Dave Matter's back from Vegas and back to blogging! Here's his recent Case of the Mondays.
For whatever reason — inexperience probably leading the list — [Derrion] Thomas went unsigned during the spring, but from what I’ve gathered, the chances are good that Thomas will soon enroll at MU as a walk-on. Thomas played just one full season of varsity football at Blue Springs South after spending his first few seasons there in the pool, where he became an all-state swimmer. With much fanfare, he developed into a pass-rushing menace for the BSS defense last fall, including a five-sack game in a Class 6 quarterfinals victory over Rockhurst.
Meanwhile, Dave brings back another strange tidbit from his Vegas trip.
[T]he Tigers’ recent success is proving to be the gift that keeps on giving. In a less prestigious poll, the streak endures. According to odds set last week by BetUS.com, an online gambling site, MU is No. 21 among schools most likely to be the next caught having committed an NCAA violation. The opening line is 18-1.
Let's face facts: Mizzou is striking out with little brothers. First, Little Gabbert spurned his brother's school for Nebraska. Now, Little Hoch is choosing Iowa. Dan Hoch's brother, Matt, a defensive end, decided to stay in-state. Hoch wasn't #1 on Mizzou's recruiting board by any means, but this one's at least a little disappointing. But then, for whatever reason Gary PInkel has not recruited tremendously well against Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz isn't quite in the Houston Nutt category (we never beat that guy for a recruit), but with guys like Adrian Clayborn and Marvin McNutt on the roster, this isn't the first time we've lost out to the Iowa coach. Luckily, Pinkel owns (more or less) Mark Mangino and Bill Snyder.
Sticking with recruiting, Mizzou has offered another big offensive lineman, this one from Louisiana. Meanwhile, the KC Star takes a look at what looks to be a pretty strong position in the 2011 recruiting class: quarterback.
To basketball. Steve Walentik "empties the notebook" from his trip to Harris-Stowe over the weekend for the DJ All-Star Game.
Defense is where Underwood takes the most pride, particularly when he's swatting away shots.
"That's my specialty. That's what I do," he said. "I'm still No. 1 in Arizona for blocked shots."
He moves fluidly, particularly for a player his size, but he's the first to admit his offensive skills need a lot of polish, and he also needs to bulk up a thin frame to be able to mix it up under the basket in the Big 12 Conference. Underwood was briefly winded in Saturday night's game after catching an elbow to the chest from Rockwood Summit's 610 center Will Clark, who coincidentally is signed to play for former Missouri assistant Tony Harvey at Texas Southern.
"I've got to get bigger," Underwood said. "You see how that dude elbowed me. Get bigger. But I'm going to do that. I could always do better on defense but my defense is tacked down right now. I just need to work on weaknesses -- dribbling, passing, just all-around play. Anything to help Missouri out, I'll do."
Meanwhile, speaking of little brothers, PowerMizzou checks in with Travis Releford's sibling, Trevor. Not completely sure how much interest Mizzou is showing here (the article doesn't mention much), but they've been linked to him in the past.
DeMarre Carroll meets his new city...
SimmonsField.com checks in on a couple of MU recruits...
In order to maybe prevent some stars from jumping to MMA, USA Wrestling is now offering a lot more money for winning Olympic medals...
Finally...this is just awesome. Not at all Mizzou-related, but awesome.