Mizzou Links, 4-18-12

Mizzou Football Links

So Mizzou scored Commitment No. 9 yesterday when Missouri City (Texas) receiver J'Mon Moore committed. Moore visited last weekend and made it known in no uncertain terms that he really enjoyed the visit; evidently he came home, got the blessing from Mom, and committed. He is a three-star kid (Rivals Rating: 5.5, the lowest of the 3-star ratings), long and skinny (6'3, 165). There is no highlight package on YouTube, however, so for now we just say "Huzzah! Welcome!"

• Wait, We're Allowed To Take Commits From Out Of State?
  PowerMizzou: J'Mon Moore is No. 9
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T
  SI.com (Andy Staples): Gary Pinkel, Missouri working to earn respect in SEC

  Unlike many of his fellow head coaches, who were dragged along through conference realignment with no say in the move, Pinkel had a chance to voice his opinion before the Tigers elected to leave the Big 12. Though Pinkel said the ultimate decision was made by the chancellor, president and Board of Curators, Pinkel endorsed the move to his bosses. But not because he thought it was necessarily the best move for Gary Pinkel or for Missouri's short-term prospects. "It was what I thought was best for the University of Missouri," Pinkel said. "It wasn't what I thought was best. The best thing for me was we stay in the Big 12. But obviously, there is a reason why four teams left. There were severe problems." [...]

  Next month, Henson and running backs coach Brian Jones will head to Florida in an attempt to introduce a new crop of recruits to Missouri football. Safeties coach Alex Grinch will do the same in the Atlanta area, where prospects who drive along I-85 in Gwinnett County already pass a Missouri "Proud to be SEC" billboard. The Tigers will keep recruiting in Texas, the state that gave them Franklin, Gooden and former stars such as quarterback Chase Daniel and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Pinkel doubts the exit from the Big 12 will shut the door on Texas, not after several Texans have used Missouri as a path to the NFL.

• Spring Ball
  PowerMizzou: What We Learned: Tailback
  We Are Mizzou: Black and Gold Highlights
• Ebner
  ESPN.com (SEC Blog): VIDEO: Missouri LB Will Ebner
• Gabs
  Big Cat Country: BREAKING: Blaine Gabbert Goes Reverse Samson
  NFL.com: Blaine Gabbert labels Lombardi's critique 'comical'
  CBS Sports: Gabbert's rookie year was a nightmare, but he won't be a bust
  Jacksonville.com: Mularkey likes Jaguars' energy in first minicamp practice
• Sigh, Just Pay Your Tickets, Guys
  The Trib: MU lineman Chris Freeman arrested for failure to appear

Other Football Links

• PLAYoff?
  Team Speed Kills: The Rose Bowl Will Survive a Playoff

Mizzou Basketball Links

So Kim English was on The Closers yesterday...

• Denmon & English
  NBA.com (David Aldridge): Beal leads solid-yet-all-too-similar shooting guard crop

  The two Missouri guards, Marcus Denmon and Kim English, have suitors. Denmon was an AP second-team all-America who led the Tigers in scoring, and has some toughness. But no one believes he's his listed 6-foot-3, or that he can make a transition to point guard in the NBA. Making it as a two guard in the pros at 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2 is a tall order, no pun intended. But some at that size, like Eddie House, have had successful careers.

  English, who was second on the Tigers in scoring behind Denmon, shot almost 46 percent from 3-point range this season, and has the size to be a more prototypical two guard in the pros. But he played with a bruised quad in Missouri's upset loss to Norfolk State in the second round of the NCAAs, making just 1 of 7 shots and finishing with two points.

  Now healthier, English played better in the Portsmouth tournament last week, earning all-tournament team honors.

  "I think I like English a little better," one scout said. "I don't know if either one of them is a first round pick. I don't think they are."

  One veteran scout who was in Portsmouth, however, was impressed by how English tried to get his team to play some defense, always a challenge in any all-star format.

• Goodbye, Assistant Whose Name I Didn't Know
  KC Star (Campus Corner): Mizzou loses second member of basketball staff
• The Seniors Were Good
  Mizzou Network: Men's Basketball Senior Tribute

Other Basketball Links

• JUCOs
  ESPN.com: NCAA reform will have big effect on Jucos

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Gymnastics
  Mizzou Network: Updike Heads to Nationals
• Mizzou Softball
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Closes Home Stand Wednesday With WIU
• Mizzou Wrestling
  MUtigers.com: Five Tigers Set for Olympic Trials This Weekend
• Mizzou Track & Field
  MUtigers.com: Busy Week Ahead for Tiger Track & Field
• Mizzou Women's Basketball
  MUtigers.com: Women's Basketball Announces Season Awards
• Mizzou Cheer
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Cheer Takes Fourth at Nationals

Other

• Bourdain
  Esquire: What Anthony Bourdain Ate In Kansas City (Also: Cheesy Corn!)
• The J-School Does Not Teach You To Hit A Softball
  South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Writer owned by pitching star