Dear cancer, F*** you. Love, Rock M Nation

1. A combined 3-0

It was a perfect first day on the diamond(s). Baseball beat Seton Hall, 7-0, behind an eight-inning, four-hit performance from Reggie McClain. Meanwhile softball run-ruled Jacksonville State, 8-0, thanks to a six-run fourth inning, and whomped Elon, 9-2, thanks to another six-run fourth. Freshman Danielle Baumgartner gave up two runs in the top of the first to Elon, then dominated. (Ehren Earleywine was suspended for Game 1 because of a minor NCAA violation. He really just shouldn't use e-mail for anything. It never goes well.)

2. An SEC swim champion

Mizzou got its first individual SEC title in swimming & diving when Katharine Ross won the 100-meter breast stroke. Fabian Schwingenschlogl took second in the men's 100-meter breast.

Through four days, both the men's and women's teams are in fourth place.

3. Rest in peace, Dave Brown

It appears Jabari Brown's father passed away.

Had the opportunity & pleasure to speak with @Bari_BrownIDF’s father David last year. He was generous with his time, and gracious w/ me.

— Sam Snelling (@SamSnellingRMN) February 20, 2016

I enjoyed our short conversation about his sons time at Mizzou, and he sent me a congratulatory note when I published the article.

— Sam Snelling (@SamSnellingRMN) February 20, 2016

Rest in peace uncle Dave #DB55 #IDF

— j. toscano-anderson (@juanonjuan10) February 18, 2016

JC paying his respects. @Bari_BrownIDF pic.twitter.com/68ITCEvdKn

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 20, 2016

R.I.P David Brown prayers up to my boy/bro @Bari_BrownIDF I'm here for you fam. All Love !! IDF

— Earnest Ross (@earnest33_ross) February 20, 2016

And here Mr. Brown is talking about his cancer battle and his son's time at Mizzou.

While we're in a "f*** cancer" kind of mood (and we always are), throw some thoughts and prayers toward the Pendleton family.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer today... Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she fights this disease

— Kevin Pendleton (@KevinP_71) February 19, 2016

4. A big Saturday docket

• 12:00 pm CT: Baseball vs. Seton Hall (in Fort Myers)
• 2:30 pm CT: Softball vs. UAB (in Kissimmee)
• 4:45 pm CT: Softball vs. College of Charleston (in Kissimmee)
• 6:30 pm CT: Basketball at Arkansas (in Fayetteville)
• All day: SEC Swimming & Diving Championships (in Columbia)
• All day: Men's Golf at the Gator Invitational (in Gainesville)

Regarding tonight's basketball game, the young guys understand the power that a strong finish to the season could hold.

"We’ve got two in a row right now, so we just want to keep going off of these wins and try to keep getting as many as possible," freshman K.J. Walton said while meeting with reporters before practice on Thursday.

There’s a belief that with so many underclassmen on the roster the Tigers can turn use a strong finish to propel them into the offseason, make them motivated to improve individually and set the stage for a resurgence from the program beginning next fall.

"I think these next five games prepare us for next season," freshman Kevin Puryear said. "I think they carry momentum into next season, and I think they play a huge role in how we perform starting out next season, and I think even though we’re not playing in the postseason these games are extremely important."

Mizzou's been limiting the funks over the last couple of games, but tonight will be an obvious test, as funks are never more damaging than when they happen against a Mike Anderson team.