2010-11 Tiger basketball preview

themaneater TIGERS AIM FOR NEW

HEIGHTS Look inside for...

A breakdown of each Big 12 opponent PAGE 2

An in-depth look at the team's fresh faces PAGE 3

A look at the players' lives off the court PAGE 5

Our staff's predictions for the season ahead PAGE 7

2010-11 SEASON

BASKETBALL

PREVIEW *JUNIOR GUARD KIM ENGLISH

MANEATER FILE PHOTO, BY KATIE CURRID

Volume 77, Issue 24 November 16, 2010

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Breaking down the Big 12 Conference Last year’s record:

An analysis of the Missouri men's basketball team and how it stacks up against Big 12 foes, stat for stat.

23-11, 10-6 in the Big 12

Coach Mike Anderson:

5th year at Missouri, 88-46 overall record

Who’s gone:

J.T. Tiller, Zaire Taylor, Keith Ramsey Missouri Basketball Coach Mike Anderson

Who’s returning:

Michael Dixon, Marcus Denmon, Laurence Bowers, Justin Safford, Kim English, Jarett Sutton, Steve Moore, John Underwood

Who’s new:

Phil Pressey, Ricky Kreklow, Matt Kreklow, Ricardo Ratliffe, Kadeem Green

Teams in AP Top 25 on schedule: No. 3 Kansas State, No. 7 Baylor, No. 13 Illinois, No 20 Georgetown

Rankings:

AP Top 25: No. 15 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll: No. 14

Baylor Bears

Past record: 28-8, 11-5 Big 12 Coach: Scott Drew Starters lost: Ekpe Udoh, Josh Lomers, Tweety Carter Starters returning: LaceDarius Dunn, Anthony Jones Top returning scorer: LaceDarius Dunn, 20.7 PPG

Colorado Buffaloes

Past record: 15-16, 6-10 Big 12 Coach: Tad Boyle Starters lost: None Starters returning: Cory Higgins, Alec Burks, Marcus Relphorde, Austin Dufault, Nate Tomlinson Top returning scorer: Cory Higgins, 18.9 PPG

Iowa State Cyclones

Past record: 15-17, 4-12 Big 12

Coach: Fred Hoiberg Starters lost: Craig Brackins, Marquis Gilstrap, Lucca Staiger, Justin Hamilton Starters returning: Diante Garrett Top returning scorer: Diante Garrett, 9.7 PPG

Kansas Jayhawks

Past record: 33-3, 15-1 Big 12 Coach: Bill Self Starters lost: Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, Xavier Henry Starters returning: Marcus Morris, Tyshawn Taylor Top returning scorer: Marcus Morris, 12.8 PPG

Kansas State Wildcats

Past record: 29-8, 11-5 Big 12 Coach: Frank Martin Starters lost: Denis

Clemente, Luis Colon, Dominique Sutton Starters returning: Jacob Pullen, Curtis Kelly Top returning scorer: Jacob Pullen, 19.3 PPG

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Past record: 15-18, 2-14 Big 12 Coach: Doc Sadler Starters lost: Ryan Anderson, Sek Henry Starters returning: Brandon Richardson, Jorge Brian Diaz, Lance Jeter Top returning scorer: Brandon Richardson, 8.9 PPG

Oklahoma Sooners

Past record: 13-18, 4-12 Big 12 Coach: Jeff Capel Starters lost: Willie Warren, Tommy Mason-Griffin, Tony

Crocker, Tiny Gallon Starters returning: Cade Davis Top returning scorer: Cade Davis, 9.9 PPG

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Past record: 22-11, 9-7 Big 12 Coach: Travis Ford Starters lost: James Anderson, Obi Muonelo Starters returning: Keiton Page, Marshall Moses, Matt Pilgrim Top returning scorer: Keiton Page, 10.7 PPG

Texas Longhorns

Past record: 24-10, 9-7 Big 12 Coach: Rick Barnes Starters lost: Damion James, Avery Bradley, Dexter Pittman, Justin Mason Starters returning: Dogus

Balbay Top returning scorer: Jordan Hamilton, 10.0 PPG

Texas A&M Aggies

Past record: 24-10, 11-5 Big 12 Coach: Mark Turgeon Starters lost: Derrick Roland, Donald Sloan, Bryan Davis Starters returning: Dash Harris, Khris Middleton Top returning scorer: B.J. Holmes, 9.3 PPG

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Past record: 19-16, 4-12 Big 12 Coach: Pat Knight Starters lost: Nick Okorie, Darko Cohadarevic Starters returning: Mike Singletary, John Roberson, D’walyn Roberts Top returning scorer: Mike Singletary, 15.0 PPG

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Preview: Missouri basketball nears tipoff The Tigers are looking to improve on last year’s 23-11 season.

John Montesantos Staff Writer With the Missouri basketball regular season opener looming, the Tigers are itching to show off the 2010-11 squad.

This year’s team features many familiar faces, as well as a few new ones. A dynamic freshman class of three playmakers and the addition of two junior college transfers have helped Missouri retain depth after the loss of their seniors.

The Tigers return their three leading scorers of the 2009-2010 season with a group of gametested juniors. Junior guards Kim English and Marcus Denmon and junior forward Laurence Bowers led Missouri in scoring last year and were the only players to average double-digit points.

Bowers was second in rebounding and first in blocks last year while English and Denmon led the team in three-pointers made.

Those team-leading numbers should only improve now that the stars are upperclassmen.

Coach Mike Anderson has seen improvement and leadership in his core group of juniors, but knows nothing has been proven yet.

“This is their time,” Anderson said. “They have improved from last year. But have they improved to the point where they can be the leaders of this basketball team?

That remains to be seen.”

English thinks the juniors have made the transition from underclassmen scorers to upperclassmen role models.

“We’re stepping into that role,”

Maneater File Photo

Missouri sophomore guard Kim English fights for a rebound against Nebraska freshman guard Eshaunte Jones during the March 10 game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. English will be returning to this year’s team as a junior.

English said. “We’re showing the guys what to do and how things are done at Mizzou. And they’re following suit and doing a great job.”

Although the juniors might be considered the leaders of the 2010 team, they have a mentor to look up to in senior forward Justin Safford.

Safford was a top-three rebounder and top-five scorer last year before his season was cut short by an ACL injury. He looks to return to full force this year and fully recover from his ACL

surgery in March.

Anderson recognizes Safford’s role as the lone senior contributor and values the experience he voices to the younger players.

“He’s talking a lot more and coming outside his box,” Anderson said. “He’s been through the team that went 16-16 and obviously the last two years when we were a lot better. So hopefully those experiences that he’s had he can use those to lead these guys.”

Last year’s senior class played a major role, with J.T. Tiller and

Zaire Taylor leading the team in assists and steals. Sophomore guard Michael Dixon hopes to fill the void and step up as Missouri’s youngest starter.

“My job as a point guard to get everybody involved early and get people the ball in the right situations and the right times,” Dixon said. “Just taking what the defense gives me offensively as far as knocking down open shots and getting to the basket when the opportunity presents itself.”

After practicing together all

month and working out as a team in the offseason, Dixon is most excited to see the team’s athleticism in action.

“We’re just so athletic,” Dixon said. “As far as fast breaking and getting steals, they’re going to be a lot of highlights. Hopefully a lot of SportsCenter plays will be coming from Missouri basketball.”

Missouri’s regular season tips off at Mizzou Arena at 7 p.m. Thursday against Western Illinois.

Tiger newcomers boost morale as season inches closer Pat Iversen Staff Writer After practice one week before the season opener, junior forward Kim English couldn’t hide his excitement about the Tigers’ newcomers.

“If you could construct a perfect Mike Anderson point guard, it’d be Phil Pressey,” English said.

“Coach did a good job of recruiting instinctive guys and guys who fit what we want to do.”

Freshman Phil Pressey, a highly recruited guard from Texas, is just one of a few new players that coach Mike Anderson brought in to bolster his team’s strength. Anderson also recruited junior college transfers Matt Pressey and forward Ricardo Ratliffe. Ratliffe was the top junior college recruit in the nation after setting multiple records at Central Florida Community College.

After a couple games of exhibitions, Ratliffe said he’s starting to get up to speed.

“It’s been pretty good, just getting used to the style and speed of play,” Ratliffe said. “It helps me get used to things like rotation and getting used to playing behind a big crowd. I think they said last game there were maybe 8,000 (people),

Maneater File Photo

Freshman guard Phil Pressey plants his hand to balance himself after slipping on the court during the second half of the Black & Gold scrimmage Oct. 28 at Mizzou Arena. Pressey is a newcomer to this year’s Tiger squad. and I’m only used to playing with 1,000, and that’s on a good night.”

Unlike most new players, Ratliffe comes in with experience from playing at the junior college level for two years.

Anderson said experience with

a higher level of competition benefits both the player and the team.

“I think it gives them that adjustment period quicker than the freshmen,” Anderson said.

“And that’s important for junior college players, because there’s

a sense of urgency, they don’t have too many years left. We brought him here hoping he’d be an impact player, and hopefully he’ll be an impact player.”

As for the Presseys, their transition to Missouri was made easier by their relationship with

Anderson. Their father, former NBA player Paul Pressey, was Anderson’s roommate in college. The two used to call Anderson their uncle growing up, and English said familiarity would help the brothers out in the long run.

“I think that’s one of the biggest factors in their college choice,” English said. “They knew coach Anderson wouldn’t just feed them the ‘recruit talk’. He would talk with them straight up -- they’ve known him their entire life. So they can really come in and truly focus on basketball, without having to read if the coach likes them or not.”

But Anderson downplayed his influence on the two, praising them for taking direction and focusing on their game.

Anderson also said if the newcomers are going to make an immediate impact, the veterans will have to step up.

“I think the most important guys in terms of carrying out what we’ve been doing for the last two years are the veterans,” Anderson said. “I think they’ve got to lead, and they’ve got to show these (new) guys the way.

I think the more the new guys pick up things, and then the better off we’ll be.”

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Marcus Denmon Junior guard

11

Michael Dixon Sophomore guard

Favorite movie:

Favorite movie:

Favorite NBA player: Lebron

Favorite NBA player: Chris Paul

“He Got Game”

“Paid in Full”

James

Favorite place to eat in Columbia:

Favorite place to eat in Columbia:

El Rancho

Mississippi Fish Shack

Best friend on the team: Kim

Best friend on the team: Michael

English (“Marcus, I’ve known him for longer so he’s more like a brother to me. So best friend would be Kim.”)

Dixon (“I’ve known Mike since I was 11, we went to same middle school together.”)

Pregame routine:

Pregame routine: “I always

take a shower before every game. I don’t know why, it’s just something I do. Even though I’m clean already I just take another shower. It just relaxes me before I go out for the game.”

“After pregame I always call my dad.

Before a game I always put my left shoe on before my right.”

Meet the players John Montesantos, Staff Writer

24

KIM ENGLISH Junior guard

Favorite movie: “The Shawshank Redemption”

Favorite NBA player: Carmelo

Anthony

Favorite place to eat in Columbia:

10

Ricardo Ratliffe

Favorite movie: “Glory Road”

Favorite NBA player: Amar’e

Stoudemire

Favorite place to eat in Columbia:

CC’s City Broiler

Mississippi Fish Shack

Best friend on the team: Michael

Best friend on the team:

Pregame routine:

Pregame routine:

Dixon

“The night before the game I make 75 shots on each basket in the main gym.

The day of the game I usually get a quick bite to eat at Shiloh’s before I come up here for shootaround. Two and a half hours before game time I make 100 shots then go through my 10-minute mental training.”

Laurence Bowers “I just broke my headphones so I didn’t really listen to anything before a game. We have a pregame meal as a team so I guess that’s it.”

Junior forward

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

2010-11 Basketball Schedule November

February

Nov. 30 vs. Georgetown:

11/05/10 — vs. Harris-Stowe 11/12/10 — vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith 11/18/10 — vs. Western Illinois 11/20/10 — vs. North Florida 11/23/10 — vs. Wyoming at Cancun 11/24/10 — Providence / La Salle at Playa del Carmen 11/28/10 — vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff 11/30/10 — vs. Georgetown at Kansas City, Mo.

The Tigers and Georgetown will square off for the second time in history in this highly-anticipated game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Hoyas hold the lone victory in the series after beating the Tigers 63-51 in 1982.

Georgetown is coming off a successful year despite a first-round loss in the NCAA tournament to Ohio.The Hoyas went 23-11 on the 2009-2010 season, which included impressive wins over National Champion Duke, as well as Villanova and Pittsburgh.

02/02/10 — at Oklahoma State 02/05/10 — vs. Colorado 02/07/10 — at Kansas 02/12/10 — vs. Oklahoma 02/15/10 — vs. Texas Tech 02/19/10 — at Iowa State 02/23/10 — vs. Baylor 02/26/10 — at Kansas State

Dec. 22 vs. Illinois:

December 12/02/10 — at Oregon 12/08/10 — vs. Vanderbilt 12/11/10 — vs. Presbyterian 12/16/10 — vs. Oral Roberts 12/18/10 — vs. Central Arkansas 12/22/10 — vs. Illinois at St. Louis 12/27/10 — vs. Northern Illinois 12/30/10 — vs. Old Dominion

January 01/05/10 — vs. North Alabama 01/08/10 — at Colorado 01/12/10 — vs. Nebraska 01/15/10 — at Texas A&M 01/17/10 — vs. Kansas State 01/22/10 — vs. Iowa State 01/29/10 — at Texas

Feb. 7 at Kansas:

Although the Jayhawks lose three outstanding players — Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry — Kansas will still be a force in the Big 12, especially at home at the Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks were 19-0 at home last year, so the Tigers will need to stay in the game and not let the crowd take over.

Last year, Missouri fell short 84-65 against Kansas on the road, despite 19 poinrts from Justin Safford. KU brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris came together Jan. 17 vs. Kansas State: to contribute 26 points for the victory, and The Wildcats are No. 1 in the Big 12 both return for the Jayhawks this season. preseason coaches’ poll and are coming off an Elite Eight trip in the NCAA Tournament last season. This season, the Tigers will play the Wildcats twice, two vital victories the Tigers 03/01/10 — at Nebraska need to ascend to the top of the Big 12.

Kansas State brings back star guard Jacob 03/05/11 — vs. Kansas Pullen, who will try to lead the Wildcats — Zach Mink to another successful season. The teams sports editor split 1-1 with the Tigers last season, with the home team winning in each game.

TheTigers bested the Fighting Illini on the road last year, but Illinois had great recruiting in the off season. Illinois is bringing in newcomers Jereme Richmond, Crandell Head and Meyers Leonard, who are all ranked in the ESPN Top 100 for recruits.

The Fighting Illini should be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA this season, and the Tigers will have to shine under the spotlight in St. Louis.

March

Our Predictions Zach Toombs, Editor-in-Chief

Pierce Courchaine, MOVE editor

Zach Murdock, Assistant editor

Zach Mink, Sports editor

Big 12 record: 13-3

Big 12 record: 13-3

Big 12 record: 12-4

Big 12 record: 12-4

Team MVP: Laurence Bowers

Team MVP: Laurence Bowers

Team MVP: Mike Dixon

Biggest Surprise: Phil Pressey

Biggest surprise: Michael Dixon’s emergence as a top guard in the Big 12

Biggest surprise: Phil Pressey

Biggest surprise: Phil Pressey

Where the team will go: Elite Eight

Where the team will go: Elite Eight

Where the team will go: Runner-up Big 12 Tournament, at least Sweet 16

Biggest matchup: vs. Kansas State, Jan. 17

Biggest matchup: at Kansas, Feb. 7

Biggest matchup: vs.

Kansas, March 5

Where the team will go: Sweet 16 Biggest matchup: vs.

Kansas, March 5