Mizzou Links: Booger likes Tigers' defense, Baseball hosts enormous midweek battle

What's On

Anytime you can impress a Booger, you must do so.

(Did he say anything interesting here? I blacked out after he said he originally thought the East was "Tennessee's to win or lose.")

Sami's mashing

MUTIGERS.COM: Mizzou's Fagan Named SEC Player of the Week

The standout junior went 11-for-17 (.647) at the plate and drove in an eye-popping 12 runs on seven extra-base hits this past week, including three doubles, three home runs and a triple. Fagan began Wednesday's doubleheader vs. the Leathernecks with a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance in game one and followed that up by going 2-for-3 with a double, walk and an RBI in the nightcap.

Two days later, Mizzou traveled to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Razorbacks and Fagan picked up right where she left off. In the series opener, she rocketed a line drive home run in her first at-bat of the contest and eventually tallied two runs scored and three RBI in a convincing victory.

On Saturday, Fagan launched two home runs in the same game for the second time this season and added a triple to pile up 11 total bases in another run-rule victory for the Tigers. She polished off the weekend by going 1-for-3 at the dish on Sunday. A sacrifice fly in the series finale gave her an RBI in every game last week.

MUTIGERS.COM: Softball's Wednesday Doubleheader Changed to Single Game

As big as a midweek game can be

MUTIGERS.COM: Top-15 Showdown Between In-State Rivals On Tap For Mizzou Baseball

• Through 40 games, Mizzou has found itself tied atop the SEC East and ranked in all of the major polls. At 26-14, Mizzou is off to its best 40-game start since opening 2008 (29-11 that year). Mizzou's 12-6 mark in SEC play also marks the Tigers' best conference start since 2007 when it also opened 12-6.

• The Tigers are coming off of their fifth SEC series win of 2015 last weekend against Alabama. Mizzou won just five SEC series in its first two seasons in the SEC combined. The Tigers are in a three-way tie for first in the SEC East with defending national champion Vanderbilt and defending SEC champion Florida, although the Tigers own the tiebreaker over Florida with a series win. [...]

• Mizzou and Missouri State have met 49 times over the years, with Mizzou holding a 25-24 lead in the series. The two teams split the two meetings a season ago, both winning at home.

• MSU starter Andy Cheray started in Springfield against Mizzou last season, tossing 7.0 shutout innings in a 9-0 win, scattering just four hits.

• This is the first meeting on record when both teams are ranked.

The Missourian: It's 'Harley Time' when Missouri closer Breckin Williams enters the game

Smack in between old conference mates and new conference mates

ESPN.com: Easiest and hardest nonconference schedules over next five seasons

Banquet season

MUTIGERS.COM: Men's Basketball Eyes Next Season at Annual Banquet

Freshman forward Jakeenan Gant (Springfield, Ga.) was awarded the Tigers' Ultimate Teammate award, while freshman guard Montaque Gill-Caesar (Vaughn, Ont.) was honored for being the program's freshman scoring leader. Gill-Caesar's 9.1 points per game in 2014-15 is the highest scoring mark for a Tiger freshman since the 2006-07 season.

Freshman guard Namon Wright was recognized for being the team's top three-point shooter. Wright shot 38.8 percent from long range this past season, knocking down 40-of-103 triples.

Freshman forward D'Angelo Allen (Dallas, Texas) was given the Tiger in Charge Award, bestowed annually to the Mizzou player with the most charges taken.

Junior forward Ryan Rosburg (Chesterfield, Mo.) was presented with the Scholar-Athlete Award, while senior forward Keanau Post (Victoria, B.C.) earned the Beast in the Weight Room honor. Sophomore guard Wes Clark (Detroit, Mich.) received the Outstanding Defender recognition.

Senior guard Keith Shamburger (Los Angeles, Calif.) was honored with Mizzou's Playmaker Award. Tiger fans could immediately point to Shamburger's game-winning shot in Mizzou's Senior Night victory over Auburn as good reasoning.