Mizzou Links, 1-31-11

Mizzou Basketball Links

• KBIA Sports Extra: For Mizzou fans, Justin Safford a model of consistency

  Though his play has at times been irregular, a throng of black and gold clad Mizzou fans, students and families alike, await his arrival patiently after home games with hooded sweatshirts, sneakers and other memorabilia primed for autographs.

  "You see the crowds we’re starting to get here, you know, it’s the support everyone gives us night in and night out. I feel like we owe it to them as players to sign for them," Safford said.

  Safford has built a reputation for perennial post-game appearances beginning in that first year when a rebuilding Mizzou basketball team struggled to .500 at home. Fan loyalty and the reciprocal player outreach, as well as the 2010-2011 team’s flawless non-conference home record, means more fans stay late and more players make the effort to connect. But the die-hards have always been there.

  "They’ve always been pretty loyal. My freshman year we went through some tough times, that’s when we were 16-16, but you still had those loyal fans who stuck around, came to the games, and waited around even then for autographs. As things went better, they stuck with us," Safford said.

• KC Star (Campus Corner): Mizzou Didn't Lose at Texas; It Was Beaten
• Burnt Orange Nation: Texas 71 Missouri 58: Game Thoughts, Continued

Big 12 Basketball Links

• Kansas >>> Kansas State
  ESPN.com: VIDEO: Kansas Destroys Kansas State, 90-66
  Rock Chalk Talk: Kansas Crushes Kansas State 90-66
  Rock Chalk Talk: A (semi) Statistical Recap of Kansas State
  KC Star: Kansas State a no-show for celebration game
  KC Star: Wildcats fall into early trap against Jayhawks
  KC Star: Thomas Robinson's return makes Kansas' day in win over K-State
  KC Star (Upon Further Review): KU: Regaining Dominance?
  Lawrence Journal-World: Lopsided loss headache for Wildcats
  Lost Lettermen: K-State's Jamar Samuels Misses Crazy Dunk
  USA Today: Jacob Pullen sounds off on Kansas State's woes
• Nebraska > Texas A&M
  ESPN.com: Nebraska holds No. 11 Texas A&M to 24 percent shooting in second half
  Houston Chronicle: Nebraska's defense keys upset of No. 13 Texas A&M
  Omaha World-Herald: Andre Almeida leaves game with injury
• Baylor > Colorado
  ESPN.com: LaceDarius Dunn leads way as Baylor rallies past Colorado
  Houston Chronicle: Dunn leads way as Baylor rallies to top Colorado 70-66
• Texas Tech > Oklahoma State
  Daily Oklahoman: Texas Tech defeats Oklahoma State in overtime
  Dallas Morning News: Texas Tech just edged Oklahoma State in overtime, 75-74
  ESPN.com: John Roberson lifts Texas Tech to victory in overtime
• Oklahoma > Iowa State
  ESPN.com: Oklahoma 82, Iowa State 76
  

Mizzou Football Links

One more commit for the 2011 class!  Everybody welcome Ernest Payton of College Station's A&M Consolidated High School to the black and gold.

• Post-Dispatch: Mizzou's Ziggy Hood makes his mark on Steelers' defense
• The Trib: MU recruit Berkstresser significantly schools in spread

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Wrestling
  MUtigers.com: No. 7 Tigers Fall to Huskers, 17-16
  The Missourian: Nebraska upsets No. 7 Missouri to start Big 12 wrestling season
• Mizzou Women's Basketball
  The Missourian: Tough first half costs MU women's basketball at Iowa State
• Mizzou Gymnastics
  MUtigers.com: Tigers take Fourth Against the Nation's Best

Other

• SI.com (Andy Staples): South hub for elite defensive line recruits like Jadaveon Clowney (really interesting research from Staples here)
• Consequence of Sound: Icons of Rock: Matt Cameron (for Uribe)
• Finally, for those who played NHL '94, words ... cannot ... describe...