Eight Days.

Did you know? Mizzou, one of 16 15 (update: sorry, Arizona) remaining undefeated D-I teams in all of the land, and their truly deplorable real rival, the kansas fakebirds (7-1), will face off at Mizzou Arena in just EIGHT days for the first time in 10 years (3,692 days)? A DECADE. What were you doing on February 4, 2012?

I was [redacted] years old, preparing my Rock Bridge girls swimmers (I coached Hickman, too) for what would end up being their first ever State Championship just 14 days later. It seems like a lifetime ago.

Nick Krug, Lawrence Journal-World

The picture below, courtesy of the KC Star’s photo file, shows on the left, the last time they played at Mizzou Arena, and on the right, the last time they played at Allen “Cheaters Play Here” Fieldhouse (2/25/12).

It was cool last year to kick the whole thing off at KCMO’s Sprint Center (and who remembers the announcement, which came in 2019?), but to have it back on a college campus? I have chills. CHILLS. (It’s also cold in my house as I write this)

So, yeah.. everyone is pumped, and it’s no surprise it sold out before tickets even went on sale to the gen pop. They only got as far as TSF donor pre-sales, which means we had BETTER not see anything other than a sea of 15,061 black & gold-clad fans. If there are some kU fans sprinkled in there, just know we have traitors in our midst, because no self-respecting Missouri Tiger fan would EVER sell their ticket to a kansas fan. Not when we’ve been waiting to host them at Mizzou Arena for so long.

While secondary market tickets are gonna cost you some bucks (when I checked around 4:30pm on Thursday, the cheapest were double face value for upper deck) and will maybe keep you from enjoying the game in person, the athletic department wants you to know that there are still plenty of other games you can enjoy.

Braggin Rights tickets go on sale for everyone else today at 10am, and the rest of the Tigers’ slate, including the Iowa State matchup in the last of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, are available for purchase. [Side Note: If you want a single ticket in 206, row 5 to the Kentucky game 12/28, contact me- $15 OBO. I’ll still be in FL]

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Moving on.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Stu Durando attempted to determine who’s the better Show Me State team right now, using Rock M’s preferred method of comparison— statistics! By now, we all know WHY Mizzou scheduled a bit softer to kick off the season (358th SOS), but what about SLU? They are playing the 56th-best schedule in the country and have faced four Top 100 teams (including 3 in the Top 30), according to Ken Pom. Until Wichita State, Mizzou hadn’t faced anyone in the Top 100. But does it matter? Per Durando’s article:

“It comes down to how you perform against that schedule,” Pomeroy said. “So, even though Mizzou has not played difficult teams, they’ve looked consistently really good against those teams. The system doesn’t penalize you for playing a bad schedule. If you do well, you’ll be rewarded.”

It will be interesting to see where both teams fall once the first NET rankings hit — the stats that will determine one’s NCAAT fate — on Monday. So until then, we have Bart Torvik, and Evan Miya (Sam talks about his stats in the most recent Study Hall), and Ken Pom.

Mizzou’s schedule is about to heat up dramatically after Sunday’s SEMO game (no. 279), and after that, their next 14 games are against sub-80 (and 8 sub-50) teams.

From Matt Harris, resident Rock M analyst (one of many).

On to the Links! M I Z!

(sorry, Arizona. Off the graphic you go)

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Yesterday at Rock M

• A new BTBS pod hit your earholes, and Nate & BK are celebrating (lamenting?) portal season.
• Matthew prepared us for Tiger Style’s matchup with the Mountaineers of WVU
• BK provided us with a very comprehensive survival guide to the transfer portal
• Adeen (technically posted late Weds) recapped Mizzou WBB’s big win over SLU, including Lauren Hansen’s 24 point performance.
• COMING UP THIS WEEKEND: A Wichita State edition of The Verdict w/ the Data Matts, a WBB preview, a SEMO MBB preview, and the triumphant return of my Rock M Digest
• SHARING NOW SINCE THERE’S NO SATURDAY LINKS: Aaron penned this beautiful piece after the bowl game shenanigans came out, F*ck kansas. A true masterpiece.

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More Links:

Football

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Eli Drinkwitz tackles biggest challenge yet, keeping key football players at Mizzou (Jeff Gordon) | Matter is back with a new subscriber chat | Mike Alden’s job search documents reveal how Gary Pinkel became the Mizzou football coach (Bernie Miklasz)
• PowerMizzou/Rivals: Mizzou Report Card: Defensive players in 2022 (Jarod Hamilton) | Mizzou Report Card: Offensive players in 2022 (Hamilton) | Transfer WR Andrew Armstrong sets up OV (Sean Williams)
• Columbia Missourian: 2023 Missouri tight end target Jordon Harris to visit in December (Kenny Van Doren) | Why Luther Burden is not leaving Missouri (Jack Soble) | Listen to the newest Tiger Kickoff Show, featuring an AR recap and bowl games (Van Doren, Soble, Kyle Pinnell, Chase Matteson)
• The Athletic: SEC now expected to decide on new schedule format in early 2023 (Seth Emerson)
• Pro Football Focus: 2022 PFF College All-SEC Team: Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt, Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. and more (Anthony Treash)

Hoops

• PowerMizzou: Stats that stood out against Wichita State (Drew King)
• Columbia Tribune: How Mizzou Women’s Basketball is fighting off its injury bug (Chris Kwiecinski) | 5 things to know about the inaugural Sophie Cunningham Classic (Kwiecinski)
• The Portal Report: D’Moi Hodge leads Missouri to 8-0 start (Riley Frain)

• Loving this link to the past!

Other Mizzou Sports

• Wrestling: Mizzou heads back to Hearnes for an Alumni Weekend matchup against West Virginia. Read more at MUTigers.com or the Missourian.
• Volleyball: In the wake of an impending coaching change, a few Tigers have entered the transfer portal: Grad transfer Anna Dixon and junior Kaylee Cox
• Gymnastics is back in action on Sunday with their Black & Gold meet!

NBA/G-League Corner

• Jordan Clarkson & Utah Jazz (13-11):

11/30 vs LAC (W 125-112): 40 min | 33pts on 10-18FG (5-9 3PT) | 4 REB | 5 AST | 5 PF | 3 TO | +19

11/28 vs CHI (L 114-107): 37 min | 8pts on 3-15 FG (1-8 3PT) | 6 REB | 9 AST | 3 PF | 3 TO | -10

11/26 vs PHX (L 113-112): 34 min | 22pts on 8-18 FG (2-4 3PT) | 5 REB | 5 AST | 2 PF | 2 TO | +9

11/25 vs GSW (L 129-118): 35 min | 21pts on 9-18 FG (0-7 3PT) | 4 REB | 10 AST | 1 PF | 3 TO | -12

UP NEXT: 12/2 vs IND @8pm | 12/3 vs PORT @8pm | 12/7 vs GSW @8pm

• Michael Porter, Jr & Denver Nuggets (14-7):

Held out since 11/22 with heel injury (at least it’s not his back?!)

11/22 vs DET (L 110-108): 33 min | 18pts on 7-15 shooting (1-5 3PT) | 8 REB | 1 AST | 2 BLK | 1 PF | 1 TO | +16

UP NEXT: 12/2 vs ATL @ 6:30pm | 12/4 vs NO @2:30pm | 12/6 vs DAL @9pm on TNT

• Dru Smith & Miami Heat (10-12):

11/30 vs BOS (L 106-98): DNP

11/27 vs ATL (W 106-98): 21 min | 5pts on 2-3 FG (1-1 3PT) | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | -2

11/25 vs WASH (W 110-107): 16 min | 2pts on 1-3 FG | 3 REB | 1 AST | 2 BLK | 1 STL | 5 PF | 1 TO | -2

UP NEXT: 12/2 vs BOS @6:30pm | 12/5 vs MEM @7pm | 12/6 vs DET @6;30pm

• Jontay Porter & Wisconsin Herd:

11/30 vs Gold (W 112-106): 32 min | 10pts on 4-10 FG (2-7 3PT) | 9 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PF | +13

11/29 vs Gold (L 129-122 OT): 35 min | 10pts on 4-11 FG (2-7 3PT) | 12 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 4 PF | -5

11/26 vs S. Falls (W 133-125): 34 min | 22pts on 8-16 FG (6-12 3PT) | 7 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 3 BLK | 1 PF | +9

UP NEXT: 12/4 vs Dru-less Sioux Falls @3pm and again 12/6 @6:30pm on NBAtv

Former Tiger Hodgepodge Season Averages (as of 12/1)

**NOTE: For now, I’ll keep this list longer, but I’ll drop some off if their PT is minimal. Arrows indicate better (or worse) performance over last week’s numbers I shared

• Javon Pickett (SLU): In 8 games, Pickett is averaging 26.3mpg and 11.4ppg (⇧). He’s got a 52.7 FG% (⇩), 33.3 3PT% (⇧), and 80% FT% (⇩), to go with 7.4rpg (⇩), 1.4apg (⇧), and 0.6 steals (⇧).

Best recent game (11/30 vs TN St): 28 min | 15pts | 50 3PT% | 7 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL

• Sean Durugordon (Austin Peay): In 8 games, Sean is averaging 23.9mpg (⇧) and 9.3ppg (⇧). He’s got a 35.1 FG% (⇧) and 27.8 3PT% (⇧), to go with 4.9rpg (⇧), 1.3apg (⇧), and 0.6 steals (⇩).

Best recent game (11/26 vs Howard): 33 min | 21 pts | 44.4 3PT% | 8 REB | 3 AST | 1 BLK | 1 STL

• Trevon Brazile (Arkansas): In 7 games, Trev is averaging 29.3mpg (⇧) and 11.9ppg (⇩). He’s got a 44.6 FG% (⇩), 38.5 3PT% (⇩), to go with 6.7rpg (⇩), 1.0apg (⇩), and 1.1 steals (⇧). He’s averaging 3 PF (⇩) and 2.4TO (⇧). **he’s getting worse, you guys! at least right now**

Best recent game (11/23 vs SDSU): 40 min | 20 pts | 9 REB | 2 STL

• Boogie Coleman (Ball State): In 7 games, Boogie is averaging 32.4mpg (⇧) and 13.1ppg (⇩). He’s got a 35.3 FG% (⇩), 39.0 3PT% (⇩), and 84.2 FT% (⇩). He’s averaging 5.4rpg (⇩), 0.7 blocks (⇩), 2.7apg (⇧), to go with 2.9PF (⇧) and 3.7TO (⇩).

Best recent game (11/27 vs San Jose St): 32 min | 11 pts | 3 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK | 1 STL

• DaJuan Gordon (NM State): In 5 games, DaJuan is averaging 24.2mpg (⇧) and 9ppg (⇧), to go with 5.4rpg (⇩) and 1.0apg (⇩). He’s shooting 35.7 FG% (⇧) with 2 TO (⇩) & 2.4 PF per game (⇧).

Best recent game (11/26 vs UCI): 27 min | 14 pts | 9 REB | 1 STL

• Yaya Keita (Oklahoma): He’s only played one game so far, on Nov 15, where he played just 1 minute and had a foul. We’ll keep monitoring his progress.
• Xavier Pinson (NM State): In 5 games, X is averaging 30.8mpg (⇩) and 15.4ppg (⇧), to go with 3.2rpg (⇩), 0.2 blocks (⇩), 1.4 steals (⇩), and 2.2 TO (⇩). He’s shooting 50 FG% (⇧) and 44.4 3PT% (⇧).

Best recent game (11/30 vs UTEP): 27 min | 18 pts | 62.5 FG% | 60 3PT% | 2 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL

• Amari Davis (Wright State): In 7 games, Amari is averaging 26.1mpg (⇩) and 14.0ppg (⇩), to go with 5.1rpg (⇩), 1.9apg (=), and 1.3 steals (⇧). He’s shooting 52.2 FG% (⇩).

Best recent game (11/23 vs WEB): 20 min | 10 pts | 50.0 FG% | 3 REB | 3 AST | 1 BLK | 1 STL

• Anton Brookshire (Iona): In 4 games, Anton is averaging 9mpg and 3.3mpg (⇧), to go with 1.5rpg, and 0.5apg. He’s shooting 33.33 FG% to go with a 22.2% 3PT (⇧). **his stats are hard to compare because he wasn’t even showing up on ESPN last week**

Best recent game (11/26 vs SCU): 8 min | 6 pts | 3 REB | 50.0 FG% | 50.0 3PT%

• Torrence Watson (Elon): In 8 games, Torrence is averaging 29.6mpg (⇧) and 11.1ppg (⇩), to go with 5.3rpg (=), and 1.9apg (⇧). He’s shooting 29.1 FG% (⇩) and 24.1% 3PT (⇩).

Best recent game (11/27 vs Radford): 33 min | 10 pts | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK

• Parker Braun (Santa Clara): In 8 games, PB has averaged 32.3mpg (⇧) and 8.8ppg (⇧) to go with 5.9rpg (=) and 3.4apg (⇩). He’s got a 54.5 FG% (⇧).

Best recent game (11/30 vs WY): 39 min | 16 pts | 58.3 FG% | 66.7 3PT% | 2 REB | 4 AST

• Jordan Wilmore (NW State): In 7 games, Big Jordan is averaging 10.3mpg (⇩) and 0.7ppg (⇩), to go with 1.9rpg (⇩), 1.0 blocks (⇧) and 0.6 steals (⇩). He’s got a 33.3 FG% (⇩).

Best recent game (11/26 vs Central Ark): 7 min | 2 REB | 3 BLK | 1 PF

• LaDazhia Williams (LSU): In 6 games, LDW is averaging 18.7mpg (⇩) and 10.3ppg (=), to go with 4.5rpg (=), 1 apg (⇩), 1.7 steals (⇩) and 0.5 blocks (⇩). She’s also got a 67.4 FG% (⇩) but only a 40.0FT% (⇩ YIKES, LDW!). **Also, I hateeeee this woman. And free BG**

Best recent game (11/24 vs GMU): 18 min | 13 pts | 7 REB | 1 STL | 75 FG%

• Kiya Dorroh (Col State): In 4 games, Kiya is averaging 5.3mpg (⇧) and 2.7ppg (⇧), to go with 1.3rpg (=). She’s also got a 66.7 FG% (⇩).
• Izzy Higginbottom (Ark St): In 7 games, Izzy is averaging 33.9mpg (⇩) and 15.9ppg (⇧ WOW), to go with 4.9apg (⇧), 3.4rpg (⇩), 2.4 steals (⇩) and 0.3 blocks (⇧). She’s shooting 40.6 FG% (⇧) and 26.2 3PT% (⇧), to go with 2.6 TO (⇩) and 1.3 PF (⇩).

Best recent games (11/29 vs McNeese): 24 min | 18 pts | 3 REB | 9 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 54.5 FG% | (11/26 vs UMKC): 40 min | 26 pts | 3 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 47.4 FG% | 60 3PT%

• Aijha Blackwell (Baylor): Before her lower leg injury, AB played in 3 games, averaging 18.7mpg and 14ppg, to go with 6.3rpg, and 0.3 blocks. She’s also got a 61.5 FG% and 50% 3PT. She’s been out since 11/15 against SMU.

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