Tonka

I think we've seen the best from Drejaj already. I'm not saying more coaching will not help him, but I think we know what we have in him. He is very inconsistent and we never know which guy we're going to get. TF, hasn't showed us what he is capable of, and after today I do see Tom getting better and better and is capable of even more. I do not see IO getting any better, as I have said for a while. What we've seen is what we will get. DC looks like he has a lot of upside potential, which is expected. I think Sloan has peaked, but still needs to be the backbone of this team. Fish is solid. RV is RV. JJ has lots of upside potential. Ian, still yet to be seen. RB proves he can play and hasn't been in a uniform long at all - he will get better. This could be an interesting year. It's interesting, I don't think they beat us that bad, especially at the start of the second half. We beat ourselves. We fell apart and let ourselves down. We started the game with not much confidence, then gained it. Started the second half, got rattled, lost confidence and then seemed to regain it towards the end.

Agreed!

it looked like a Billiken home game - what a shame, especially for a team that good!

It was an exciting game. I hope nobody is shocked by this loss though. For some reason, MU has only played 3 games so far. Maybe there weren't any crappy teams left to play early on. MU is definitely overrated and I don't think Quin is as good as a coach as everybody believes he is. I used to, but he doesn't impress me with the talent he has had and has on his teams. Gonzaga on the other hand is underrated at 17/18 and it's a crime they were not ranked in the top 10. I have a feeling MU will not be ranked in top 15 within a couple weeks. IF MU does have a good season, it will show some resiliency with all the crap going on down there.

Defense is solid and we are forcing them to play at the tempo we set. Other than Reggie, offense looked tentative. Everybody looked scared offensively, but maybe starting to relax. If we keep it close like this, we'll get more comfortable and relaxed offensively. Last week against Arizona, we seemed more worn out in the second half from the hard defense in the first. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Coach probably recognized that and seems to have more rotation with his players. Also, trying to limit players fouls.

Ricky Clemons is the biggest joke around. That's no secret.

It is on Fox Sports at 11:30

I would love to get your take on this article. Oh wait, I know we will anyway. I'm sure this will all be hearsay though in your opinion.

I don't know why we respond to you. I appreciate your support of your team, but you are so blinded by that, that so often you just do not make sense. I like your timely responses and your attention on the board, but you are so narrow minded and you concede hardly anything, even if you are completely wrong. It's like if someone tried to tell you that 10 is greater than 2 and you were 2, you'd argue till the cows come home. I guess you're just an argumentative person by nature. (Don't take offense to that)

when's the collinsville tourney?

Thanks. I asked because I am very close friends with the head coach of the Hazelwood East's girls team. You know how the small world thing works. Hopefully things will improve for your teams!

Only if you classify them in the same category as SLU. Fact of the matter is, MU's biggest following is in St. Louis according to what I have read in regards to population and number of fans and alum. I highly doubt you could say that about Cape or Springfield. You could make an argument for that though. SMS is definitely a comparative team to a lot of what MU plays in their non-conference. So, why not them too. SEMO is all together different.

You're right. I'm sorry. You have made and articulated some good points, and points about things I will probably never understand even if I thought I could. I have read about research that you are referring to, and frankly it's just really hard to understand from my point of view. You make a good argument though.

Is it not correct to say there's fear of losing more than gaining? Because that is fear. Unfortunately, most states and regions try and take on their regional rivalries as SLU does with SIU and SMS. I still don't see why based on just that, they won't play SLU. And I know your stance and how you disagree with this, but I haven't met many die hard Mizzou fans who wouldn't hesitate to bag on SLU and thump their chest as the superior program. I just don't understand how they can do that and then not play us regularly. Also, look at the records when the two teams play each other. Not as superior as MU thinks. Also, as I have said before, it amazes me how blind MU fans are when it comes to opinions of MU nationally. People do not see them as the powerhouse they see themselves as.

Good post jjray. I think we are way too quick to pull the racist card in our society. I agree racist to me means hate. It seems too often it's used for just that, shock value. But, it's because it's used so often for just that or even worse nowadays, it's used sometimes when there is no other defense. If anything, the term being used so often and in the wrong context, does nothing but increase racial divide. As an individual, I can not stand how often it's used. The better term is prejudice, but even that is used too often. Society is conditioned in certain ways that are wrong, but people take offense too quickly in my opinion. You often hear people from the country talk with an accent and often people throw out the term "hick", which is wrong! But, it never seems to get the rise out of those people as others using the racist card. I don't think there is any hate on this board in regards to race. I could be wrong, but I don't think it exists as much today in society as much as people think it does. Also, I have met very few people who aren't prejudice in one way or another. Besides, aren't we all really one race? The Billiken Race! Thicks, you said your teams are struggling. That's too bad, who do you coach for?

It just goes to show you the kind of program Missouri runs. It would be different if all the MU fans didn't bag on SLU and talk about our lack of recruiting, lack of talent, etc. It looks pretty foolish to bag on a team and then be scared to play them. That is what it comes down to - fear! It would be good for the state, great for the fans, etc.

I'm hoping IO's problems are just confidence issues at this point. I also think they need to work on his aggressiveness. Clearly he has skills, but can't seem to put it all together in a game. As far as Ian is concerned, I would like to see more upper body development. You're right, he is young. I tend to think players are usually smaller than other people do when it comes to muscle. You're right, patience is key! It's hard not to get antsy though!

the song best suited for MU will be, "I Fought the Law (and the Law Won)"

Roy, is Lisch playing any games on this side of the river this year at all?

I couldn't agree more that the basketball program is heading in the right direction. You have to understand though. IO was getting praise early on and he has done nothing to date and has impressed nobody. I also heard last year that he was adjusting to the American game and apparently hasn't done so yet. If he doesn't soon, his contribution won't be in his entire Billiken career. AS far as Husak, I can't say, as I have never seem him play and have taken the word of others. I can say that I sit right behind the Billiken bench and he is tall! Very tall! He really needs to hit the weights though as he is extremely skinny. Ian, I have seen limited play and I agree with you that we have to wait till later in the season to make an assessment. I just hope his contribution is sooner than later. I agree he will be an asset years from now, but I am hoping he can contribute later this year and definitely by next year. I will disagree with something you said though. He is tall, but he is tremendously undersized. He looks like he has a boy's body that grew very quickly and he heasn't grown into it yet. He needs to hit the weights as well.

A lot of people in the media say the same thing. Could it be that nothing comes of this?

The only choice would be Grimes. Jimmy has spent time at Mizzou and in that kind of a program. He may be too influenced to change. Also, with Jimmy may come some baggage. If he's been in the MU program, who knows, allegations may come out later that he was involved in and then we would get negative exposure!

that's the best coaching AJ and RP have gotten all year!

Ok, that was funny. MUFan2000 - you have your work cut out for you now. It seems like he and all the other Mizzou fans are a tad bit quieter now. Before he just had to battle a few posters, now he'd have to be typing nonstop to respond to all these posts.

Maybe the slogan should read, "It's tough to be a Mizzou fan" right now. I am laughing hard at all this. Not about any of the stuff that's actually going on, as that is sad, but more so because of the posts from Mizzou fans in recent weeks!