Who’s in the mood for some feel-good basketball?!?

Can we take Drink’s enthusiasm from National Signing Day and just bottle it up and force feed it to the Tiger basketball team to inject some good vibes into Saturday’s match up? I think it can work.

Saturday, as you all should know by now, is Rally for Rhyan Day, and Mizzou is undefeated in such games. Let’s reminisce, shall we, and see just how far Rhyan has come in her pediatric cancer battle, and just how well this game has gone in supporting the cause.

If you haven’t already, please participate in our pledge drive! Thanks for the shout out, Rally For Rhyan twitter!

Also, be sure to check out Josh’s game preview later on this morning to see how the Tigers match up with an Isaiah Joe-less Razorback team.

To the links!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Nate looked at the most successful teams of Missouri’s past and examined their recruiting DNA. It’s pretty cool and you should check it out.
• Sam posted a new Study Hall, reliving the unpleasantness of Tuesday’s loss.
• Sam updated the 2020 Rally For Rhyan Pledge Drive to include prop bets.

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More Links:

Football

• PowerMizzou (free): Gabe and Mitchell put out a new episode of their PowerMizzou Podcast where they chatted with Josh Heimheldt of Rivals.com about NSD, Mizzou’s commitments, and Drink’s start. Gabe also wrote that Drinkwitz’s staff started to take shape back at Auburn.
• PowerMizzou/Rivals: Matt Hamilton of Rivals shared a film room of Ennis Rakestraw, while Sean Williams talked to Rakestraw about why he picked Mizzou.
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Dave wrote that Drinkwitz closed his first Mizzou signing class with a dramatic finish.
• STL Today: Dave and BenFred were back with a new episode of their Eye on the Tigers pod, awesomely titled, “The Straw that Stirs the Drink.”
• Columbia Missourian: Adam Cole compared Mizzou’s 2020 class to the rest of the SEC.
• The Maneater: Wilson Moore wrote about the coaching staff, which blends new and old faces.
• The Athletic (subscribers): Peter’s piece, taking stock of Missouri’s Class of 2020: Meet the surprise signee who inspired Eliah Drinkwitz’s elation, was very good.
• Dallas Morning News: Greg Riddle broke down the surprising commitment choice for their Defensive Player of the Year, Ennis Rakestraw, Jr.
• A sit down with Coach Drinkwitz:

• Shots fired. I love it.

Men’s Hoops

• STL Today: Dave Matter held his regularly scheduled weekly chat, focusing mainly on hoops & football. Interesting tidbits of the chat: One commenter asked about Tray Jackson’s lack of playing time, especially in the A&M game. Dave’s response:

It’s not a mystery why he doesn’t play a lot. He’s not very strong or physical. He doesn’t play much defense. He fouled like crazy at WVU when Martin wanted to give him more playing time - and fouled out in 10 minutes. But it’s still surprising that he barely sees the floor in games like Tuesday’s. In that game, though, Mitchell Smith was MU’s best player and Smith and Jackson play the same position. So, unless you move Smith over to the five, when he’s the one guy playing physical and taking multiple charges and crashing the boards, it makes sense to keep him on the floor instead of Jackson, who does none of those things.

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Hochman asked, why is Mizzou’s offense so bad? Let us count the ways. Ben Fred’s 5 topics fans should be discussing had contained 2/5 points about Mizzou.
• KC Star: Souichi looked at what’s next for JTilly as he returns from injury.
• Columbia Missourian: Briar Napier pondered where Mizzou’s once-elite defense has gone.
• Columbia Tribune: Eric Blum posted 5 takeaways from Mizzou’s first half of the season.
• Truman’s Tales/FanSided: Rilee Stapleton wrote about the Studs and Duds of the A&M game.
• Josh Christopher, NUMBER ONE MIZZOU TARGET, was chosen to represent the USA in the Nike Hoops Summit, per his Twitter. (Note to Josh: PLEASE come here)

Women’s Hoops

• Columbia Missourian: Briley Eilers previewed the Tigers’ game with Bulldogs, stating they would need to limit their turnovers.
• THEY WON!!! The Tigers were led by... you guessed it... Aijha Blackwell! AB had a career-high 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds, and 7-8 from the charity stripe (she’s normally a sub 60% FT shooter). Highlights from MUTigers.com.

• Feel-good Georgia Gamers provided by: Kevin Graeler (Columbia Tribune). Briley Eilers (Columbia Missourian). MUTigers.com.
• Check out the locker room celebration and pics from the night on the team’s twitter account. So much joy.

Mizzou Softball

• Softball’s season gets started this weekend with the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, FL (that my parents are attending)! Here’s what’s on tap:

from MUTigers.com

• Eric Blum of the Columbia Tribune wrote that the team is motivated despite the sanctions that will keep them from the postseason ban. According to Coach Anderson, the Tigers had an “unbelievable” fall season, so she’s excited to get going.
• Christina Long wrote a preview on the team’s goal is to “play free” and aggressively in 2020 because the players can play without the pressure of rankings and records. Even without a postseason berth in play, Anderson had this to say:

“I want them to say this is the best year, the best team they’ve ever been a part of. If they can say that at the end of the year, then we accomplished everything we need to.”

Other Mizzou Sports & News

• As mentioned earlier this week, Missouri Gymnastics is in Tuscaloosa to face #7 Alabama at 7:15pm on SEC+. The 21st ranked Tigers currently rank 16th nationally on floor, 18th on beam, 19th on vault, and 29th on bars. Individually, freshman Helen Hu ranks fifth nationally on beam with an average of 9.920 (WOW). Stats and more meet info available at MUTigers.com

• Tennis is hosting three matches at the Mizzou Tennis Complex this weekend, beginning with a dual against Wichita State today at 4pm, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday against Old Dominion at 10am and Bradley at 3pm. (MUTigers.com)

• The Columbia Tribune staff discussed both the baseball preseason division rankings and wrestler Brock Mauller’s second consecutive MAC Wrestler of the Week honors.
• Track & Field is hosting the Mizzou Open this weekend.

• Next week is the season opener and it’s one month to the home opener at Taylor Stadium for Tiger Baseball! Get excited!

• No. 24 #TigerStyle hosts No. 5 Arizona State this weekend. According to MUTigers.com:

Sunday’s dual will feature Mizzou Wrestling alumni returning to The Zou, along with Mizzou Football Head Coach Drinkwitz being the Honorary Coach of the match. If fans show up on time, Mizzou Wrestling is giving away free foam ‘2’ Fingers so that every time the Tigers score, fans can hold up the foam finger. Bringing Canned Food gets you $4 admission as well helps Takedown Hunger, and any Greek Sorority/Fraternity members apart of any house get in free since it’s Greek Night.

• Unrelated to Mizzou unless they start making some post-season tourneys (among other things), but the St. Louis Sports Commission has bid on FIFTY-ONE NCAA events ranging from basketball to hockey, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Stu Durando.

Mizzou in the Pros/Former Mizzou Sports figures News

• Dane Brugler, NFL Recruiting Analyst for The Athletic, called Jordan Elliot one of the better defensive tackles in the draft.

• I LOVE this. Sophie’s impact on kids is heartwarming.

• Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch covered the reunion of former Mizzou receivers, L’Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas on the St. Louis Battlehawks.
• SBNation’s Mile High Report said Drew Lock is primed for a thrilling 2020 season.
• Denver Post: Offensive Coordinator Pat Schurmur talked offensive philosphy, Drew Lock, and more.
• According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs are willing to part with Demarre Carroll, though FanSided’s Hoops Habit says he could be a sneaky good pickup for a contender.
• If you’re looking to sign up for ESPN+, Rock M Nation now has an affiliate link: click Here for ESPN+ Now! (** RockMNation has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though RockMNation may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.**)