

UNFAVORABLE: Lewandowski is what the Tigers lack: A dominant presence in the paint.

Ratliffe is a good player, but all too often larger opponents pushed him around last season.

Ratliffe won’t face any larger in the Big 12 than the 6-foot-10-inch, 256-pound Lewandowski.

The Tigers face the Red Raiders right before a two-game stretch against Texas and Kansas.

MU can’t afford to overlook any conference opponents.

COACH: Scott Drew (ninth season) TOP RETURNERS: forwards Perry Jones III, Anthony Jones, Quincy Acy, Cory MATCHUP Jefferson; guards A.J. Walton, PREDICTION: J’Mison Morgan JAN. 21 AT BU: TOP NEWCOMERS: forMissouri loses wards Quincy Miller and FEB. 11 AT MU: guards Pierre Jackson, Brady Missouri loses Heslip LAST YEAR: Missouri won 77-59 at MU. THE LINE FAVORABLE: Missouri could keep the Bears uncomfortable if it plays at a quick pace. Baylor’s rotation will feature big bodies that might struggle to keep up with a Tiger squad that prides itself on its quickness and is at its best when it’s on a fullcourt attack. It has yet to be seen how Drew can get a group loaded talented forwards to mesh.

UNFAVORABLE: Missouri will struggle to match up with Baylor’s roster. The Bears boast five players that are 6 feet, 9 inches and taller and all of them — Jones III, Miller, Jones, Morgan and Jefferson — will see the floor. If there’s one area in which MU is sorely lacking, it’s size. After 6-foot-9-inch senior forward Ricardo Ratliffe, senior guard Kim English is the next tallest in the starting five at 6 feet, 6 inches. Clearly, the Tigers’ biggest test will be in the paint, where Jones III and Miller, projected top 10 picks in next year’s NBA Draft, could dominate the league.

KEY FACEOFF

Kim English vs. Quincy Miller

MATCHUP PREDICTION:

JAN. 16 AT MU: Missouri wins JAN. 30 AT UT: Missouri loses

.THE LINE KEY FACEOFF FAVORABLE: The Longhorns lost Marcus Denmon vs. all five starters from last year’s 28-8 team that lost to Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. J’Covan Brown is the only player on the current roster who has received meaningful playing time.

The Tigers draw the Longhorns early in Big 12 play, placing the young Longhorns at an even greater disadvantage.

J’Covan Brown UNFAVORABLE: Brown scored 10.4 points a game off the bench last year. He’s also averaged 21.3 points in three career NCAA Tournament games. Now that this is his team, look for the junior to emerge as one of the Big 12’s best guards. McClellan, a 6-foot-4-inch shooting guard was a top 50 recruit. Kabongo, a McDonald’s All-American, will start at point guard. The three give coach Rick Barnes a very formidable trio of guards

AT A GLANCE

Oklahoma

COACH: Lon Kruger (first season) TOP RETURNERS: forwards Andrew Fitzgerald and Tyler Neal; guards Carl Blair Jr., Cameron Clark and Steven Pledger TOP NEWCOMERS: forward Romero Osby; guard Sam Grooms; center Casey Arent LAST YEAR: Missouri won 84-61 at MU.

MATCHUP PREDICTION:

JAN. 3 AT MU: Missouri wins FEB. 6 AT OU: Missouri wins

THE LINE

FAVORABLE: The Big 12 Coaches Poll has Oklahoma finishing last alongside Texas Tech. The Sooners are a still-budding team under a new coach this season. Kruger is wanting to install an up-tempo brand of play, and the Sooners will have to adapt to it after boasting just a 27-36 record during the past two seasons. The team will need production from former transfers Osby and Arent to support Fitzgerald in the front court.

UNFAVORABLE: Osby, Arent and Fitzgerald each bring better than 230 pounds to the paint. If the three can be productive in a rotation, it could prove problematic for the Tigers, who are limited with big bodies. There is a good level of comfort in the Sooners’ locker room with four returning starters.

KEY FACEOFF

Ricardo Ratliffe vs. Andrew Fitzgerald

FOUR NONCONFERENCE

GAMES

TO WATCH Seth Boster | Staff Writer

Nov. 21: Notre Dame

Missouri will meet the Irish in Kansas City for the College Basketball Experience Classic opening round.

Notre Dame is coming off a historic season, finishing 27-7 and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament under the guidance of Mike Brey, the 2010 AP Coach of the Year. Much of last year’s magic came from forward Ben Hansbrough, who inked a contract with Bayern Munich in Germany over the summer.

Nov. 22: No. 24 Califor‐ nia/Georgia

Based on how the first round of the CBE Classic plays out, Missouri will face either Cal or Georgia. Expectations are high at Cal, a program looking to make its third tournament appearance in the past four seasons.

The strength of the Golden Bears lies with the reliable guard Jorge Gutierrez and last season’s PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, guard Allen Crabbe.

The matchup should prove to be a battle of backcourts.

Dec. 6: Villanova

The Wildcats will be without the services of three of last year’s starters, including guard combo Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes. The duo carried the team last year but at the same time showed flashes of inconsistencies. Guard Maalik Wayns will have to heavily contribute while responsibly operating the offense. The Wildcats will play a starting rotation with great size and matching up will be key for the Tigers.

Dec. 22: Illinois

The Illini enter the season lacking firepower. The team is without five of last year’s top seven scorers. Freshmen like point guard Tracy Abrams and forward Mike Shaw will have to find roles for the Illini. It will be a rotation that won’t be established early on in the season, forcing coach Bruce Weber to search for his team’s identity. By late December, that identity should just about be discovered.

BasketBall Preview 5

Top 1 five keys

Which Kim English will show up?

Kim English is coming off an underwhelming 201011 campaign, one that saw his points per game average drop from 14 PPG in 200910 to just 10 PPG last season.

Now a senior, English (6 feet 6 inches, 200 pounds) is adjusting to playing power forward, where he’ll go one-on-one with the likes of Texas A&M’s David Loubeau (6 feet 8 inches, 235 pounds) and Kansas’s Thomas Robinson (6 feet 9 inches, 237 pounds) in Big 12 Conference play.

The Tigers are at a disadvantage defensively due to their lack of size.

But if English regains his outside shooting touch, MU’s four-guard lineup will be tough to contain.

2 season of the

Missouri basketball enters the season receiving much less national attention than last year, despite ranking No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The team’s current senior class has already secured its spot as the program’s alltime winningest class with 77 wins.

These five factors will play a key role in determining how many more they accumulate:

BEN WALTON/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Are last year’s road woes a worry of the past?

Missouri was a meager 6-10 in games outside of Mizzou Arena and was just 2-7 in true road games last season.

The two road victories were against Iowa State and Oregon, teams that finished a combined 3233 last season. The Tigers won those two contests by a combined nine points.

Aside from facing each conference foe on the road once, key games away from Mizzou Arena this year include Notre Dame in Kansas City, Villanova in New York City and Illinois in St. Louis. Were the travel troubles related to former coach Mike Anderson, or is it an issue with the MU roster? Time will tell.

RYAN HOOD

Of The Maneater staff

BEN WALTON/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

3

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Can Phil Pressey take the next step?

Coach Frank Haith has raved about sophomore point guard Phil Pressey, comparing him to former Texas Longhorn and current NBA player T.J. Ford. Haith has also stressed the importance of the point guard position.

The onus is on Pressey to build upon the progression he showed as last season wore on. Pressey made 12 starts in his rookie seaCan Kadeem son and averaged 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, Green make an 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. His assists impact? and steals totals both set records for an MU Redshirt fresh- freshman. man power forward Kadeem Will durability be a Green is the de concern? facto replacement for Laurence BowUnder Anderson, ers, who is redshirting this seaMissouri played an 11son as he recovers from a torn man rotation. The Tigers ACL. Green has yet to play have just eight scholarin a regular season game for ship players on the roster, Missouri after redshirting last so MU starters can count season to recover from a torn on playing six to eight Achilles tendon. Missouri is more minutes per game than they relying on the Toronto native did last year. Coach Haith pointed who didn’t show much during to fatigue as a possible explanation MU’s three exhibition games for Missouri’s pedestrian second to play a key role off the bench half of its exhibition against Central for the Tigers, who have just Missouri. If the extra minutes are althree players taller than 6 feet ready taking a toll on the team, how 6 inches. will they hold up over the course of the next four months?

4

BEN WALTON/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

5

BEN WALTON/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-2012 SCHEDULE 11/11/11 vs. SEMO

W, 83-68

01/14/12 vs. Texas

12 p.m.

11/14/11 vs. Mercer

W, 81-63

01/16/12 vs. Texas A&M

4:30 p.m.

11/17/11 vs. Niagara

01/21/12 at Baylor

1 p.m.

11/21/11 vs. Notre Dame

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

01/25/12 at Oklahoma State

11/22/11 vs. California / Georgia

TBA

01/28/12 vs. Texas Tech

6:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

11/27/11 vs. Binghamton

2 p.m.

01/30/12 at Texas

8 p.m.

12/02/11 vs. Northwestern State

7 p.m.

02/04/12 vs. Kansas

8 p.m.

12/06/11 vs. Villanova

6 p.m.

02/06/12 at Oklahoma

6 p.m.

12/10/11 vs. Navy

4 p.m.

02/11/12 vs. Baylor

12:30 p.m.

12/15/11 vs. Kennesaw State

7 p.m.

02/15/12 vs. Oklahoma State

8 p.m.

12/18/11 vs. William & Mary

2 p.m.

02/18/12 at Texas A&M

1 p.m.

12/22/11 vs. Illinois

8 p.m.

02/21/12 vs. Kansas State

6 p.m.

12/30/11 at Old Dominion

6 p.m.

02/25/12 at Kansas

3 p.m.

01/03/12 vs. Oaklahoma

7 p.m.

02/29/12 vs. Iowa State

7 p.m.

01/07/12 at Kansas State

12:30 p.m.

03/03/12 vs. Texas Tech

3 p.m.

01/11/12 at Iowa State

7 p.m.

6 BasketBall Preview

Seniors look to carry Tigers SETH BOSTER Staff Writer To senior guard Marcus Denmon, three years doesn’t seem long ago at all.

“It’s our last season,” Denmon said of seniors in the team’s starting rotation. “I remember us coming in as freshmen and some of the older guys telling us it’s gonna go by fast. And they hit it right on the nail. It’s really flown by and now that it’s our last chance to go out and play at this level and lead our team, it’s really that much more important.”

Denmon is entering his final season at Missouri with high expectations after being named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. So far, he has made his final year of collegiate basketball worthwhile. He played as one of 12 members on the World University USA Team during the summer. He was the leading force behind his team’s 4-0 start through three exhibition games and the season opener against Southeast Missouri State University last Friday night, in which he scored 20 points.

Guard Kim English has raised the stakes in his final year with Denmon as well. The two have been together since they were recruited out of high school.

“I’ve been here with Marcus for four years,” English said. “We’re at the point where I can tell him he needs to step it up and he can tell me I need to step it up. That’s the kind of team you need when you want to win championships.”

English said the thought of a final championship run has given the senior group a greater sense of urgency.

“It’s a sense that we’re all embracing,” he said.

“We understand that teams are remembered by championships and that’s what we’ve worked for these past three seasons. This is our last chance to go get it.”

Since forward Laurence Bowers tore his ACL in the first week of practice, he has been wearing dress clothes on the sidelines while watching his fellow senior teammates embark on their final season together. Still, Bowers can

BEN WALTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior guard Marcus Denmon jumps into the spotlight during pregame introductions Monday Night at Mizzou Arena. Denmon led the Tigers last season with almost 17 points per game and a .448 percentage on three-point shots.

be found pacing with a limp through his team’s warm-ups before tip-off. He’ll exchange highfives with them, give pats on the back and raise his fist with them before they all break a huddle.

Bowers will return under scholarship next season. Nonetheless, his teammates said they were sad to know he would not be playing with them.

“When I found out what happened to

Laurence, I literally started crying for him,” senior center Steve Moore said.

With Bowers sidelined, Moore will be expected to make a bigger impact on the team after averaging 11 minutes a game his junior season.

Having worked out with team trainers during the summer, Moore shed more than 20 pounds while preparing to produce more min-

Changing of a guard:

utes on the floor.

“I mean, why not?” he said. “I’m a senior. It’s my last go around. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me after college. I don’t know if I’m gonna play basketball after college. So I figure you got to give it everything you’ve got now.

You think about it a lot. It’s in your head every day, all day. About how you’re a senior and how you want to make the best out of everything.”

English adapts to move SETH BOSTER Staff Writer While he was haunted over the summer by the memories of his previous season, perhaps the best advice Missouri men’s basketball senior Kim English heard was a message relayed by senior teammate Marcus Denmon. It came from Denmon’s uncle, Martinez Denmon, a standout at Iowa State who was drafted by the Celtics in 1973.

“Confidence is restored,” he had said.

On Friday night at Mizzou Arena, the 6-foot-6-inch English began the 2011 campaign with his team against Southeast Missouri State University starting at the power forward spot after three years of playing guard.

But his mission began in early October after 6-foot-8-inch senior Laurence Bowers’ season ended when he tore his ACL in his left leg during practice, and first-year coach Frank Haith was forced to adjust. Haith decided starting four guards was the best option for the team, and said the move would benefit English’s playing style.

“When you look at the position Kimmie’s playing, he’s going to have chances to get loose,” Haith said earlier in the season. “Most four guys won’t play guys out on the perimeter, which is a tremendous advantage on one end.”

On the other end, English would likely find himself attempting to neutralize bigger bodies than his own thin frame.

“I’m obviously smaller than any big in this league,” English said. “And that’s probably the best position in this league.”

English sounds aware of the challenges he faces at the new position. He talks about the importance of stopping offensive rebounds and defending the paint. He talks a lot about not

letting his team down.

“We all depend on each other so heavily,” he said. “In the past, we played in a (different) system. This time, there’s more accountability.

You’re responsible to play your role to the best of your abilities. When you have that kind of load, you don’t want to let your teammates down.”

One thing he will not speak much of — his 2010-2011 season when he saw his production drop to a career low 10.0 points per game.

“It is over,” English said. “I’m focusing on now and trying to get better each day. Last year was last year. It’s out of my mind.”

English credits his teammates and Haith for helping restructure his confidence. Haith, who heavily recruited English during his time at Miami three years ago, has put an emphasis on building relationships with his team since taking over.

“Guys got to know you believe in them,” he said. “Trust is such an important word in building a basketball team. I did have a little bit of that relationship with Kim prior to being here, so I think that helped. But encouraging him to just be himself is the biggest thing with Kim. Watching him last year, he tried to do too much at times. Just be Kim English. Just be yourself and you’ll be fine. Just be Kim English.”

English was occasionally out-muscled Friday. But he looked fearless by taking three charges. “Winning plays,” Haith calls them. He lifted his team with 19 points, going 5-9 behind the arc.

“It feels great to be back to my normal self,” he said after the game.

BEN WALTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior guard Kim English supports his team from the sideline Monday night at Mizzou Arena. English was 5-for-8 from the field with four three-pointers, helping the Tigers to a 81-63 victory over Mercer.

BasketBall Preview 7