#TigerStyle is as dominant as ever

It’s been bemoaned by many of us here on Rock M recently that we don’t have the wrestling coverage we think the program deserves. Brian Smith has built the most consistent, excellent program in the university’s athletic department, and it’s unfortunate it doesn’t get as much attention as some of the high revenue sports.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about wrestling. But in their 24th straight dual match win on Sunday, even the most aloof of fans would be able to tell the Tigers were dominant as ever. Just look at the scoreboard.

No. 6 Mizzou Wrestling pushed its dual winning streak to 24 and won its 10^th straight MAC dual with a 48-0 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Sunday afternoon (Dec. 9) at the Hearnes Center...

“We wrestled five freshmen today and I can’t remember if we ever wrestled five freshmen in a dual since I’ve been here, so I was pleased,” head coach Brian Smith said. “Any time you can get a shutout, it’s great. That’s what you want to do is go out and win all 10 matches.”

Again, I’m not that knowledgable about wrestling. But I’d assume 48-0 is... pretty good! Once again, Brian Smith’s team is one of the best in the country and will have a shot to compete at the highest level come spring. Rinse, lather, repeat!

Mizzou women topple SLU in St. Louis showdown

Speaking of winning streaks, Robin Pingeton’s team has one going of their own. On Sunday, the Tigers went into Chaifetz Arena and collected their fifth straight win — eighth overall — by cruising past the Billikens 74-62.

Sunday’s win marked a second consecutive strong performance from Sophie Cunningham, who has had her ups and downs so far in her senior campaign. Foul troubles didn’t plague her in the Gateway City, though, as she tallied up 18 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Amber Smith continues to dominate all over the floor, logging her third straight double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds.)

Expectations have never been higher for Robin Pingeton’s crew, and the start of the year — including bad losses to Green Bay and Michigan — could have stunted this team’s growth. But Pingeton has put them back on course with four non-conference games left. The Tigers are playing characteristically stingy defense — 56 points allowed per game on 34.3 percent allowed shooting percentage — and if they can get good production from Cunningham and Smith, there won’t be many teams that can beat them.

More Links:

• Anne Rogers — one of the best up-and-coming sports writers currently working — wrote a story for the Post-Dispatch on Mizzou quarterback Jack Lowary and why he’s comfortable as the backup.
• Tyler Kraft at PowerMizzou wrote about Tia Odom (Barry’s wife) and what her life has looked like since returning to Missouri — both she and Barry’s alma mater.
• Also at PowerMizzou, Gabe wrote a column about how the Tigers are digesting all the news from this week and where they’re focusing their gaze.
• From Saturday — Oklahoma State’s 247 affiliate, Go Pokes, profiled the upcoming Liberty Bowl. They asked coaches and players what it would be like to beat a team that went 8-4 in the SEC.