This is an X-Man and Parker Braun appreciation post.

Detractors, if you’re out there— SCRAM, because REALLY... dedicating my post to anyone BUT these two would just be silly.

But first, I could watch this on repeat. Y’all, I just LOVE this team. I think you know that already, but really... I never stopped believing.

The Highlights. Sigh. That was fun.

And now, it’s time to appreciate these two.

Parker Braun.

Dude.

DUDE.... What a performance (I’m ignoring bricking those two FTs). SIX POINTS. SEVEN REBOUNDS. FOUR BLOCKS. TWO ASSISTS. CAREER HIGH IN MINUTES (24).

Let’s see what the Twitterverse had to say about this.

Here’s the dunk. The stuff of legends, as Gabe said. He was called for a foul on this, but apparently, Referee Pat Adams came over to him at the end of the first half and apologized for making the call against him. Damn right.

Accurate. We all thought it.

The moral of this story? Sophie Cunningham knows what she’s talking about. Never doubt The Mayor.

Xavier.Pinson.

Wow. His recent ascent into awesomeness makes me so happy to see I might cry. LOVE. TO. SEE. IT. 32 points on 9-13 shooting (4-4 from 3) to go along with 4 rebounds and only 2 turnovers in his 27 minutes? That’ll do, X. That’ll do.

My favorite tweet of the night:

A new name for Friend of the Site Blake Lovell’s podcast? It’s got a nice ring to it, eh?

In reference to his technical foul for staring down the player he just dunked on and probably saying some words (yeah, he said something for sure):

Even the SEC noticed. #itjustmeansmore

And of course, WE noticed here at Rock M.

We see you, X.

And with that, on to the links!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Josh previewed Tuesday night’s home matchup against Mississippi.
• Newer Matt posted a Mizzou-Ole Miss game thread if you wish to see what the rest of the commentariat had to say.
• Matt, pulling double duty for us this evening, told us in his gamer that Xavier Pinson was (as least for this game) better than Ole Miss star, Breein Tyree.

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More Links:

Football

• PowerMizzou (subscribers): Sean Williams shared Rivals’ Top 25 players in Illinois and looked at the Mizzou targets of the group.
• The Athletic (subscribers): Peter wrote a great story about the returning coaches, Brick Haley, Ryan Walters, and David Gibbs titled, From limbo to let’s go: Why it made sense for these Missouri coaching holdovers to stay on.
• We officially have a date for the Spring Game! And it’s Easter weekend! Not sure what that will do for attendance?

• In case you would like to give any of the Mizzou Football staff a follow:

• Dave Matter tweeted this about the D1 working group, who has been discussing changing the policies on transfers having to sit out. You can also read more about here from the NCAA site:

• Welcome to the coaching staff, Khalil Oliver! He’s been added as a grad assistant, according to Peter Baugh.
• The new football trainer has been hired, according to Dave Matter.

Hoops

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Dave wrote in his gameday blog that the Tigers are prepared for a Rebel attack. He also wrote that Coach Martin is hoping they team will follow X’s lead.
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: BenFred said March Sadness is once again infecting the area college hoops scene.
• Thanks, bearer of some possible bad news on the horizon regarding Josh Christopher, Matthew J Harris. Check out this Rivals update for more info.
• PowerMizzou (free): The guys posted a video of Cuonzo’s postgame presser, and Jessi Dodge posted a photo gallery.
• PowerMizzou (free): Mitchell previewed the Mizzou- Ole Miss game, saying in order to win the Tigers should: 1) not let Tyree beat them, 2) keep attacking the basket, and 3) take care of the ball, before predicting a 4-point victory for the Tigers. (editor’s note: 1- X took care of that, didn’t he?. 2- not bad, some early settling of threes in the first half . 3- not terrible. Not a bad prediction by Mitchell this time!)
• Choose Your Own Gamers available in various places, all of which you should read: Souichi Terada (KC Star). Gabe DeArmond’s recap says it’s better late than never (PowerMizzou). Mitchell Forde focused mostly on X, rightly so, in his piece (PowerMizzou). Dave Matter’s recap of The Pinson Show (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Briar Napier focused on the Parker’s impact (Columbia Missourian). Souichi Terada (KC Star). Eric Blum (Columbia Tribune). Thomas Huitt-Johnson (Trumans Tales). MUTigers.com.
• Super cool stat about Dru, who reached the century mark in assists.

Other Mizzou Sports News

• Chris Martucci of the Columbia Missourian previewed the SEC Championships for swimming & diving, hoping to improve upon last years’ performances (men- 2nd to Florida and women- 7th).
• SEC Swimming Championships update: The women’s 200 medley relay set the school record, according to Missourian reports.
• Check out the #TigerStyle twitter account, who will be honoring their seniors all week. They face Iowa State on Saturday at 1:30pm.
• Congrats to golfer, Michelle Butler on her Sportswoman of the Year award at the WIN luncheon.

• Baseball showcased second baseman Mark Vierling’s performance as lead-off man. Also, they are providing incentives for new season ticket holders. Check out MUTigers.com/BSBTix for more details!

• The tumbling Tigers are back on the mat at Hearnes on Friday when take on LSU, and they are raising money for the Food Bank.

• Tyler Hollins of the Missourian wrote that Missouri softball looks to continue their hot start as they travel to CA for their next tourney.
• New softball rankings! And check out the highlights of the weekend on their twitter account.

• Some highlights from Tennis’ win over SEMO on Monday! You can read the recap here (MUTigers.com)

• Langston Newsome of the Missourian covered the WIN luncheon, which honored Columbia’s female athletes and coaches. (editor’s note: I actually shrieked when I saw THE HOLLY ROWE was the guest speaker. Wow. When I attended in 2012, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was the guest speaker and I thought THAT was cool)
• This is really cool. Associate Head Coach Natasha Kaiser-Brown will be honored at the SEC Women’s Basketball Tourney in March. She was featured in the SEC’s women’s legend spotlight, which you can read here.

• Track wraps up their regular indoor season this weekend at home in the Missouri Collegiate Challenge.

Mizzou in the Pros

• Congrats to Sophie on being named Collegiate Sportswoman of the Year at the WIN Columbia luncheon. Coach Pingeton accepted the award on her behalf.

• Forbes Magazine’s Andy Bailey apparently agreed with an article I posted last week that Jordan Clarkson is a 6th Man of the Year candidate.
• FanSided’s Nugg Love said the Denver Nuggets are entering the MPJ-Era, and it’s terrifying.
• SBNation’s Boston Red Sox site Over the Monster discussed their prospect ranking, and where former MU pitcher Tanner Houck is trying to find a role.
• The St. Louis Battlehawks have their home opener this weekend!! Anyone going out to the dome to see Marcus Lucas or LDW?

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