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Who: Lipscomb vs Mizzou
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia MO
When: Saturday, 4pm CT
TV: SEC Network
Gametracker: MizzouStats.com
While You Wait:
You can watch Kim Anderson discuss the team's growth from Xavier thru the Oklahoma State game.
Everything I know about Lipscomb I learned by reading Sam Snelling's preview ↓
Learnt Up
It has been tough watching Mizzou so far this season. Tough losses, moral victories but no statement wins that convince those fans who are on the fence that it is okay to reinvest in Kim Anderson's squad yet. Close losses to Illinois in St. Louis and Oklahoma State in Kansas City, Missouri only seem to reinforce the perception in those cities that it isn't quite worth the drive to Columbia during the middle of the week.
That all being said, things have looked better. Mizzou is not the same team that started the season with a loss, and perhaps through a bit of addition by subtraction, has grown into a higher effort, higher ceiling team, even if fundamental mistakes and lack of experience still plague them. Kim Anderson has shortened the rotation, Keanau Post no longer sees the court, Deuce Bello is out for academic reasons and Ryan Rosburg no longer commands all of minutes down low.
Mizzou has been able to play a smaller line up because of favorable matchups and used the energy and hustle of this smaller group to play more up tempo. We'll see if they can continue with that when conference play begins. Until then, one final tune-up.
Next chance to see @CoachAndersonMU's Tigers is Saturday at 4 p.m. in #Mizzou Arena. LET'S GO. pic.twitter.com/F51VjplU0S
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouHoops) January 2, 2015
In case you hadn't heard, Mizzou had been in the mix for 5 star guard Antonio Blakeney but he chose LSU. Mizzou is currently hosting point guard Terrence Phillips.
The Zou pic.twitter.com/1yBK9xrDS5
— Terrence Phillips (@FloorGeneral03) January 2, 2015
Steve Walentik has more about Blakeney, Phillips and the rest of Mizzou's basketball recruiting here
Blakeney chooses LSU over Missouri, Kentucky; Phillips visiting - Columbia Daily Tribune
The weekend of Oct. 11 was seen as a seminal moment for Missouri basketball recruiting as the Tigers played host to three of the nation's top 40 prospects as guards Isaiah Briscoe, Antonio Blakeney and center Thomas Bryant paid official visits to Columbia.