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Mizzou Links: Kentucky's coming, Kul's staying, and wrestlers are ranked

Kim Anderson talks about the changes Mizzou is making in advance of Kentucky's trip to Columbia, Craig Kuligowski is staying with Mizzou, and all 10 Mizzou wrestlers are ranked heading into February.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

What's On

Basketball things!

Kul!

The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Kuligowski withdraws name from consideration at Illinois
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou retains prized defensive assistant
Post-Dispatch: 12 reasons why they call Mizzou 'D-Line U'
PowerMizzou: Kuligowski staying at Mizzou
The Missourian: After reports of departure, Craig Kuligowski staying with Missouri football

I guess this game's still happening, huh?

The Trib (Courtside View): Anderson looks ahead to Thursday's meeting with No. 1 Kentucky

On facing Kentucky a second time after such a lopsided loss …

"When that game ended, we obviously did address it. We didn’t prolong our discussion on it. I think that Kentucky is the best team in the country. They have so many weapons. They’re extremely well-coached. They just don’t have a whole lot of weaknesses. I think the thing that I’m going to try to do and talk to our guys about is, ‘Hey, this is an opportunity to play the best, and they are coming to Columbia.’ I know we’re going to have a good crowd. We’re going to prepare kind of like any other game. I just hope we prepare better and perform better than we did in Lexington.

"When we went to Lexington, I thought it was a great environment. I thought Coach Calipari obviously had them ready to play coming off a couple of close games, and they responded extremely well. We’re excited about the opportunity to play, and a tough loss on Saturday, so we’re looking forward to getting back on the practice floor and getting ready to play the best team in the country."

On what Missouri will try to do differently against Kentucky’s defense …

"We’ve changed some things since then, and I really think the thing that bothers you so much with Kentucky—and we all do this—they do such a great job on their ball-screen defense because they’re so long. They can switch. They’re quick. They can switch. If they mess up, they have the advantage of having the guy at the basket to swat the basketball. I think we have to do a better job of executing. When we went to Lexington, I think we got kind of in a scramble mode and didn’t play with the precision that we need to play. Now, it’s hard to play with precision against them, but I think you do have to do a better job of — whatever it is we decide to run — of executing and making harder cuts. I think they force you to play at a little bit quicker speed sometimes, and that’s something that I thought we responded pretty well against against Arkansas, so hopefully there’ll be some sort of carryover."

#TigerStyle

MUTIGERS.COM: All 10 Tiger Style Grapplers Make First NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings

125 - Alan Waters - No. 1
133 - Zach Synon - No. 27
141 - Lavion Mayes - No. 5
149 - Drake Houdashelt - No. 5

157 - Joey Lavallee - No. 13
165 - Mikey England - No. 25
174 - Johnny Eblen - No. 6
184 - Willie Miklus - No. 12
197 - J'den Cox - No. 1
HWT - Devin Mellon - No. 14

Volleyball adds a transfer setter

MUTIGERS.COM: Mizzou Volleyball Welcomes Courtney Eckenrode

The ongoing tennis upgrade

The Missourian: Lashway sisters bring new chemistry, talent to Missouri tennis