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Mizzou Links, 4-7-14: Haith talks future, Finucane drives Softball to series win

Your MVPs for the weekend: 1) Tori Finucane, 2) Morgan Steward, 3) Eric Anderson, 4) Kevin Punter, 5) Kaitlyn Fischer.

The Beef

1. More on Punter

The Trib: Juco G Punter gives MU hoops commitment
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou picks up pledge from juco guard
KC Star: MU’s basketball team lands junior-college guard
The Missourian; Junior college prospect commits to Missouri men's basketball
PowerMizzou: Commitment Breakdown: Kevin Punter

"He's a good kid and a very talented basketball player," State Fair head coach Kevin Thomas said about his most recent high major division one product. "He's improved by leaps and bounds in his two years at State Fair. They're getting a kid that is going to come in and have an immediate impact. Provide some scoring for them. He's a kid that really has a knack for scoring. He shoots it well from all areas, he can get to the rim and he has a really good midrange game. On defense he gets his hands on a lot of balls because of his long arms. He's going to be a kid, especially with the departure of [Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown], that definitely fills a need for Mizzou next year."

And on next year
The Trib: Haith has stormy seas to navigate
The Trib: MU coach anticipates deeper, younger squad for next year

Q: With your roster and what you have coming back, you don’t really have a star player in that mix, at least not an established star player. Do you see someone being capable of breaking out and taking this team on his shoulders next year?

A: I think we all point to — you guys haven’t seen Cam Biedscheid. I think Cam Biedscheid is a very, very good player. I think he has a chance to be a great scorer. He’s been impressive in his workouts. I think Johnathan Williams is going to take the next step. I think Torren Jones will take the next step. I think Wes Clark will take the next step. Those are the guys that I point to in terms of the foundation of the program. I think Ryan Rosburg had a really good sophomore year, but our expectations are that he will take the next step. I like the foundation of our program and moving forward. I think those guys, they’re going to get better as players, and we’re going to add some more pieces to that. I think we’ve got two guys coming in that are outstanding players. Jakeenan Gant and Namon Wright are outstanding players, and I feel real confident those guys will have an impact as freshmen. [...]

Q: Unless you acquire a senior or junior between now and the start of the season, you’re going to have a mostly freshman and sophomore team. Do you think this is going to be a rebuilding year? Are you willing to use that term?

A: I don’t want to use that term. We want to be good. We want to be really good. As young as our team is, I’ll tell you the one thing that the NCAA has done is allowed us as coaches to work with our guys. It’s not a large number in terms of hours in the summertime, but we will have time to really help with our players when they get here in the summer. We’ve got to have a crash course, so to speak, with some of the young guys. But I do believe we’re going to have the kind of talent based on how we finish recruiting. We’ve got to finish recruiting right. That will allow us to put a product out there I think that Mizzou nation will be proud of.

And on ... geography, I guess?
Post-Dispatch: Haith wants "Midwestern flavor" for MU

In his fourth year at Mizzou, Haith has a template in mind for what he wants his team to look like. "We want to be known as a team that gets after it on both ends of the court, very aggressive," he said. "We’ve seen that in spurts. We haven’t been consistent with that. I want to have the Midwestern flavor to it. Hard-nosed, tough, relentless, passionate. That’s what I feel where I live. And I want our team to resemble that on the basketball court."

2. A #stubble series win

Mizzou 6, Mississippi State 0
MUtigers.com: Finucane and Tiger Bats Silence Mississippi State, 6-0
The Missourian: No. 16 Missouri softball shuts out Mississippi State in first series game
The Trib: Missouri outfielder doesn’t feel the heat

Mississippi State 9, Mizzou 3
Mizzou 8, Mississippi State 1
MUtigers.com: No. 16 Mizzou Softball Takes Series at Mississippi State
The Missourian: No. 16 Missouri softball splits doubleheader with Mississippi State, takes series

3. A baseball series loss

Georgia 2, Mizzou 1 (13)
MUtigers.com: Tigers Drop Marathon Contest, 2-1
The Trib: MU baseball team falls to Georgia in 13 innings
The Missourian: Missouri baseball falls to Georgia in 13 innings
PowerMizzou: Tigers drop series opener
KBIA Sports: Offense, defense don’t back up Missouri pitching in 13-inning loss

Georgia 7, Mizzou 2
MUtigers.com: Tigers Drop Series After 7-2 Loss
The Trib: Tigers question heart
The Missourian: Frustration piles up as Missouri baseball falls to Georgia
PowerMizzou: In search of heart

Mizzou 4, Georgia 2
MUtigers.com: Anderson's Complete Game Helps Tigers Avoid Sweep
The Missourian: Missouri drops Georgia on strength of Anderson's complete game
KBIA Sports: Anderson’s historic day propels Tigers to a 4-2 victory over Georgia
Mizzou Network: HIGHLIGHTS: Eric Anderson Dominates in 4-2 Victory

4. This stinks

The Missourian: Elbow injury keeps Missouri's Rachel Updike out of gymnastics regionals

5. SOS

Blatant Homerism: Profiles in Scheduling: What does a conference champion look like?

6. WHATNOT

Track & Field
MUtigers.com: All-Time Top Ten Mark for Fischer in 10k Debut
MUtigers.com: Track Closes Crimson Tide Invitational

Tennis
MUtigers.com: No. 21 Auburn Secures 4-0 Win Over Mizzou
MUtigers.com: No. 5 Alabama Notches 4-0 Victory Over Mizzou Tennis

Men's Golf
The Trib: Sundvold finds stroke

Women's Golf
MUtigers.com: Women's Golf Opens Play at Web.com Intercollegiate

7. I loved Netscape

Internet History Podcast: On The 20th Anniversary – An Oral History of Netscape’s Founding

8. Roger

RogerEbert.com: Remembering Roger: The Table of Contents