Mizzou Links: Tigers ink two hoops LOIs, drop a nail-biter on the diamond

Missouri's basketball roster is ALMOST settled with the official signings of Martavian Payne and Russell Woods, and the Tigers dropped another mid-week contest, this one in comeback fashion to Missouri State.

By Bill Connelly@SBN_BillC Apr 22, 2015, 4:59am CDT

What's On

Russell Woods and Martavian Payne high school highlights!

Multiple in-state scholarship players haven't played for MU since 2011-12. Next year's team will have 4: Rosburg, Payne, VanLeer, Puryear
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) April 21, 2015

Tigers Land Two Commitments

Sam Snelling

"This weekend Mizzou Basketball hosted two Junior College prospects in Martavian Payne and Russell Woods. Both attended John A Logan College in Illinois and this weekend both committed to play for Missouri next season."

More on Payne and Woods

Tigers Land Two Commitments

John A. Logan College doesn't have much of a YouTube footprint, so there really isn't much recent footage to share. But they both officially signed with Mizzou yesterday, so I felt I should commemorate the occasion.

MUTIGERS.COM: Mizzou Adds Highly Touted JUCO Teammate Hoopsters
The Trib: Payne, Woods sign with Missouri basketball program
The Trib (Courtside View): A closer look at Missouri's 2015-16 roster with Payne, Woods

Those guys still all have a lot to prove, but the Tigers do have a lot of options there, especially with the addition of Woods, who’s developed into an effective two-way player in junior college.

"He’s come a long way," John A. Logan College assistant coach Zach Carpenter said last week. "He’s really worked to change his body, get in the weight room. He’s probably put on 15, 20 pounds of muscle since he got here, and he’s really expanded his game, especially on the offensive end. Coming out of high school, he rebounded, blocked shots, played defense. Everybody knew he could do that. Obviously, coming from Simeon, he played with Jabari Parker and Kendrick Nunn and then Jaylon Tate. Those guys are all playing at very good programs, high-majors. So the offensive side, there was still a little mystery there. He really worked hard at expanding his game, especially on the offensive end."

Post-Dispatch: Mizzou basketball signs juco teammates

John A. Logan coach Kyle Smithpeters: "He can score multiple ways at multiple positions. He can shoot the ball very well, and that’s obviously a very good tool when you can shoot from 26-27 feet and be consistent with it. He’s really done a good job of stretching the defense and creating. People don’t realize he’s actually a very good defender as well. He can really sit down and guard the one through three due to his strength and foot speed."

The Missourian: Missouri basketball adds Logan College teammates Martavian Payne, Russell Woods

Boo

MUTIGERS.COM: No. 14 Mizzou Drops Close Contest to No. 15 Missouri State

Coach's Corner

On the wild game tonight...

"We just have to play better defense. Simple as that, if we play better defense, we win the game."

On trying to do a little too much defensively in the ninth inning...

"No, I just think that we had a couple of guys there who weren't there mentally at different times tonight. That will get you in trouble."

On the way Mizzou came out of the gates in the first frames...

"We competed well. We were up four runs in the middle of the game and all we had to do was not let them put up a five spot and we have a chance to win the game. But we made some bad pitches in tough situations and the bullpen did well."

Post-Dispatch: Missouri State rallies, wins in-state showdown
The Missourian: No. 23 Missouri baseball gives up big lead, loses to No. 19 Missouri State

And on the day he takes the loss...
MUTIGERS.COM: Williams Added to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List