As you know, it’s still Spring Break here for Mizzou students, so the news is on the lighter side. We’ve reached a point where it’s the dead period for basketball, so we aren’t going to hear any news about visitors, etc. And football isn’t doing anything right now, so my attention is once again on diamond sports.

And one more disclosure: I didn’t want to wait for Gymnastics to be done out in LA to write a recap (it started at 9pm), so I’ll have that recap later today! Thursday was a LONGGGGG day and I’m falling asleep as I write this. Next up, they’ll face UCLA (again), as well as Utah and surprise 2nd place finisher in the other quad meet, Washington, on Saturday at 7pm on ESPN+. MUTigers.com wrapped up the meet here.

Mizzou Softball will be welcoming the no. 17/13 Alabama Crimson Tide (24-10, 2-4 SEC) to town today for a three-game set, and it’s Alumni Weekend! The last time the two teams met was in the SEC Tourney where Mizzou beat Montana Fouts 3-0 in the quarterfinals on a complete game shutout by Laurin Krings. In one of their last (or their last?) series of the 2022 season, the Tide took 2 of 3 from the Tigers in T-Town. The lone win for the Tigers in that series came at the hands of Jordan Weber, who pitched an extra-inning masterpiece, allowing only five hits to go with seven strikeouts.

Game times are set for Friday @ 6pm (weather pending), Saturday at 5pm, and Sunday at 1pm. Friday and Sunday will air on SEC+ while Saturday will be on SECN.

Last on deck for the Tigers, on Wednesday they faced off against MVC leader Northern Iowa, and came away with a 4-1 victory. Jo pitched four shutout innings and allowed only two hits. Megan Schumacher was also great in relief, and Taylor Pannell got the save.

Offensively, Alex Honnold hit her team-leading 8th bomb of the season and had 2 RBI to go with a run scored and a walk. ChannyP was also good in this one, as well as Miss Frizell, who had doubles. It was Phillips’ second double in three games, per MUTigers.com.

On the baseball front, I worked with Rock M’s own baseball writer Kortay Vincent to share a mini version of what #25/29 Mizzou Baseball fans should be looking for as the Tigers get set to take on the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend. Here’s what he had to say.

Mizzou vs. Kentucky Baseball mini-preview:

1. Kentucky is red-hot, winning 16 of last 17 but Missouri needs this series before Vandy comes to town next weekend.
2. Chandler Murphy is listed as a probable starter, how healthy is he going to be?
3. Kentucky plays a lot of small ball, defense will be at a premium this week because you can expect them to bunt a good amount and try to steal some bases. They don’t have a player with more than 5 HR but are still averaging 8 runs per game.
4. Austin Troesser is listed as the probable on Friday night. How will he handle the pressure of a Friday start? He’s been fantastic in relief and on Sundays this year, but this will be a different animal.
5. Darren Williams is the best pitcher on the Kentucky staff. He’s come out of the bullpen and he’s relieved. Currently, he’s not listed as a probable starter, but he will certainly have an effect on this series.

Read more about the series at MUTigers.com.

On to the Links!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Sam updated the Transfer Tracker and Watkins updated the roster movement HQ.
• I previewed Thursday night’s Mizzou Gymnastics regionals meet
• Brandon tells us about Ronnie DeGray III entering the transfer portal

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More Links:

Hoops

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read Matter’s newest (subscriber) chat | Free-agent frenzy has college basketball coaches scrambling for talent (Jeff Gordon) | Ronnie DeGray III becomes latest Mizzou basketball player to enter transfer portal (Dave Matter)
• Columbia Missourian: Three MU women’s basketball staff positions posted on LinkedIn (Payton Havermann)
• MUTigers.com: Troup selected to inaugural Above the Rim Summit
• Columbia Tribune: Ronnie DeGray III becomes second Tiger to enter transfer portal (Matt Stahl)
• PowerMizzou: Drew King is working on season reviews right now. Here’s who he has covered so far— Tre Gomillion | Mohamed Diarra | Ronnie DeGray III puts his name in the portal (King)
• Watkins dropped some 3-point stats on us:

• Dree Gholston and his team, the Ballers, took second in the Shootout Competition at the Final Four.

• D’Moi finished as the runner-up in the 3-point contest at the Final Four. ABC 17’s Chanel Porter has more info.

• RONNNNNIEEEEE! We love you!

Other Mizzou Sports / Former Tigers

• It’s early, but this projected tourney seed for Mizzou Baseball is great! (Teddy Cahill, Baseball America)
• Mizzou makes strong impression on three-star DL Geordan Guidry (Sean Williams, PowerMizzou) | Checking out the comp: Vanderbilt (Jarod Hamilton, PM)
• Former Mizzou forward LaDazhia Williams set for Final Four with LSU (Chris Kwiecinski, Columbia Tribune)
• Yes!!!!

• I saw this the other day and was confused. Looking at the guy to the far left, I kept thinking, “Is that Demarre Carroll? Why is he there? Does someone just look like him? That can’t be him.” Y’all, the Junkyard Dog is an assistant coach for the Bucks now, and has been since August 2022! I just missed that news, apparently.

• ClutchPoints thinks the Nuggets may make the NBA Finals, and could WIN. The development of Michael Porter, Jr., especially on the defensive end, has been crucial
• Former Tiger pitcher (and now Mets reliever) Bryce Montes de Oca had surgery on one thing on his arm, and they found something else worse. Yikes.

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