If you haven’t been paying close attention, the Mizzou women’s basketball team is off to an 8-2 start on the season, including a five game win streak. Today the ladies try to make it six in a row with a home game against South Dakota.

Missouri has done a lot of relying upon Sophie Cunningham the last three+ years, and this season has been no different. Cunningham has been every bit as good this season with averages of 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, while not shooting her best from the floor. But Sophie hasn’t needed to be her absolute best this season.

Because Amber Smith has been just as good, if not better.

Cameron Teauge-Robinson, of the Tribune, had a great feature on Smith and her excellent play this season. I don’t get to watch as much women’s hoops as I’d like but when I watch I’m always impressed by Smith and her chameleon like ability to do it all on the floor.

Smith, who entered this season with just two career double-doubles, has tallied a double-double in each of Missouri’s last three games. She now has six this season.

Her season has not only made her crucial for Missouri, but it’s vaulted her into one of the SEC’s elite players. Smith, who is averaging 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, is one of just five players to be a top-10 SEC rebounder and a top-15 scorer.

The rest of the piece is quite good, so I suggest you give Cam a click.

With Smith and Cunningham, Mizzou has two elite players. They’re still kind of waiting for a third to step up with a little more consistency. Maybe we find out today against South Dakota. Read the preview from MUTigers.com.

Yesterday at Rock M

More Links:

• Mitchell Forde has a notebook on Mizzou Hoops Media Day where they used their time between games to do a little self scouting in preparing for Xavier.
• A recruiting update from Alex Schiffer of the KC Star including notes on Chester Graves, Jeff Thomas, Marcus Washington and more.