Thanks to a wet and cold forecast, the St. Louis Cardinals have cancelled their Tuesday exhibition in Springfield with the Springfield Cardinals, the News-Leader is reporting.

“We are very disappointed that we have to cancel the exhibition game, but we have a responsibility to protect the health of our players,” said Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. “Given the forecast, we do not feel we have any other choice than to cancel the game”

While that is terrible news for local fans who have been fiending for professional baseball, the Cardinals announced the following:

• The Cardinals will schedule two exhibition games against the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field next season.
• All fans who purchased tickets from this year’s cancelled game, they will receive a voucher providing them a ticket to a 2011 St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium or a 2011 Springfield Cardinals game at Hammons Field.
• Anyone who purchased a ticket for this season’s exhibition (tomorrow night’s game) will be provided a ticket to one of next year’s exhibition games, and don’t need to take any action.

Don’t miss TAGsgf.com’s St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals season previews later this week, with MLB Opening Day on Thursday. Sure, it’s baseball season. It just doesn’t feel like it. Yet.

And like that, Cuonzo Martin's gone.

According to a press release, Cuonzo Martin has stepped down as the Missouri State men’s basketball to accept the same position at the University of Tennessee. He is expected to be announced as the next Vols coach Monday.

Martin, who was one of the hottest coaching prospects in the country, was thought to be in line for many of these major conference jobs, but not hired this quickly.

During his three seasons at Missouri State, he was 61-41, including 50 wins the past two seasons. Of course, this past season, Martin helped the Bears to the school’s first regular season Missouri Valley Conference Championship, aiding his MVC Coach of the Year campaign. In the 2009-10 season, helped MSU win the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

MSU Athletic Director Kyle Moats said a search for a replacement will begin immediately, with an unspecified timeline to name the replacement.

Here are a few snap thoughts as we all react to this.

• We all could have seen this coming. Look at the makeup of the team. With so many seniors and a virtually no sophomore class, next year’s Missouri State team was going to be either very young, or juco heavy. You can’t argue with his timing.
• He built this thing for the short term, being able to count on the transfers of Adam Leonard and Will Creekmore, in addition to Nafis Ricks and Jermaine Mallett. Add in how Kyle Weems developed, and Martin knew he had a nice Missouri Valley Conference core. But once Michael Porter had his unfortunate accident, Jerome Jones transferred and Keith Pickens was injured, it opened up a crater in the recruiting cycle. Martin knew this.
• I have to believe one of two things happened. He wasn’t going to be a legit candidate for the Missouri job and Matt Painter isn’t leaving Purdue. Time to take the big money, and honestly, when was his stock going to be higher?
• 

  What, you wouldn't want to replace this guy?

  Also, this makes me wrinkle my nose at why he fought so hard against the Mizzou rumors. Why was he trying to distance himself from that job? Not to keep people here in the Ozarks satisfied, but rather to let Tennessee know he wasn’t trying to squeeze more money out of them. He had to know he didn’t have that much leverage, and wanted the job. Smart.

• But then again, the Tennessee job? Really? Sure, the Vols got a first-hand view of Cuonzo during the preseason NIT, but why was he their target? Probably because they knew no one wanted the job after Bruce Pearl’s mess. That leads me to wonder why Martin wants to go to a place that was under heavy NCAA scrutiny. Wonder if that’s heavy commentary on the state of the Missouri State program, or the MVC, in general.
• Will Martin be able to succeed there? Or, is it smart because the expectations will be low after NCAA nuclear fallout? How much rope will they give him? If he can’t turn it around, will he be fired after 4 seasons? 5? Guess the payday is worth it.
• Speaking of, it can’t make Bears fans happy that a coach they trusted chose what could be a potential short-term money grab and not try to build something in Springfield.
• Lastly, Cuonzo Martin isn’t a bad dude. He’s likely going to get a heavy raise. Heavy. Like triple. That’s the risk/reward you get mid major land. Get someone too hot and they leave. Get someone who loves the job, but is willing to settle down in Springfield, and it’s not good enough.
• Don’t judge the next candidate on how much money he makes. Remember, a big splashy name doesn’t guarantee anything. For every assistant that gets promoted, someone like Ben Jacobson (Northern Iowa) can restock the system, and sometimes improve it. (Yes, I’m talking about hiring Kent Williams)
• But then again, the potential money doled out will be interesting. Because without it, the list of candidates will be one that we haven’t really heard of. Word was trickling out from boosters that they were seeking private fundraising to fatten Martin’s contract.

My early coaching candidate list, which has absolutely no research in it at all.

• 

  Is Kent Williams going to be MSU's next head coach?

  Kent Williams or Jon Harris — Missouri State assistant coaches (Whoever the internal lead assistant is, should get a clean look at the job.)

• Keno Davis — Former Drake and Providence coach  (recently fired from Providence after 3 seasons. Took Drake to the NCAA Tournament out of nowhere.)
• Bruce Pearl — Former Tennessee coach (How about a straight swap? W0uld he bring the Chris Jones show?)
• Scott Sutton — Oral Roberts head coach  (Rumors say he is turning down big money. Don’t know if MSU can afford him.)
• Paul Lusk — Purdue assistant coach  (Want to go down that road again?)
• Brandon Miller — Ohio State assistant coach
• Rick Byrd — Belmont head coach
• Billy Kennedy — Murray State head coach
• Greg Kampe — Oakland head coach
• Tommy Amaker (Harvard) or Sydney Johnson (Princeton)  — I can’t imagine that either would be interested.
• Dan Monson — Long Beach State head coach  (He was the Gonzaga coach before Mark Few and failed at Minnesota)
• Otherwise, I really don’t know.

Martin accepts the MVC Coach of the Year award.

It really looks like Missouri State men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin is fighting like hell to keep his local reputation clean.

The Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year used a yesterday’s Kansas City Star story by Mike DeArmond that the University of Missouri had contacted Martin about the Tigers’ opening, contradicting his Thursday night statement. Even after DeArmond backed off the story, Martin still had strong words for the MSU fans (H/T to Lyndal Scranton and the News-Leader, especially after Martin’s statement said he wasn’t speaking to the media…).

“Nobody from Missouri has contacted me, whatsoever,” Martin said. “No search firm has contacted me about Missouri. Bottom line. It’s a disservice to Missouri State, our fans and the players on my team and our current recruits that are in our family.”

As we said Friday, this is far from over. Stay tuned for more Cuonzo Carousel.

Well, did Mizzou contact Cuonzo Martin or not? (!!!)

This morning, many people woke up to a statement from Missouri State men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin saying there had been no contact between he and the University of Missouri.

While people spent their morning trying to figure out exactly what the statement meant, the Kansas City Star’s Mike DeArmond published a report close to 2 p.m. on the Star’s Campus Corner blog stating that Mizzou had in fact contacted Martin — on Thursday night. We relayed the information on The High Road with Allen Vaughan at 2:45 p.m.

After the show, I contacted DeArmond and he told me the Star has backed off the story, reaffirming there has been contact, but not the type of “Hey, let’s come do an interview” contact. You’ll notice by clicking here, the part about Martin being contacted by Mizzou has been removed.

DeArmond will join THR on Monday at 2 p.m. on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com to break down Mizzou’s thoughts on the job, and where that might leave the Missouri State coach. Still, DeArmond, a long-time Mizzou reporter — dangled this nugget.

“The job Martin really wants is the Purdue job. It’s in his best interest for (Matt) Painter to get (the Mizzou job).”

It is all interesting, and far from done.

We’ve mentioned this before, but people from the Ozarks feel a special bond with players who have balled in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. Maybe you realized it and moved them on in your brackets.

Either way, there are still a host of players you have cheered for in person playing in this weekends’ games. Here they are.

Saturday

Truck Bryant has had a nice college career.

Truck Bryant

T of C school: St. Raymond, 2007
College: West Virginia
2010-11 NCAA stats: 12.3 points, 3.5 assists per game (13 games)
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 5, East region
Saturday opponent: No. 4 Kentucky, 11:15 a.m. CBS

When you come up with a list of the best guards in T of C history, Darryl “Truck” Bryant doesn’t readily come to mind. But when you make up a list of the most underrated college guards in the country, Truck should be there.

As a sophomore, Bryant was injured and not 100 percent during West Virginia’s Final Four run a year ago. However, as a junior, he’s putting together a nice season for the reloaded Mountaineers. He’s bigger than you think at 6-2, and has a strong body that absorbs contact well. Plus, he might have one of the best nicknames in all of sports. Truck? Really? Cool.

Should be fun to see him battle with freshman superstar Brandon Knight of Kentucky.

Chandler Parsons

Chandler Parsons

T of C school: Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 2007
College: Florida
2010-11 NCAA stats: 11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 2, Southeast region
Saturday opponent: No. 7 UCLA, 1:45 p.m. CBS

Like most 6-foot-7 high school “guards,” Parsons was surprisingly athletic for his slender frame and lacked the awkwardness of a tall lanky forward. He wasn’t the type of kid that wowed you at the high school level, but he has turned into a nice college player at Florida.

Sure, the Gators haven’t had the success his predecessors had, even struggling to get to the tournament, but his resume is filled with SportsCenter highlights. The bulk of them are game-winning shots and we’ve pasted them below. That clutch ability should get him NBA money after he finishes his senior season.

And honestly, of the three Division I players from his Lake Howell team, Parsons ended up being the most well-known of the three. And, he’s now 6-foot-10.

Erving Walker is an all-time favorite.

Erving Walker

T of C school: Christ the King, 2006, 2008
College: Florida
2010-11 NCAA stats: 14.4 points, 3.3 assists per game
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 2, Southeast region
Saturday opponent: No. 7 UCLA, 1:45 p.m. CBS

If you saw Erving Walker play live in the 2008 T of C, you’ll never forget it. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the T of C has been kind to the point guards, especially the sub-6-footers. And at 5-8, Walker put on a show, hitting 3s, driving to the bucket and finishing, as well as dishing to open teammates.

Walker was the 2008 MVP and Christ the King won yet another T of C title. He’s taken that same big-shot bravado to Florida, escaping the cold of New York City. Now a junior, he regularly scores in double-digits for a nationall-ranked Florida teams. And everyone who saw him here in Springfield, smile.

Sunday

All Kyle Singler has ever done is win.

Kyle Singler

T of C school: South Medford (Ore), 2007
College: Duke
2010-11 NCAA stats: 13.3 points, 5.8 rebounds per game
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 1, West region
Sunday opponent: No. 8 Michigan, 1:45 p.m.

All Kyle Singler has ever done is win. Before he helped Duke win the 2010 National Championship, Singler helped South Medford beat the T of C field, including a very talented Lake Howell squad with future Florida Gators Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons.

Now, Singler is the face of Duke’s national championship defense, with an inside-outside game that frustrates defenders and is a coach’s matchup nightmare. When he was balling at Hammons Student Center, you could tell Singler was going to be a quality player. And don’t be surprised when he’s an 8-to-10 year NBA vet.

After all, he did turn them down after being a surefire first-round pick. He wants to win again.

Ryan Pearson

Ryan Pearson

T of C school: Christ the King, 2006, 2008
College: George Mason
2010-11 NCAA stats: 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 8, East region
Sunday opponent: No. 1 Ohio State, 4:15 p.m.

Pearson is a winner. He’s the classic mid major ‘tweener, but is effective and still has a stable of post moves with his left hand. He was a part of CTK’s 2008 championship along with Erving Walker.

George Mason will need all of his guile and experience when it locks with the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. And yes, Pearson is part of the fruit from Mason’s improved recruiting base after its 2006 Final Four appearance.

Syracuse's Fab Melo dropped 30 pounds before his freshman season.

Fab Melo

T of C school: Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) 2009
College: Syracuse
2010-11 NCAA stats: 2.4 points, 1.9 rebounds
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 3, East region
Sunday opponent: No. 11 Marquette, 6:45 p.m.

When he was here in the T of C last year, it was hard not to smile at Fab Melo. His sense of humor was infectious (which you can see from our interview with him last season), and his ability to block shots made it tough on opposing defenses. His offense wasn’t overly impressive, but when you’re a legit 7-feet tall, there’s a reason he ended up at Syracuse.

Melo labored to get playing time early on, but came on in the Big East Tournament and is averaging more minutes than early in the season. His size makes that zone difficult to penetrate.

He’s actually gained more notoriety for getting former Syracuse star and current Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to joke about changing his name to Car Melo, so he can get his commonly referred nickname “Melo” on the back. And to take it a step further, you have to think that Fab Melo went with No. 51 just to tweak Car Melo, who was 15 at Syracuse, right?

Yes, Ben Hansbrough is still in college.

Ben Hansbrough

T of C school: Poplar Bluff (Mo.), 2004-05
College: Notre Dame
2010-11 NCAA stats: 18.5 points, 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds per game (Big East Player of the Year)
NCAA Tournament seed: No. 2, Southwest region
Sunday opponent: No. 10 Florida State, 8:45 p.m.

While he will forever be known as the younger brother of Tyler Hansbrough, Ben Hansbrough has put together quite the long distinguished college career. After attending Mississippi State, Ben transferred to Notre Dame after two years. (Rumors flew that Hansbrough seriously entertained coming to Missouri State…) With the Fightin’ Irish, he has flourished, emerging as the Big East’s Player of the Year.

Always player larger than his 6-3 frame, Hansbrough is Notre Dame’s leading scorer (18.5)  amongst five player that average 9.8 points or more, and a big reason the Irish nearly earned the school’s first No. 1 seed.

My first memory of Ben Hansbrough was his Mules team coming down on a 2-on-1 break. He was on the left side and the guard drew the defender, passed it to Ben, who planted both feet and dunked. He’ s a very underrated athlete, and made a name for himself with that play.

So, if you missed our Bracket Challenge, that’s your bad. Still, we felt like it was important to share the final four picks of the TAGsgf.com staff.

Brett Johnston, Culture and Multimedia editor; host of SGF Local Live (KBFL 99.9 FM)

Duke
I hate Duke. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate Duke. If Kyrie Irving plays it’s a no-brainer. To me, it looks like a freaking cake walk, except for maybe UConn in the Region Final. After round one Duke will face Tennessee or Michigan followed by Zona or Texas. C’mon. I feel like Arizona could be a surprising five seed, but it will still be boat-race city. Duke-Ohio State will be fun, but I think the Devils repeat. /pukingonmymacbook
Cinderella: Indiana State

Ohio State
Does anybody have it working better (longevity-wise) than Thad Matta? Buckeyes own the Big 10 and will own the East, but the region will have some battles to get excited about. Tar Heels-Cuse could provide a great back-and-forth in the sweet 16. Kentucky-West Virginia in the second round could be fun to watch, too. However, the Buckeyes have too much … Jared Sullinger, too much … Jon Diebler (got to love Diebler) for either UNC or the Orange in the East final.
Cinderella: Oakland

Kansas State
Yeah, that’s right. Kansas State. The best game in the Southeast region will be the K-State-Wisconsin game. Whomever wins it will win the region. I haven’t been impressed with any of the top three seeds all year (Jimmer-mania aside). I bet against Pitt in Vegas and watched a crappy game in which they won (and damn them, covered), but looked terrible doing it. No matter how much I love Erv Walker and Chandler Parsons, I’m not buying the Gators. And, BYU is … well, Jimmer and Jimmer alone. (However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pitt rolled.)
Cinderella: ODU

Notre Dame
I hate Notre Dame. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate Notre Dame. But, I kind of like to watch them play. The Irish have the physical bigs, the perimeter scorers, and that other thing … you know we used to talk about it all the time back in the day. Oh yeah, Hansbrough. Kansas seems the most accident-prone of the top seeds, and I haven’t liked anything about KU since Mario Chalmers (allegedly) smoked pot.
Cinderella: Richmond

Allen Vaughan, TAGsgf.com sports editor; Host of The High Road (Jock 98.7 FM)

Ohio State
The Buckeyes are the best team in the country, Kyrie Irving, or no Kyrie Irving. That’s always my logic when picking the bracket. Isolate the best team and advance them. No one is stopping them. Aaron Craft is, um, Crafty at the point, Buford and Lighty are tough and no one can handle Sullinger. They are the most balanced team in the country. Zone. Man. Bring it. The Buckeyes will crush your soul.
Cinderella: Washington

San Diego State
Do you know anything about San Diego State? It doesn’t matter. Just know they are stocked with talented, overlooked seniors who were shunned by the big west coast schools. They are tall, defend and rebound well. That’s going to be enough to cruise past Temple, a gassed UConn and Texas. That’s right, I’m not buying into the Kyrie Irving hype. 10 minutes a game isn’t going to change anything. Nubes.
Cinderella: Bucknell

Purdue
Who would have thought Purdue could pull something like this off without Robbie Hummel? Surely not me. I wrote them off. But, then again, I didn’t think JaJuan Johnson would turn into a hybrid Kevin Durant/Chris Bosh, either. They guard, and although I hate the Big Ten, they were the best league not counting the Big East. Give me a kid named E’Twaun and I’m in forever.
Cinderella: Texas A&M

Pittsburgh
Pitt isn’t that good, let’s make that clear. But, this region has the weakest 1 through 4 seeds. Plus they guard and rebound like angry, jaded 20-year-olds. If you see them, tell them I picked them. Junkyard dogs make them look nice.
Cinderella: Texas A&M

Chris DeRosier, Music editor; Human Ambassador

Kentucky
Rolling the dice. Don’t believe in Ohio State

Duke
Not rolling the dice.

Kansas
Blaphemy. Hate ‘em, but don’t see any weaknesses.

Pitt
One-man teams such as BYU never go deep.

Alex Stocksdale, Photo assassin

Ohio State
I used to live in Ohio. Cleveland, to be exact. And Cincinnati. And Dayton.

San Diego State
I like California Girls. Not the Beach Boys, but the actual females.

Kansas
Roy Williams was my grandpa. Was.

Pitt
I like my olives without them.

Googs was the man. No, Allen didn't collect his cards.

I used to collect basketball cards. Obsessively. As a high school knucklehead, I would drive to card shows with friends. The main objective was always to get my hands on as many Reggie Miller cards as possible, even duplicates. (Hey, he was my guy. Lay off.) But the other mission was always clear — trade commodities.

I went through a Juwan Howard/Washington Bullets phase. At some point, it was Jim Jackson. Then, along came Tom Gugliotta. OK, so I made Gugliotta up, but the point is, I was always looking for the hottest player. THE NEXT GUY. If someone was trending up, I would trade them for who I thought was going to be the next big thing. I remember I traded a Charles Barkley for a Clarence Weatherspoon. Why? ‘Spoon was supposed to be the next Barkley. I thought it was worth the risk.

Sure, sometimes it failed miserably, like ‘Spoon, or Juwan Howard, who is somehow still in the league . But for every one of them, I grabbed rookie cards of Kevin Garnett and even Allen Iverson. Hell, at the time, no one really knew what to think of Kobe Bryant, and I grabbed those too.

The point is, Missouri State’s men’s basketball program isn’t any different really. Because of its “mid-major” status, it is always going to be looking to trade up. Or, it should be.

The most frustrating part about where Missouri State’s program is, after being left out of the NCAA Tournament field for the 11th consecutive year, and becoming the first Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion to miss the tournament since 1993, is that just a half-decade ago, everyone thought things were perfect. They were the Juwan Howard to his 1995-96 Washington Bullets season (22.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, BTW). The Valley was on the rise.

Not long ago mid majors were hip, with George Mason headed to the Final Four.

Remember 2006? George Mason was proudly popping its jersey in the Final Four, representing all Mid Majors. The MVC had four teams. Southern Illinois won the Valley Tourney, but Wichita State was a 7 seed, Creighton was a 10 seed and Bradley grabbed one of the last spots as a No. 13 seed. And then, three of them advanced to the Sweet 16. It got Bradley big man Patrick O’Bryant into the NBA’s first round, for crying out loud.

While we mostly remember that season for Missouri State’s infamous 21 RPI, the lowest ever left out of an NCAA Tournament field, things were robust. We were complaining the MVC didn’t get a fifth team. Fifth. Four was as many as the ACC, the Big 12 and the Pac 10 that season. The next year, the Valley had two, SIU and Creighton. 2008 was Drake. 2009 and 2010 saw Northern Iowa put a stranglehold on what was becoming one, singular bid.

One bid. All of a sudden, the MVC has gone from trendy to trended. Carpenter/cargo jeans. Blockbuster Video. Mazda Miatas.

And now that Missouri State is on top of the once-proud league, and armed with a hot coaching prospect, who no one is sure how long he will actually stick around, the Bears need to make the situation work for them. They need to do the opposite of what the MVC did over the past half-decade — be proactive.

Now, I don’t have access to any internal MVC memos, so I don’t have proof that the league got lazy, but what else could be the answer? Once the league sold its championship game to CBS in 2006 and agreed to move it up to a week, leaving its at-large teams in bubble watch purgatory, things have gone downhill. I feel like the league got complacent, like being on national TV was a world-changing accomplishment. Ask Notre Dame football how that has worked out for it. No matter what has happened, whether Valley teams rested on their collective conference laurels, feeling they didn’t need to schedule tough teams or they lost too many impact coaches, something changed.

Because of that, Missouri State needs to step up and be the aggressor. There’s no sense in waiting around. The school can try to change its own luck.

What does that mean? The answer is three-fold.

First, the Bears need to schedule more aggressively. A few times during the end of the season, including the MVC Tournament, MSU coach Cuonzo Martin made reference to how schools didn’t want to play the Bears, especially in SGF. But, that’s the key to the entire thing. Do whatever it takes to get them here. 2-for-1. 3-for-1. Get them on the schedule. Because, even if you don’t win those games, won’t teams be more apt to schedule you?

Wow, that Missouri State is a glutton for punishment. They’ll go anywhere and play anyone. Sure, they’re losing, but they aren’t afraid.

You have to get people’s attention — see: NCAA Selection Committee — and this is a way to do it. That also includes being more diligent with the MVC-Mountain West Challenge. And now that the MWC is losing two of its strongest members, BYU and Utah, what about looking into something with the Colonial Athletic Association, the NCAA’s new en vogue mid major? Be proactive.

Secondly, the Bears have to win big games. Sure, it sounds easy enough, but how many big games has MSU won in recent history? Truly important games? The home win against Wichita State to wrap up the Valley regular season? Does that even seem like that big of a deal right now, even though the sea of humanity was impressive?

The Bears need to make sure this doesn't happen again.

MSU has to develop a reputation of a program that can win big games. It must close out the Indiana States, go on the road and battle the Valparaisos in BracketBusters and still take care of business against the Wichita States and Northern Iowas. Is it a lot to ask? Yes. But is it what fans expect? Yes. The ghosts of Steve Alford and Charlie Spoonhour lurk, and forever will.

Lastly, Missouri State needs to constantly take its temperature and look at the outside world. Sure, the Bears need to take care of business and operate within the Valley framework, but it also needs to protect its interests. If last summer’s wacky conference realignment debacle taught us anything is that college sports is a fluid situation. In the pros, teams aren’t switching divisions, but in college sports, there are always haves and have nots. If the Valley doesn’t rekindle its spark, MSU has to look at making a move.

And for those who feel like making a move to a smaller conference so the Bears can try to gain an easier automatic bid, it’s fools gold. Playing against inferior competition will lead to first round NCAA blowouts and a further devaluation of its product. Eventually the players will realize it and the level of recruit will dwindle. Fans will walk away and national analysts would bury the Bears. They would be the team who tried to manipulate the system and went back to how it was in the late 1980s. Does that sound like a good idea to anyone? Do we really want to revert back to Members Only jackets and Duran Duran? (OK, maybe that’s not that bad of an idea…)

Would you come and watch MSU football if they were to face the next Ben Roethlisberger?

But, if the Bears are going to look into joining other conferences, mainly larger, more impressive ones like Conference USA, one thing is going to hold them back — football. I spoke to Kyle Moats on my radio show, The High Road with Allen Vaughan, and he said bumping up football to to the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I) would add $30 million to the school’s athletic budget. Would MSU be willing to do that? Probably not, because why add something that is wildly more expensive than anything even a deep NCAA Tournament run could provide monetarily? Because it could be its own cash cow in itself.

With all due respect to MSU football coach Terry Allen, who I greatly admire and enjoy talking to, the program doesn’t have mainstream appeal. It’s not because of a lack of talent, because with Clay Harbor and David Arkin, MSU will have back-to-back years with an NFL draft pick. Instead, it’s a perception thing. The mass public doesn’t get into it because it’s not Division I. It’s not ESPN. It’s not Fox Sports Midwest (In HD). It’s not Versus. It sounds cheesy, but if the Bears were in C-USA, or the MAC, if a future NFL quarterback came to town, I think more than 10,000, maybe even 15 or 20,000 might show up. Division I would attract the mainstream fan. I-AA football (FCS) is a niche sport.

Whether football is a part of the equation or not, Missouri State needs to treat its basketball status like a carefully manicured basketball card collection. Cash in when need be, collect when it’s appropriate, but treat yourself like a commodity. You don’t have to settle. Pack mentality isn’t the answer. Being a unique program with lofty, yet attainable goals will win over fans. And the NCAA Selection Committee.

Back by popular demand, TAGsgf.com’s March Madness Bracket Challenge is back. You’ve got a chance to win prizes, with the grand prize being access to a VIP party with local sports celebrities, including The High Road’s Allen Vaughan and Brett Johnston, plus other TAGsgf.com staff and special surprise guests.

Sure, you’ve got your bracket entered in five other places? Great, throw yours in here. Why? The bracket challenge is universal. It’s common ground. It gives the shrewd know-it-all basketball fan a chance to really show their knowledge. It also gives wives and girlfriends who roll their eyes at your season-long basketball fetish, an opportunity to crush you. Plus, are there anything sweeter than Bracket bragging rights?

Sign up now. Click on the link, and the password is bracket.

Or, if that doesn’t work. Use the following:

Group ID: 179951
PW: bracket

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/179951

The NCAA Bubble popped for MSU coach Cuonzo Martin. As it eroded, some of his players took to Twitter.

As the Ozarks watched Missouri State get passed up by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee for the 12th year in a row, many of you were fired up and venting in your own personal way.

Some of the Missouri State players weren’t any different. As I was tweeting my thoughts, and retweeting others, I saw the same type of reaction coming from the players, and some of it was remarkable — so much so, it’s worth repeating.

So, I’ve gone to the Twitter pages of MSU players Will Creekmore, Adam Leonard, Nafis Ricks and Kyle Weems and here is a recreation of their roller coaster hour on the NCAA Bubble.

(If you’re not familiar with how to read Twitter, here is a crash course. Anything that follows @ is a username. Thus, @AllenVaughan is my Twitter handle. RT stands for retweet, which is similar to a forward in e-mail. Anything following # is to help when searching for topics. Thus, #MSUBears is all things MSU Bears. That should do it. If not, visit Twitter’s support page.)

Will Creekmore

• Keepin our fingers crossed. Crazier things have happened. No doubt in my mind were one of the top 68 teams in the country.
• We deserve this
• Retweeted @Mostate2 Unbelievable
• 14 losses. 14. 14. 14 losses. 14.
• Not surprised. Way to reward BCS mediocrity.
• 0 top 50 wins. 7 losses in conference. Strength of schedule 156. But hey, they beat college of charleston out of conference. #bcs #joke
• cant help but think about the indiana state and northern iowa game. lose by 1 point on questionable foul calls. #tough

Leonard

Adam Leonard

• Unreal!
• What a joke!!!
• Joke
• I’m ready for this nap. This comedy on tv is Makin me tired
• Joke of a committee.
• @Sportscenter U all don’t know anything. Donkeys.
• Retweeted @IanStarnes Colorado, VT, Alabama, & MO STATE should be in!!!! UAB? VCU? Are you kidding me? I feel terrible right now.
• Retweeted @MSU_Creeks44 0 top 50 wins. 7 losses in conference. Strength of schedule 156. But hey, they beat college of charleston out of conference. #bcs #joke
• Retweeted @AllenVaughan #MSUBears snubbed from espn’s most snubbed list. Haha

Nafis Ricks

Nafis Ricks

• Nervous as ever man
• When u so close but so far it’s a weird feeling
• Forever is about to happen
• Unbelievable
• My palms sweating what a day
• Cmon man one time need that blessing right now
• Dont really kno what to think
• 2 regions left
• As a basketball player this is what u dream of
• Unreal
• Last region
• Same here cuzRT @shizzy5: Why my stomach feel like this!!!!!
• Here we go nervous
• #Wow
• Shock
• Unbelievable
• RT @Kjw3434: This a horrible feeling!!!!
• All about money
• Don’t feel Like being bothered
• Retweeted ESPN_CollHoops Biggest #snub
• A smack in the face
• RT @Kjw3434: The feeling from last Sunday night all over again!!!

Kyle Weems

Kyle Weems

• Wow time is now, let’s see wut the committee says!
• Lord please be with that committee!!!!!!
• Haven’t been this nervous in a long time!!!!
• RT @ESPN_CollHoops #SelectionSunday…here we go.
• RT @AllenVaughan Most losses #NCAA at-large bids: 14 — Zona (08) and NC State (05), 13 — Minnesota 13 (’10), Zona & Michigan (09), Oregon (08), Arkansas (07)
• Wow my mind is everywhere!!!
• I’m so damn nervous!
• RT @JayBilas Talk Nerdy to Me: RPI, SOS, blah,blah, blah. This ain’t Little League where every kid gets 3 innings. Select the BEST teams, major or mid.
• RT @MSU_Creeks44 We deserve this
• RT @AllenVaughan UAB? Does MSU have a chance?
• #wow
• RT @keithp111 Crazy
• RT @MSU_10_Bears Unreal!
• RT @Mostate2 Cmon man one time need that blessing right now
• RT @InsideTheU Missouri State led by @Kjw3434 should get into the tourney, hoping it happens
• RT @MSU_Creeks44 14 losses. 14. 14. 14 losses. 14.
• RT @AllenVaughan More 14 loss fun! Penn State. Gag.
• RT @MSU_10_Bears What a joke!!!
• RT @Mostate2 Dont really kno what to think
• RT @ESPNAndyKatz Can’t believe that Cincinnati got a six and Missouri an 11.
• RT @Mostate2 As a basketball player this is what u dream of
• RT @AllenVaughan USC, welcome to the 14-loss party. And VCU? 3 colonial? Jeez man
• RT @MSU_10_Bears Joke
• RT @Mostate2 Unreal
• This isn’t lookin good at all!!!!!!
• RT @ESPNAndyKatz Wow. Last four at-larges are USC, Clemson, VCU and UAB. Wow. Nervous moments at SMC and Va Tech.
• RT @31stMade They letting these dumb bummy teams in and not #grizzlybearU … They should get slapped..
• This a horrible feeling!!!!
• The feeling from last Sunday night all over again!!!
• (Bonus NIT tweet) Damn a 3 seed for real?

Jermaine Mallett and the MSU Bears continue to wait out their NCAA fate. (Photo: Alex Stocksdale/TAGsgf.com)

I’m having a hard time internalizing all of the information regarding Missouri State’s NCAA Tournament chances.

I’ve consumed as much information as humanly possible. I read Bernie Miklasz’s column on it Monday from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as well as a nice one from the Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger. I’ve heard interviews with the KC Star’s Blair Kerkhoff and read everything off the fingertips of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and Sports Illustrated’s Andy Glockner. Adrenaline junkies who thrive on roller coasters and bungee jumping will love the same type of up and down status of everyone’s columns.

And in an overall sense, I’m a numbers guy. I believe in statistics and what they can prove that our eyes may not inherently see. I’m that way in baseball, as well as in football (minus the BCS) and appreciate the ground that’s been covered in basketball.

But at the same time, I’m having a hard time rationalizing the numbers when it comes to the Tournament’s now-expanded 37 at-large spots. Because, if you think about it, isn’t history on Missouri State’s side? If it wasn’t for other media members, who claim to understand how the NCAA Tournament process works, wouldn’t we think that the Bears would have a reasonable shot?

Consider the following:

• Every regular-season champion of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1993 has advanced to the NCAA Tournament, whether via automatic bid or at-large bid. Sure, some of that is coincidence, but it’s still a fact.
• The Bears’ 15 conference wins is the gold standard in the MVC, tying with four others throughout the 2000s. The only team better than 15 wins was Southern Illinois’ 17 MVC wins in 2003.
• The Bears did win 7 road conference games, more than any other power conference team can prove.
• Didn’t Northern Iowa make it to the Sweet 16 last year after knocking off No. 1 seed Kansas? Ali Farokhmanesh, anyone?
• The last time the Bears were in the NCAA Tournament, MSU went to a Sweet 16. And couldn’t you argue this year’s squad is more talented than the Ault-Fontleroy-Moore-Stringer-Bruton group? (Wow, 1999 was a long time ago…)

But, here is what is being bandied about as to why the Bears are out.

• Last season, the Missouri Valley Conference was rated as the 9th best conference by KenPom.com, the king of college basketball ratings (at least in my eyes. He’s way smarter than the rest.). This year, the MVC is rated No. 14, the bottom of the mid-major plus leagues, as MSU coach Cuonzo Martin called them.
• With that discrepancy, even though the Bears were the Valley’s No. 7 team last season, last year’s Pomeroy rating (77) is higher than this year’s as the league champion (79). And that’s after beating four teams with ratings of 100-plus. Means it was higher before the CIT championship. Yuck.
• Plus, there are the strength of schedule snafus (160th overall according to KenPom.com), plus the nonconference SOS (199).

Of course, I have left out the RPI on purpose, because I honestly don’t think that is a factor when selecting. It can’t be. Otherwise, the Bears’ 2006 team would have been in, instead of leading the screw-the-RPI charge over the last few years. As Mellinger pointed out, the 2000 (34) and 2007 (37) teams are also in the top five. Back in 1997, Steve Alford had 24 wins and a 42 RPI and settled for the NIT.

And we all know this honestly, but as the Valley continues to fall further and further behind as a conference, losing ground on leagues like the Horizon, West Coast and the Colonial, it is also losing ground when it comes to the power conferences. This may start an entire new discussion.

In the end, it’s a fight of sentimentality vs. stats. Who will win, the Joe Lunardis of the world, who with the help of the committees over the year, have helped lay the foundation to successfully predict the tournament field? Will it be the the Ken Pomeroys of the planet, who have fine-tuned rankings that truly show value in a college basketball team? Or, will it reside within the sentimentality of a few commissioners of mid-major leagues within the NCAA Tournament, who might decide that the Missouri Valley Conference doesn’t deserve to have its reputation completely destroyed by not allowing its 25-win team an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament?

Who do you trust?

Or, as News-Leader reporter Lyndal Scranton suggested via his Twitter account:

A great pay-per-view idea? Televise the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee deliberations. Must-see-TV. #FullDisclosure

MSU's Kyle Weems might be the MVC Player of the Year, but will it help MSU get to the NCAA Tournament?

Whether or not you believed Missouri State would contend for a Missouri Valley Conference, you likely would have believed once MSU got to the top, they would get instant respect. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago that the MVC was a four-bid league, placing multiple teams in the Sweet 16 in 2006.

And now that the Bears are thisclose to securing an MVC regular season title, here comes the grim truth.

The Missouri Valley isn’t as dangerous as it used to be.

This weekend was a chance to prove the Ken Pomeroys, and all the other college basketball fans/scientists/pundits wrong, showing the MVC is just as virile as past years. Yes, the BracketBuster was going to be the launching pad that the Bears back into national sweetheart status.

Oops.

For the first time in the nine years the BracketBuster has existed, the MVC had a losing record. Simply, 3-7 isn’t going to cut it.

(In order of MVC standings)

• Valparaiso 80, Missouri State 67
• Virginia Commonwealth 68, Wichita State 67
• George Mason 77, Northern Iowa 71
• Moorehead State 71, Indiana State 65
• Akron 76, Creighton 67
• Murray State 72, Evansville 47
• Drake 84, Detroit 76
• Southern Illinois 61, Wisconsin-Green Bay 60
• Bradley 81, Tennessee-Martin 75
• Western Michigan 68, Illinois State 65

That’s right, if you look at the three teams with victories, they are teams 7, 8 and 9 in the Valley. Every team in the MVC with a winning record, lost. And, the losing, or at least when matching up with other conferences isn’t isolated. Ken Pomeroy, a respected analyst in college basketball circles ranks the Missouri Valley as the No. 14 conference in the country. If the college hoops landscape is split up into three tiers: BCS schools/Mid-Majors/Low-Majors, then MSU and Wichita State are leading the conference at the end of the middle tier. Consider:

KenPom.com ratings

1. Big Ten .8947
2. Big East .8779
3. Big 12 .8547
4. ACC .8310
5. Pac 10 .8100
6. Mountain West .7872
7. SEC .7677
8. Conference USA .6590
9. Atlantic 10 .6181
10. WAC .6107
11. Horizon League .5723
12. West Coast Conference .5636
13. Colonial Athletic Association .5550
14. Missouri Valley Conference .5308
15. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference .4343

Nafis Ricks lays one in for MSU. (Photo: Alex Stocksdale/TAGsgf.com)

Sure, the MVC’s ranking is hundredths of points behind the Colonial (VCU, George Mason, etc.) and West Coast Conference (St. Mary’s, Gonzaga), but it still matters. Why? In 2010, the MVC was the ninth-best conference in the nation. Actually, 14th is the lowest since 2004 when the Valley ranked 11th. Yes, the Bears were still known as Southwest Missouri State then.

So, does this make the MVC a one-big league? Not necessarily. But the evidence against keeps mounting. According to the MVC,  in all five of those sub-Top 10 seasons, the league had two teams in the NCAA Tournament. Why? The regular season champion — regardless of winning the MVC Tournament — has received an at-large bid. And with three more bids on the table this season, the Bears just might have life. Of course, that’s dependent of beating Wichita State Saturday at JQH Arena (Don’t miss the TAGsgf.com Live Blog!)

The Valparaiso loss was crushing, or just plain disappointing, because MSU had a chance to get a quality nonconference victory on the road. Valpo is ranked No. 84 by KenPom.com, and is just a half-game back of Cleveland State in the Horizon League standings. Was it a crippling loss? No, but it’s frustrating, because the evidence just doesn’t look good in MSU’s favor.

But then again, every MVC regular-season champion since 1994 has made the NCAAs, whether after winning the MVC Tournament or via at-large bid. Will a win Saturday push MSU into the tournament, or, will it make history again, just like it did in 2006 when MSU held the highest-rated RPI (21) to be left out of an NCAA Tournament field?

Two date to keep in mind as we reach the end of the season:

• Saturday, Bears host Wichita State at noon (Winner wins MVC regular season title)
• Thursday, March 3, Missouri Valley Conference Tournament begins (Winner earns NCAA Tournament bid)

Mike Moustakas might be the most big-league ready of the Royals top prospcts.

Fact: The pundits are in love with the Kansas City Royals minor league system.

But, what does that really mean? Don’t worry, we will get more in depth on the particulars as the 2011 season approaches and when we know exactly where each member of the ridiculously talented prospects will open the 2011 season. But there are normally very few ways to quantify just how talented, or at least highly regarded, baseball talent is. Thanks to the increased coverage of minor league prospects, now we can.

Everyone in baseball widely regards the Royals farm system as the best, but that can mean many things. It can mean, simply, they have the best handful of players in the minor leagues. It can also mean, they are a deep organization, but not one with future stars. Or, it can mean both. To me, the simplest thing to do was to try to give this some type of statistical measure.

So, after receiving my Baseball America Prospect Handbook in the mail yesterday, I’ve completed this basic spreadsheet to illustrate just how highly regarded the Royals top five prospects are. I included the rankings of the five most respected national minor league analysts — Baseball America’s Jim Callis, Will Lingo and John Manuel; ESPN.com’s Keith Law and MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.

While it’s hard to swallow, or imagine, every one of these prospects I’m about to mention are regarded to be mainstays of the Royals attack for a long time (or, as long as the Royals can afford them…).

(Player, position, average rank)

• Eric Hosmer, 1B, 8.2
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, 10.4
• Wil Myers, OF, 11.8
• Mike Montgomery, LHP, 23.2
• John Lamb, LHP, 30.4

That’s in all of baseball. According to this, the Royals have 5 of baseball’s top 30 prospects. Wow. And, that’s not including LHP Danny Duffy, who was ranked No. 98 by Law and Jake Odorizzi, the crown jewel of the Zack Greinke trade. Mayo ranked Odorizzi as No. 37. And, we don’t know this quite yet, but many experts expect much of this top talent to start the season at Double-A. the first time NWA visits Springfield is a four-game set April 25-28.

Sure, there’s a chance that Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals could come to an agreement on the craziest, richest contract in recent baseball history by the time his self-imposed deadline hits at 11 a.m Wednesday. There’s also a chance that Republicans and Democrats will agree on how to immediately balance the budget and people out there who think that Justin Bieber can cure cancer.

But instead of analyzing every detail of the Pujols saga, including every twist and turn on every conveniently timed anonymously sourced story from a national media outlet, one thing needs to be acknowledged before Cardinals fans treat 2010 like their Choose Your Adventure teenage novel.

The St. Louis Cardinals totally screwed this thing up.

I’ll hear your argument about how not taking Pujols’ self-imposed deadline seriously is a smart negotiating strategy for the club and that showing him which party is truly holds the leverage is key. To me, it sounds like a scene from Band of Brothers, where they consistently came up with marvelous escape strategies after being completely surrounded by the opponent. And just like most of Easy Company, Albert and the Cards might escape this relatively unharmed, but I’ll still ask the question that no one is seeming to ask.

Why did it have to come to this? Especially when there was a way to win both the baseball battle and the public relations battle?

How many more of these moonshots will we see in a Cardinals uniform?

It’s not like this just snuck up on the Cardinals. St. Louis fans have been bracing themselves for this moment for a long time. For years. Since he won his first MVP. Since people started comparing him to Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth and then blowing past all the historic comparisons to carve out his own place in baseball heaven.

And with that said, there was little early negotiation or communication between the two parties to satisfy a player of his caliber? To me, that’s ignorant and irresponsible. He is like no other player, so why treat him like one? The decision — notice I’m not saying deal, or contract extension — should have been taken care of a long time ago.

Because to me, you have two options.

1. Sign him
2. Can’t/won’t sign him

Real rocket scientist stuff, I know. But seriously, why weren’t these negotiations handled earlier? Even today, we should be able to know where this thing stands. While I’ve never been involved in a contract negotiation with the price tag of Tonga’s GDP, it seems very simple to me. Either he’s coming back, or he’s not. He knows it and you know it. You’re telling me as of two weeks ago, both parties didn’t know what the future was going to hold? I find that hard to believe, especially if they’re so far apart on years and money.

There’s a price in Albert’s head and there’s a financial number or two the Cardinals know they can’t surpass, especially in lieu of his unwillingness to be traded or bravado to reach free agency. Why is this taking so long? If we are to believe the reports in the media, there have really been no formal offers, except the spectacularly hilarious made up anonymously sourced story that Pujols turned down an offer some two weeks ago. And each day this goes on, the worse it looks for both sides.

Did this moment cost the Cardinals Albert Pujols?

So, again I’ll ask. Why is the national media involved? Why wasn’t this taken care of before the Winter Warm-Up? Why are we still talking about this, instead of how the St. Louis Cardinals might have the second or third best pitching staff in the National League? Laziness or arrogance.

The bottom line is this. The Cardinals should have tried to win on a baseball and a public relations level, and take control of both sides. If you think you can afford to pay him and it makes sense in your baseball business plan, then do it. If you don’t think you can, especially after he has set a deadline and also said he’s voiding any trade offers, then just come out and say it.

We are sad to announce it, but because of the guidelines Albert Pujols has put on any contract extension negotiations, we are going to be unable to re-sign him right now and look forward to coming back to the issue during free agency.

or

The St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols were not able to reach a deal on a new contract, and we will table the manner until free agency at Albert’s request. We respect Albert wholeheartedly and look forward  to the 2011 season. And now we’d like to announce we have reached a deal for (insert player just above “low-hanging fruit”), and we are not done dealing yet. The St. Louis Cardinals are winners and we look forward to winning in the future.

Because, if you don’t meet Pujols’ demands this season, what do you think he’s going to do, sulk? No, he’s going to try to go .350/50/150, and the team needs to be ready to reap the benefits. Going for broke is the only way to go. You can’t just let him walk and get two draft picks. Make a trade. Get someone. Trade for Michael Young. Do something. You have to go out guns blazing, because the future might not be pretty. It did take the San Francisco Giants nearly a decade to recover from losing Barry Bonds, and that was done through its minor league system.

Fill Table Rock Lake with this and you'll get Pujols' future net worth.

Maybe the Albert deadline was a curveball to the Cardinals, but to me, that’s no excuse. If I was Albert, I would have done the same thing. Because nothing the Cardinals have done in this scenario — whether we know the details, or not — to even appear like they are serious about re-signing him. To me, it comes across as irresponsible and arrogant, because they are endangering the fan base and the 2010 season just to save some money? Sure, I believe Albert is part to blame, but if you were the best player in baseball (history?) how would you handle this? What would you settle for? Fangraphs.com said even if you factor in that Albert will decline at a normal rate, the second half of his career is worth some $267 million over 10 years. Read into that as you will, but it’s food for thought, whether he’s a 41-year-old drawing a paycheck, or not.

Look, I’m all about paying for full, honest value. I would give him a contract for five or six years at well above market value. $30 million? $33 million. That makes is 5/$165 or 6/$198. Ridiculous. And if he’s still aging well, then give him the rest later. If he really wants 10 years of security, doesn’t an escalated dollar amount buy out that security. I just get the feeling the Cardinals are lowballing him. And when the details of this bear out, I believe it’s going to be the Cardinals that seem foolish.

And more urgently, the fan base is dividing itself. There are fans who are choosing sides between Albert and the Cardinals. There are fans questioning the loyalty of both parties. And while those who understand business, recognize the negotiating that’s going on, they also understand the public implications of those talks. Think about yourself. It’s likely you have a number in mind and if you can’t re-sign Albert, then you’re OK with letting him go. Now, that number might be 10 years $700 million, but it still exists.

Now, they have tainted the fan base. And it’s not pretty.

Does the Albert negotiation have you questioning your STL Cards loyalties? Which side are you on?

I have to believe that this is going horribly wrong for St. Louis and Albert’s aggressive approach isn’t to blame. The team assumed they could negotiate an extension throughout the season and have it signed by the All Star break. Then came Albert’s deadline. Now they are screwed and are playing tight-lipped “respectful” charades. You don’t think if the Cardinals wanted to leak anything, they could do it, and tell Albert it didn’t come from them? I think they are screwed and they know it. And, instead, they are going to let this thing play out and roll over during free agency, crying pauper status.

Now, I have faith in the Cardinals front office, and it’s possible they have sent offers Albert’s way over the offseason, maybe we just haven’t heard them. And it’s also funny to me that they seem to be taking his code of silence seriously, but not his deadline. Curious.

Instead, we are left to worry about the future of the Cardinals. Left to worry every day for likely the next 10 months. (10 months!) And it’s more problematic because of the way they’ve handled the contract of possibly the best hitter in baseball history. It’s problematic just because I’m writing this column. Because if they screw this us, and have the No. 24 farm system in baseball, according to Baseball America, then what?

Tick. Tock. Mang.

Not long ago, we gave you access to the “Tick Tock Mang” countdown and now through their all-knowing “anonymous sources,” ESPN is reporting that the St. Louis Cardinals have until Feb. 16 to strike an extension with free-agent-to-be Albert Pujols.

I have many more thoughts on this, which I’ll have to lay out in a column, but am I the only one who feels like the Cardinals aren’t acting with urgency? Even if it’s fake public urgency?

The clock is ticking…

This is about as animated as MSU coach Cuonzo Martin has been on the sidelines this season. That might change very soon. (Photo: Alex Stocksdale/TAGsgf.com)

Everyone has yelled at a referee at some point or another, whether as a player, a fan or a coach. It happens. While many of us haven’t needed friends and family to hold us back from coming on to the field of play and go Terry Tate, Office Linebacker, the majority has chuckled at the “Nuts and Bolts (We Got Screwed!)” chant, or the ever clever “Push It” cheer from the student section.

Honestly, most of the time, it feels great, whether it’s the right thing to do, or not. It’s venting in its purest — and sometimes, most savage — form.

But as a college or professional coach, you have to choose your strategy. Scream too much and you’ll be like the Boy Who Cries Wolf, and never get anyone’s attention. Whine too much and you look soft. Say nothing, and, well, it might be the worst thing possible.

It’s funny, too, because most of us go out of our way in life to not rock the boat. To not make a scene. Try to get along and reasonable people will make reasonable decisions.

But sports are not real life. Why? Because when it comes to the outcomes, it feels like life and death, and the more money involved, the more vitriolic we become. Now, think about the referees. Most everyone else is doing something to let the referees they’re unhappy with the calls, ultimately going out of their way to get noticed.

That’s where Missouri State men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin comes in. Martin has done a masterful job of building the Bears in his image. Tough. Even keeled. Confident. Controlled aggression. It’s a big part why MSU is 19-4 and a half-game back of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference heading into the Evansville game Wednesday night.

MSU stud junior Kyle Weems has been involved in both fouls that have decided both of the Bears' MVC losses. (Photo: Alex Stocksdale/TAGsgf.com)

As a spectator, whether in person or on TV, Martin seems to handle the referees in the same way — with respect. He’s never too high or too low (save the aftermath of the Creighton victory). Oh, and you know how you hear how some coaches will pick up a technical foul, just to fire their team up? Well, in his two and a half seasons at Missouri State, Martin has as many Ts and you and I have — None.

But, the way that Martin handles the referees is taking a paradigm shift. Not that kindness is weakness, but in both of Missouri State’s losses, the Bears have been on the wrong end of late whistles. You’ll remember how Indiana State beat MSU on a last-second 3-point play that had the players, coaches and fans ready to blaze a trail to Terre Haute, Ind. Then, at home on Saturday against Northern Iowa, the Bears didn’t block out Johnny Moran, who grabbed a rebound and was fouled in an awkward act of shooting. Both Indiana State and Northern Iowa made their free throws and escaped with slim wins over the Bears.

They are the only MVC losses on MSU’s schedule, which to mid-major teams are like bent edges on historic baseball cards — the value is forever damaged.

I’m not disputing the calls, but the teams have. Players have mentioned in in press conferences, but respectfully. So have coaches. But at Monday’s Springfield Tip-Off Club, Martin went out of his way to mention the officiating, and how he is trying to possibly channel or create a new side of the tough, even keeled, confident persona.

He mentioned how he lobbed the MVC commissioner’s office a call, just making sure they knew he was unhappy. For me, it’s a great move. It’s the same as marriage or a work conflict. You can question the other party, but do it in a respectful way. Because if you don’t, you might get walked over.

Don't expect Cuonzo Martin to channel his inner Bob Knight - at least not at first.

And therein lies the irony for Martin. His personal bio is one constructed on hard work and respect. But it’s also built on not taking no for an answer and not backing down from a challenge. He knows the Bears are likely on the outside looking in for an NCAA at-large bid, and being a top seed in the NIT would be kick in the groin after a great start to the season. It’s too important to not make that phone call to let the people in charge know that just because he’s a young coach with a quality team, he’s not going to let officials give veteran MVC coaches and their teams the benefit of the doubt.

I don’t feel like there’s any malice on the part of the league referees, because after talking to some officials, one put it sarcastically.

Refs wake up in the morning thinking, “Let’s see, who can I screw today,” knowing that everybody is watching them do it.

It also influences the fan base. Because as too-good-to-be-true as this season has been for Missouri State, Martin is still learning when it comes to being a coach. Him stepping up and taking a stand might cement his status as a local hero even more.

In my opinion, the backchannels are where Martin needs to stand his ground. Not the press conference. Not the sideline. Not the Coaches shows, whether on TV or radio. It starts with the behind the scenes stuff, because that’s his personality.

So, at first, don’t expect Martin to change his sideline act to throwing chairs, ala Bob Knight, or dropping four-letter bombs like Mike Krzyzewski.

But, if the Bears mysteriously drop another close game that they were leading after a late whistle. Expect fireworks. Expect vitriol. Expect something aggressive.

Because just like every time we’ve wanted to blame an official for something they did or didn’t deserve, some Terry Tate or a good-old fashioned chant might be the only way he can get back to normal.

With all the buildup to Saturday’s huge game between BCS No. 1 Oklahoma and undefeated Mizzou, many are trying to separate the emotion from the logic. Is Mizzou really as good as Las Vegas thinks, seeing as how the Tigers are only a 3-point underdog? Much of the thought process seems like this:

There’s no way Mizzou wins, right? Well, the defense has been good. Blaine Gabbert is a future pro quarterback. Of course Mizzou can win. College Gameday is coming, let’s party and celebrate!!!!!!!!

Well, Mizzou fans, ESPN’s Scouts Inc. thinks you don’t have much of a chance. (ESPN Insider pay content)

Their position-by-position breakdown:

Oklahoma at Missouri Matchups
QB	RB	WR	OL	DL	LB	DB	ST	Coach

Blaine Gabbert better than Landry Jones? That’s a discussion for another day, but it’s clear that Scouts, Inc. doesn’t feel good about any aspect of Mizzou’s game. And I’ll save you the trouble of all the ways ESPN’s scouting department thinks Mizzou stands no chance, but ultimately they offer up their “Scouts Edge” and a prediction:

Oklahoma has shown vulnerabilities on both sides of the ball this season and Missouri is better in the trenches than in recent years, and a home crowd will also help the Tigers this week. However, the Tigers’ offense won’t scare the Sooners with its short passing game and smoke-and-mirrors running attack. Oklahoma will drop seven or eight defenders into coverage all game, limiting yards after the catch and forcing Gabbert into some bad decisions by taking away his primary targets. Stoops has owned Missouri during his career and this week will be no different.

Prediction: Sooners 31, Tigers 20

Can you guess what Roy Oswalt's press conference is going to sound like? Take your best shot.

Most of the time, press conferences are brutally boring. No one says anything interesting, and although some of the sappy ones cry, generally they are full of cliches, regurgitated phrases and nonspeak.

So when TAGsgf.com reader and excellent Tweeter, Brian K., known on Twitter as @PunkonDeck, started generating fake quotes that Roy Oswalt would use once the trade from Houston to Philadelphia was official, we started paying attention.

It was a brilliant idea and it caught fire faster than a burning meth lab. Here is the genesis of the experiment, plus an entire list. Incredible stuff, really.

• @PunkOnDeck: I appreciate the tradition of Philadelphia and know they have a passionate fanbase.
• @DrewGROF: It’ll be weird facing the Astros in Aug. I have a lot of good friends over there. But it felt right FOR MY FAMILY.
• @PunkOnDeck: I sat down with my family and prayed on it and we came to the conclusion that this move would be the best.
• @PunkOnDeck: No, I haven’t had a cheese steak, yet. I hear they’re good.
• @dlbrows: Yea, the Philly fans can be harsh, but they’re also loyal.
• @PunkOnDeck: I’m not looking that far ahead. I’m just concentrating on my next start.
• @PunkOnDeck: This move was about winning championships and I think I can do that here.
• @PunkOnDeck: I’m not worried about the dimensions of the ballpark. I’ll just need to keep the ball down.
• @PunkOnDeck: I don’t think there are higher expectations here because I already have high expectations of myself.

If you want to contribute, post them below or use the hashtag #oswaltinphilly on Twitter. Thanks, Brian.

It’s been a long time since I’ve chimed in with a Thought Notebook, so I figured this would be something to tide you over the weekend. If you haven’t followed along in the past, this is where I like to air out some thoughts that have accumulated in my head and ones I haven’t been able to publicly address.

Let’s get it crackin’.

MSU sophomore Mike Kickham

• Mike Kickham is going to be a rich dude very soon: Sure, we first reported that ESPN.com’s Keith Law had Missouri State lefthanded pitcher Mike Kickham in his initial top 100. Well, in his second edition, Law has moved Kickham up four spots to No. 68.

The brute strength of Kickham’s 14-strikeout game from Friday’s loss to MVC-leading Illinois State, must be as intoxicating to scouts as is his continuing story arc. The Glendale graduate is second in the Missouri Valley Conference in strikeouts with 82, made even more impressive that they have come in just 76 innings. From a pure muscle-flexing standpoint, 23 of the strikeouts have come looking. Ranked No. 37, Indiana State’s Mike Petricka — another LHP — has 87 Ks in 81 2/3 innings.

It’s been a long time since a SGF native pitcher has had this type of an impact on the MLB draft. As we documented a few weeks ago, there have been plenty of MSU pitcher’s drafted high in the draft, but few that are from within the city limits.

Those who followed the Kickhams in high school probably are scratching their heads, seeing as how in high school Mike was a good, but not great pitcher. Still, why can’t be Kickham be a star? He has the build (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), the improved stuff (low-90s fastball, slider and changeup) and the appetite for learning, according to MSU pitching coach Paul Evans.

“He wants to get better. He doesn’t just want to hear the good stuff, he wants to know what he can improve on,” Evans said. “You can’t say that about everybody.”

The MLB draft begins Tuesday, June 8 with the first round and the supplemental first round, which make up the first 50 picks. Rounds 2-30 are June 9 and rounds 31-50 are June 10. In case you were wondering, Detroit has the No. 68 pick.

Also, when I was speaking to Baseball America’s Jim Callis last week about early draft scouting, he mentioned Mike Kickham’s brother Dan, as a potential Top 10-round pick. The two are identical twins, although Dan is righthanded. The two played at Crowder College in Neosho last season, but Mike made the jump to MSU this season, while Dan stayed behind.

It’s not a lock that Dan Kickham will sign if drafted in the top 10 rounds, and in that case, he will attend MSU next season. He had 12 saves this season for Crowder, which tied as the third-best total for NJCAA schools and set a new school record. He struck out 37 batters in 32 innings, walking only 15.

Stay tuned.

• Springfield Public Schools makes a sports statement with budget recommendations: On Monday night, the SPS board was presented with two proposed operating budgets. Of course, the source of the concern emerged from the potential loss of personnel — including teachers — as perceived revenue was to remain flat in the near future, causing a potential $5.1 million needing to be cut from the budget.

But it was something that wasn’t included that caught my attention. If you examine the budget recommendation .pdf from The Bottom Line, a wonderful online resource set up by SPS, you’ll notice that SPS athletics made a magician-like escape from the budget machetes. Sure, the three critical budget needs that were put forward by SPS Athletic Director Mark Fisher aren’t going to come to fruition — cost-of-business budget increases, football field maintenance and JFK Stadum turf replacement — but there weren’t any deeper cuts that will affect the athletics infrastructure.

Travel will decrease, but district-wide it will only be be lessened by $245,000, and it might not affect sports at all. Coaching stipends won’t be raised, but they won’t be lowered and the number of assistant coaches won’t be slashed. Programs weren’t killed. Sports will live on as we currently know them.

And, for a district that has taken its fair share of criticism for older facilities, a lack of overall football success and lower coaching stipends than some of the neighboring school districts, those in charge of the budget took a stand for athletics, no matter how unintentional it was. As it’s been joked about within unemployment circles, having a job is the new raise. In budgeting, not getting cut is the new budget increase.

“(Fisher’s) been doing more with less,” said Steve Chodes, chief financial officer for the 24,000-student district. “Because we are all aware of that, that’s a reason we stayed away from athletics. Not one person stood up and indicated that we need to make a stand for athletics, though. It’s a matter of looking at all of our expenditures and identifying where the cuts would be most acceptable.”

Fisher hasn’t been handed a budget for the 2010-11 school year, so he wasn’t able to answer specific budget questions. Still, he said there might be slight cuts, coming from a flat budget number and increase in prices, but was relieved there appeared to be no major reductions.

With no raises in the sports budget, it makes the role of the sports booster club even more significant. Many booster clubs already help defray the costs of new uniforms and equipment that the school budgets don’t allow. If school revenues continue to stay low, booster clubs could become big business — at least for big schools.

Especially if there need to be more cuts next year. But for now, Springfield Public Sports survived.

• Why Colby Rasmus shouldn’t be hitting leadoff for the St. Louis Cardinals: Let’s just say that I’m a huge Colby Rasmus believer and I feel that the 23-year-old center fielder is destined for a good Major League career. I swell with some weird sense of pride since he played here in SGF for an entire season. And with that said, there is no way he should be leading off.

I don’t want to go into some deep statistical analysis, but there needs to be some of numbers in here (it’s baseball, right?). It’s possible that Tony LaRussa was slipped Rasmus’ 17-game stretch as a leadoff hitter for the Springfield Cardinals in 2007:

.394 batting average (21-for-71) with 9 HRs, 13 RBIs, 1.336 OPS, 5 doubles and a triple

Effective enough? It reads like a hot streak from Rickey Henderson or Tim Raines. Currently, Rasmus is batting .280 with a .402 on-base percentage, six home runs and 15 RBIs. But, he has only driven in one run in his last nine games. Against right handers, he’s batting .309 with a .441 OBP, but against lefthanders, he’s batting .158 (3-for-19) with a .200 OBP.

That’s why I’ve always said he’s a natural fit for the No. 2 spot, he gets on base and can provide a jolt of energy atop the lineup — but not all the way up. Still, all of this fuss about leadoff hitters is because of the struggles for the current leadoff guy, Skip Schumaker. The converted outfielder is batting .219 with a .296 on-base percentage. While he’s hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, his batting average has remained steady, ranging from .212 to .219. Through 109 at-bats against right handers, he’s batting only .193.

Is Schumaker performing well enough to remain in the leadoff spot? Not in a vacuum, but his Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP) is just .238, well below his career average of .326. What does that mean? With a line drive rate of nearly 30 percent, Schumaker is simply an unlucky hitter right now, smacking it right at defenders. Once those numbers even out, he should return to his form of the past two seasons.

And I guess, there lies the question: Will Schumaker be able to duplicate his past two seasons’ performances?

I say, yes. In my opinion, LaRussa is panicking by moving Schumaker to No. 7 and, equally as dangerously, moving Rasmus to No. 1. If you are truly concerned about getting Schumaker on track and afraid he’s chasing balls out of the strike zone, is batting him No. 7 — in front of the pitcher in TLR’s Crazy 8 lineup — the best thing? That’s like telling Delonte West it’s OK to stop taking his meds and then go watch Desperado. Are pitchers going to come after Schumaker with the pitcher on deck? I doubt it.

I just don’t want the following to happen:

• Waste Schumaker’s eventual hot streak in the No. 7 spot
• Watch Rasmus’ home runs turn into solo shots (because we know Brendan Ryan isn’t getting on base)

And, while I’m at it, this is how I would align the St. Louis Cardinals lineup (BA/OBP/SLG)

1. 2B Skip Schumaker (.219/.296/.273)
2. CF Colby Rasmus (.280/.402/.550)
3. 1B Albert Pujols (.316/.413/.564)
4. LF Matt Holliday (.310/.365/.476)
5. RF Ryan Ludwick (.286/.367/.459)
6. 3B David Freese (.310/.388/.460)
7. C Yadier Molina (.288/.365/.396)
8. SS Brendan Ryan (.173/.264/.235)
9. Pitcher’s spot

Emptying the clip: I’m keeping my fingers crossed that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade end up on the same NBA team. …How hilarious is it that MLB is OK with Mark McGwire’s recalibration to the public, but the state’s legislators have officially taken McGwire’s name off of that stretch of I-44? I could care less about the issue, but my question is this: Who has a lower standard of ethics, Bud Selig or the Missouri Senate and House of Representative? … The Royals made the right decision in firing Trey Hillman. I’m going to maintain that the indecision to bat David DeJesus in the No. 2 spot was the final straw. It was one of the most inexplicable baseball moves since Grady Little left Pedro Martinez in the 2003 American League Championship Series too long. … I’m hearing that Rogersville 3B Seth Conner will be the highest drafted local high school baseball player. … I’m looking forward to Drew Brees‘ visit to SGF on Tuesday for the Boys and Girls Club Steak and Steak dinner. I love that event.

Former MSU first baseman Ryan Howard just got paid. Big time.

In a move that has ramifications for not only all of Major League Baseball, but St. Louis Cardinal fans, former Missouri State first baseman Ryan Howard received a 5-year, $125 million extension, CSNPhilly.com is reporting.

We will expand on this later, but here is what the article said.

The Phillies have signed first baseman Ryan Howard to a five-year, $125 million contract extension, as first reported by CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury. The extension runs from 2012 to 2016 and includes a sixth-year club option.

Howard will earn $20 million in each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons, then earn $25 million per year from 2014-16. The club option is worth $23 million with a $10 million buyout. The extension includes awards bonuses and a limited no-trade provision.

In 18 games this season the 30-year-old Howard is hitting .275 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.

What does this do for Albert Pujols? What does he deserve? $30 per season? More. Discuss and we’ll be back later with our thoughts.

St. Louis native and Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert is highly thought of by the national media.

We are barely in the throws of Spring football, but this was tough to miss thanks to SportingNews.com.

“College football’s next great stars: Missouri QB Gabbert shines the brightest”

Whoa.

I know Blaine Gabbert, the St. Louis native, has all of the tools that NFL coaches drool over — the 6-foot-5 frame, the strong arm, better-than-average mobility — but is he destined for superstardom?

When I think superstardom at QB, I think Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Mark Sanchez, and, ahem, Tim Tebow. All are top draft picks that have monster pedigrees assembled with wins for bricks and awards for mortar.

For Mizzou’s sake and coach Gary Pinkel’s, I hope Gabbert does transform into the star that everyone has expected. When he came out of Parkway West in 2008, he was the nation’s No. 1 QB prospect and the 14th best player nationally.

He’ll again have the keys to a dynamic offense, one that he thrived in with these stats as a true sophomore:

262-445 (58.9%), 3,593 yards, 24 TDs, 9 Ints, 140.45 passer rating

But, he’ll have to prove he’s better than last year’s 8-5 team that lost 35-13 to Navy in the Texas Bowl. But still, for every midget QB prospect that gets overlooked like Drew Brees, there are a few Ryan Leafs and Akili Smiths, guys with NFL tools that never materialize. Where will Gabbert stand when it all is said and done? And what about next year? I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, with some cautious optimism.

Former Kickapoo and Creighton player Anthony Tolliver

If you’ve seen SportsCenter this morning or followed along on your Twitter account, you would notice that Phoenix Suns manchild Amar’e Stoudemire had a monster dunk over a Golden State Warrior in Phoenix’s 133-131 victory Monday night.

If you watched the video, yes, that was SGF’s own Anthony Tolliver getting posterized. Now, the wrong and easy thing to do would assume that Tolliver is some fledgling Huckleberry who doesn’t belong in the NBA. If that’s your position, you need to realize that Tolliver had 25 points and 12 rebounds last night, has had back-to-back double-doubles, and is averaging 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds since he joined the Warriors.

Did he get dunked on? Yes. Is he turning into a valuable NBA player that was on the floor in a close enough game to get dunked on? Yes. There’s a difference. Somewhere, Tolliver is probably smiling, just because people are starting to recognize who he is, regardless of reason.

We caught up with Tolliver earlier this season for a Q&A, and we’ve embedded the video so you can see Stoudemire’s handiwork.

Forgive me for some cheesiness, but I’m usually big on omens, or at least deja vu and signs. So, with that said, I’d say the Missouri State Lady Bears received a sign they are in the right place on Thursday, with Casey Garrison’s status as the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Still, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this year’s Lady Bear season. Follow me down this path of logic for a second to make sure I have my facts correct.

• The Lady Bears play a group of mostly sophomores and freshmen
• The team’s record improved from 10-20 to 20-9, the first 20-win season in five years
• The LBs are 13th in the nation in scoring, at 77 points per game
• The LBs are armed with three double-digit scorers: Garrison (19.8), Ja’Leshia Roberson (14.6) and Christiana Shorter (11.3)
• Garrison is named MVC Player of the Year as a sophomore
• Shorter is named MVC Freshman of the Year
• Milleson will likely be named Coach of the Year
• The Lady Bears are officially back

Wait, what? How did this happen? Am I wrong? I think we’d all agree the LBs are back, but how back are they?

The turnaround is remarkable, really.

MVC Player of the Year Casey Garrison

It wasn’t long ago when the school was paying its last coach to leave early. Now, they’re a favorite for at least the conference tournament semifinals as the No. 3 seed.

When the LBs take on the Wichita State Shockers in the 8:35 p.m. quarterfinal, they have a huge opportunity. First, MSU needs to find a way to beat WSU, which it has lost to twice already this season. Secondly, while the men’s team toils in purgatory, awaiting some type of postseason bid, the LBS will have the local stage. Thirdly, did anyone see this coming? (Honestly? Really?)

I sure didn’t. And why should have we? A team armed with sophomores and freshmen and a Division I newbie coach? Sounds like more growing pains should have been in order.

That’s exactly why this weekend should be a blast for the program. Will the LBs win the MVC tournament this weekend? Probably not. Illinois State looks tough, and frankly, the fact the LBs can’t get past a 16-13 Wichita State team is troubling, but the team can gain some of that, um, what’s it called that they seem to win without? Oh yeah, experience.

I’m all for sprinting ahead of expectations, but there’s a reason that mid-major teams with underclassmen don’t typically make the NCAA Tournament. But maybe, the LBs are just that talented.

Think about it. Coach Nyla Milleson’s fast-break style has created an offensive juggernaut. In a women’s college basketball game that seems to be measured in halfcourt success, the LBs push it up the court so often, the overarching points isn’t even to score every time. It’s to make the opponent nervous of what could be coming and get caught not only trying to get back, but forsake the offensive rebounding. If you can pull it off, it’s genius.

So far, so good. The 77 points per game as a team trails the country’s leader, Oral Roberts‘ 86.1. The 76.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line is 12th best in the country. Their 10.7 steals is 27th best nationally.

And they might have a future All-American on their hands. Any time the Lady Bears are mentioned, Garrison gets more than her share of hype, but it’s all earned. She led the MVC in scoring (19.8) and steals (2.9) while finishing second in assists (5.3), and she ranks within the country’s top 25 in all three categories (15th in scoring, 21st in steals and 25th in assists). Is there any reason to think she’ll decline? Not a chance.

All of it adds up to a team that is built for not only the long haul, as in the next two seasons, but one that could be built for the MVC Tourney long haul. Regardless of a quarterfinal flameout, or a championship game run, the LBs are back, and might be for a long time.

If you are looking for MVC Tournament coverage, the games will be covered by KTXR 101.3, as well as the MVC’s Live Blog.

By David Kvidahl, TAGsgf.com correspondent

The Hillcrest Hornets will play for the Class 5 championship at 8 p.m. Saturday. (Photo credit: Nathan Papes/ News-Leader)

Pardon me if you’ve read this before. Those kids from Hillcrest High School can hoop.

As a resident of the eastern side of the state, I’ve heard of Trey Starks, Dorial Green and the cast of characters that make up the Hornets. I’ve been told the stories of Green’s 80-yard go route for a touchdown on his first play from scrimmage as a freshman. I’m familiar with Starks rough stretch which he pulled himself together and returned the basketball court.

The Internet is a beautiful thing.

But few things are as pretty as Starks with the orange in his hand.  Built like a brick wall with legs, the young man with the short dreads was worth the hype, worth the price of admission, worth the wait.  He spent the night dancing his way through the defense, elevating for his shot and deftly whipping the ball where it needed to be. The ball goes where he wants it, almost like it’s afraid if it doesn’t he’ll punish it by pounding it into the floor time and again. Park Hill South did everything it could to frustrate him. It got in his way, it laid hands on him, it denied him the basketball.

But, after all this time, after all this work, do you think Starks would be denied?

Me neither.

He found his way to 15 points despite hitting four of his 11 shots. He did a little bit of everything, as he always does. He hauled in six boards, snagged two steals and played all 32 minutes.

For a guy whose calling is expected to be the gridiron, Green was awfully comfortable on the Mizzou Arena basketball court. A manchild, he was an unstoppable force even if he, on occasion, forced his shot.  He too would score 15 points while hitting half of his 14 shots. He collected six boards, one steal and had one vicious block. Like Starks, he never came off the court.

With the 50-41 victory, the Hornets (24-7) bought themselves another notch in their win streak (now at 12) and earned a date with Oakville (27-4) in Saturday night’s Class 5 championship game. Tip-off is slated for just after 8 p.m.

Oakville will provide Hillcrest with its toughest matchup of the final four. The Tigers have three guards who can shoot it and two posts that can bang with the best of them. After taking fourth place a year ago, the Tigers have returned with a championship on their mind and a cast that has been here, done this (The only piece missing from last year’s team is current MSU freshman Keith Pickens, BTW).

They survived an overtime thriller against CBC to earn their spot in the championship, getting a 3-pointer from Kingdom City out of senior guard Josh Noblitt (who went six of eight from deep) with just over four seconds to play in regulation.

Oakville, like myself, has seen the dunks, read the stories and knows what the Hornets bring to the table. But that’s what gets lost in the tape, in the stories and on the internet. Effort is appreciated live and in color and Hillcrest brought it in spades Thursday night.

I’m just happy I get to see it one more time.

Dave Kvidahl writes for STLHighSchoolSports.com, is a new father, loves quality rap music and can be followed on Twitter via @dkvidahl. If you missed Allen Vaughan’s appearance on Kvidahl’s STLHighSchoolsports.com podcast from earlier this week, click here.

Sure, Hillcrest High School senior Trey Starks is just one juicy storyline pertaining to tonight’s Class 5 sectional at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. (Did I mention we are going to Live Blog that thing tonight? Come back to the site at 5:45 p.m., or just stay all day. There’s a lot to read)

Here are many others, in bullet-point style:

Trey Starks dunking from afar early in the preseason.

• Hillcrest’s explosiveness — I know the game isn’t founded on how many dunks you get in one game, but you have to admit, the intimidation factor from a dunk — especially in a playoff game — can cause trepidation. In a game earlier this season against Lebanon, Hillcrest (21-7) dunked 10 times. It was a defensive feeding frenzy that led to a jailbreak to the rim.

How much of a momentum changer is a dunk? That’s debatable. In Nixa’s Class 5 District 11 championship game against Branson, Pirate senior Dana Thomas jumped into the passing lane, took one the distance and punched one through. Nixa called a timeout, scored on the next possession and continued on its romp to the sectional. Without the timeout, who knows what happens. What if you get dunked on 10 times? You don’t have that many timeouts.

There is no one in the area that can match the total-package athleticism of Starks and sophomore Dorial Green. If they find a way to push past the pressure and into the spotlight, those two could singlehandedly win the game for the Hornets, who are 9-0 since Starks’ debut.

• Nixa’s depth — Nixa (27-1) has enough players to make up nearly three quality varsity rosters. How many times has Nixa coach Jay Osborne tweaked with his lineups? Too many to count, but the point is, he can.

Senior Zac Hill is a must-start, as is sophomore guard Kameron Bundy, but as for the rest, it doesn’t matter. All of them are going to get their minutes. Seven of them average more than 18 minutes a game. The team averaged 66.5 points per game and five players average 8.8 points per game or more. Hill is the only one above double digits (10.6).

Nixa's Jalen Norman has to make Hillcrest's Dorial Green play 1-on-1 defense for the Eagles to win.

What’s the old adage? Depth is overrated? Possibly, but depth gives you two things your opponents can’t replace — 1) Foul trouble relief and 2)fresh legs in the fourth quarter.

If either of these things happen to Hillcrest, Nixa will squarely have the advantage.

• X Factors — I’ve isolated some players who should have a huge impact on today’s game:

• Taylor Sade, Hillcrest — The senior buoyed the Hornets before Starks arrived and when Byron Williams went down. Remember, he went nuts in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, earning All-Tournamenet Team honors. He’s unafraid of big games and can make shots. Look for the Hornets to find him if things start to go badly. He’s averaging 13.4 points.
• Jalen Norman, Nixa — Yes, the 6-4 freshman will likely come off the bench, but who else is going to match up with the 6-5 Green? If Norman can keep Green honest and make him play 1-on-1 defense, rather than lurking for blocked shots during help defense. And he’ll need to rebound.

• My pick? If I had to pick someone, I like Nixa by a small margin, but only because of the depth. I feel that if you matched up the top three players from these teams, Hillcrest is easily the most talented, but if you go 4-12, Nixa gets the nod. Also, Neither of these teams has played in a game with these huge ramifications. And not to raise the stakes, with with Columbia Rock Bridge being out of the way for the quarterfinal, I do predict that the winner will go to state. And that it will be the local game of the year. Nixa 65, Hillcrest 63

Back in my single days, I loved to flirt. I love all the semantics – the stupid jokes, dressing up to try to catch someone’s attention, paying for drinks, etc. All of it was almost like a game.

I'm pretty sure Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter and Shannon Elizabeth have never had to pay for a drink.

(BTW, has a woman ever bought a drink? Do we need to expand this further? If you have, e-mail me at allen@tagsgf.com. I don’t believe you)

But it never was the game.

The date was the game. The after bars “hanging out” was the game. The Walk of Shame was the post-game. During game time, flirting seemed as tedious as putting together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle – how much time was it going to take and is any of it really worth it?

That’s how I felt about sports weeks during the Fall. The important stuff doesn’t happen until the weekends. Think about it. High school football owns communities on Fridays. College football hypnotizes alumni bases and beyond on Saturday and 12-plus hour NFL Sundays are more popular than guns, cigarettes and the Beatles combined.

What happened Monday through Thursday? Flirting. We decompress with coaches, players and fans, rationalizing every detail, then try to glean more from practices, press conferences, etc.

But now that the Super Bowl is over, the sports scene is essentially Friday night at Icon, The Boogie and The High Life rolled into one, all on a nightly basis. It’s rabid. The news cycle is different, causing us to diagnose what’s wrong with our favorite basketball teams every day.

And the “dates” are everywhere. Multiple basketball games every night. ESPN. NBA games on ABC and national college hoops games on CBS are soon going to dominate the weekend. But, as with any good business model, the TV moguls try to backload the good games on the weekend.

So, while the flirting is now done at a Twitter-like speed, most of the big games are on the weekend. And in honor of the entire date-flirting-postgame process, here is your weekend sports guide.

FRIDAY

Nixa senior Jordan Keeney is a key player for the Eagles.

• Nixa at Branson HS boys’ basketball, 7 p.m. Friday: What an unfortunate scheduling disaster.

The two top teams in the area facing off should be a good thing, right? When you have teams that combine for a 47-3 record, it should be elation in the streets, with all of us piling into the car and heading to Branson. But, it’s not that simple.

Both are involved in next week’s Class 5 District 11 Tournament at Parkview, with Branson earning the top seed and Nixa settling in at No. 2. It’s a function of Branson’s 66-51 victory over Nixa in the Blue Division championship during the Blue and Gold Tournament.

I’m curious as to how both teams are going to play. Are they going to treat it like NFL teams in Week 17 and rest players? Are they going to hold things back from the playbook? For as much credit as we give C5-D11, it’s still likely these two teams will face off in the championship. And while I’d like to think both teams will play with emotion and focus tonight, I’ve been around long enough to know that’s probably not going to happen.

It’s a shame, because ignoring Hillcrest for a moment, these are the top two boys’ basketball teams in the area.

SATURDAY

Luke Babbitt is a 6-foot-9 sophomore that reportedly has some NBA scouts interested.

• Nevada at Missouri State men’s basketball, 2 p.m., ESPN2 (Don’t forget about our Live Blog): I’ve already stated my malaise with the Bears’ involvement in this year’s BracketBuster festivities, but, it’s one of just a few nationally televised games for Missouri State.

Sure, a win over Nevada and Kyle Singler-lookalike Luke Babbitt could be used as a springboard toward those must-win games next week against Drake and Indiana State, but what will a loss do?

I’m also wondering who is going to be responsible for guarding Babbitt, a 6-foot-9 sophomore who can extend his game to the 3-point line? Think about it this way, he’s as tall as Will Creekmore and as mobile as Kyle Weems, maybe even more so. Nightmare. Problem. How many former McDonald All-Americans have MSU played against recently?

Still, Nevada is 16-9, 8-4 in the WAC and has an RPI of 83. If you’re looking for similar teams played, look no further to Tulsa. Both Nevada and MSU share a win over the Golden Hurricane, the RPI’s No. 68 team. Nevada beat Tulsa 99-68 on Dec. 23 on a neutral court.

Statistically, the Wolf Pack doesn’t guard well at all. According to KenPom.com, Nevada is in the middle of the pack in defensive efficiency and is the 11th worst team in turnover percentage.

With the eye-covering porous defense Missouri State has been playing lately, we could be in for a shootout.

(Don’t forget about the Lady Bears, who are on the road against Wichita State for a 2 p.m. game. It’s being broadcasted on Mediacom Connections Channel 22.)

SUNDAY

Evan Turner is must-watch television when he's on. You're in luck. Tune into CBS at 11 a.m. Sunday.

• Ohio State at Michigan State men’s basketball, 11 a.m., CBS: In a weekend that seems to be lacking in big-time college basketball games, almost giving way to the BracketBuster-loving mid majors, OSU-MSU is my favorite game of the weekend for one reason — Evan Turner.

If you haven’t seen the 6-7 Turner, he plays like Dwyane Wade would if he had two extra inches. You might remember Turner from this horrific accident earlier this year when he dunked, lost his balance and broke his back. Somehow he’s made it back and has put up extraordinary numbers. I lifted the following passage from a nice story by ESPN Insider’s LaRue Cook:

Turner is averaging a near double-double, leading the Buckeyes in both points (19.0 ppg) and rebounds (9.4 rpg). His field goal percentage (55.4) is 21st in the nation and his 5.8 apg ranks 16th.

The 6-foot-7 Turner is so important to Matta’s offense he’s used on 33.8 percent of the team’s possessions, fifth-most of any player in D-I according to KenPom.com (for reference, here’s the full list); he has also accounted for more than 30 percent of Ohio State’s assists and nearly 40 percent of the team’s blocks and steals.

He has that rare trait of the great ones that makes the game look easy. He would be a lock for the No. 1 pick and a ton of fanfare if it wasn’t for T of C alum John Wall. Sure, I watch a lot of college basketball, but Turner is definitely destination TV.

Thursday's highlights of Carmelo vs. LeBron was enough to hype me up about this weekend's game between the Cavs and the Magic.

• NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic, noon, ABC: I’ll admit, I don’t give the NBA my full attention until after the NCAA Tournament, but once I saw last night’s highlights between the Cavs and the Nuggets, it made me wish I’d seen it live. (Click here for Melo’s jumper right in Bron’s face at the 2:11 mark.)

Last night’s victory for the Nuggets stopped the Cavs’ 13-game winning streak and set the table for a great game Saturday. It should be the Cleveland debut of former North Carolina Tar Heel Antawn Jamison and we’ll quickly get to see if the move was worth it. Many speculated the trade was done for two reasons:

1. To prove to LeBron that he should stay in Cleveland after this summer and not run off to the Knicks, the Bulls or the Mavericks, who cleared out a bunch of cap room at the trade deadline.
2. To provide a taller, more athletic power forward to match up with Orlando’s Rashard Lewis.

If you remember back to last year’s NBA playoffs, many felt Cleveland was going to roll to the title. That’s when Orlando nearly swept the Cavs with a 3-point barrage.

And now, we get to see if the move was worth it, right from the beginning. Add in the fact that we should all watch when James is on TV, as well as marvel at Dwight Howard’s mystifying athleticism, it sounds like destination TV to me.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson is helping Team USA try to upset Team Canada Sunday.

• Olympic hockey, USA vs. Canada, 6:40 p.m., NBC: I’ve watched more hockey this season than I have in a long time. Most of it has come from my Christmas gift of NHL 10 for PS3, which is one of the most addictive things anyone could have given me.

With all that said, there hasn’t been a bigger hockey game all season than USA vs. Canada. Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Team USA has about as much chance as winning this as Tiger Woods has with his re-pursuit of Buddhism, but it will be entertaining to watch.

Team Canada is loaded. Sidney Crosby. Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, Chris Pronger. Freaking Marc-Andre Fleury is their backup goaltender.

Meanwhile, Team USA is young. The oldest player on the roster is 36-year-old defenseman Brian Rafalski and 13 players are 25 or younger, including Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, Avalanche forward Paul Stastny and Ducks forward Bobby Ryan. It’s not exactly the star-studded roster from America’s Hat (I don’t mean that, it’s just one of my favorite Canada jokes), but it is loaded with NHL talent.

There is optimism for the Americans, however. After Team USA beat Switzerland 3-1 Tuesday, Canada had to beat the Swiss 3-2 in a shootout Thursday.

Is Team Canada too loaded? We’ll have to tune in to see.

Do you agree with Allen Vaughan? Like it? Hate it? Want to get in touch with Allen? E-mail him at Allen@TAGsgf.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

Oh boy, this is going to be a long one. That’s what happens when real life keeps coming and there’s not enough time in the day.

But, enough with the excuses. I’m going to drop off this monster weekend Thought Notebook as the beginning of what could be a huge Friday of content.

As we head toward the weekend, this is what is bouncing around my head.

Think Nafis Ricks is the answer over Fuehrmeyer? I'm not sure either is the answer.

• The Bears problems begin at the point: It never dawned on me until I was watching the Missouri State-Illinois State game Wednesday on Fox Sports Midwest. Missouri State (17-10, 7-9 MVC) doesn’t have a dangerous enough point guard.

Calm down, all you Nafis Ricks backers, let me explain. Sure, there is plenty of blame to go around from Wednesday’s 76-72 loss to the Redbirds, but, a certain sequence of events turned on a major light bulb for me.

After the Bears built that five-point halftime lead, Illinois State blasted off on a monster run. Much of it came from Dinma Odiakosa’s manhandling of the Bears’ post players, but the real shotgun blasts came from the Redbird guards, who broke down the defense and kicked the ball out to open shooters. Later in the game, those same guards — mainly Lloyd Philips — buried a few 3-pointers. That’s when the light bulb shattered.

Sure, the post play was weak. Overall, the defense was atrocious. But, the main culprit? The MSU point guards are one-dimensional.

Fuehrmeyer has been taken to task by fans for years, especially now as a senior who starts. Now, I’m going to ask you a question you’ve likely asked dozens of times. Why does Fuehrmeyer start? (No, this is not a joke)

No, he can’t score. No, he can’t break down defenses for that Phillips-like drive and kick. He’s not a great shooter. Leadership? Eh, not really. It’s defense. Other point guards rarely break him down one-on-one. Obviously he struggles to do much else on defense because he’s so small, but that’s what he does better than Ricks — perimeter defense.

Actually, until ISU went on that big run, I was going to use this spot in cyberspace to lobby for Ricks to enter the starting lineup. That was, until he started getting roasted by Phillips and Osiris Eldridge. Ricks couldn’t stay in front. Was it because he was going for steals? Possibly, but all of his offensive attributes were being nullified.

And now I’m coming back to you, Ricks backers. Sure, he makes things happen, but it’s rarely for everyone else. It’s mostly driving to the basket and at best, getting fouled or scoring. It’s definitely not to create for his teammates. How inefficient is Ricks on the offensive end? Let’s take a look at some stats:

Per game averages
• Ricks: 15.9 minutes, 54-138 FG (39.1 percent), 5-22 3P (.227), 6.5 points, 2.3 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 62-88 FT (second-most attempts on team, 70.5 percent)
• Fuehrmeyer: 22.6 minutes, 26-65 FG (40.0 percent), 5-16 3P (31.3), 4,1 points, 3.5 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 38-45 FT (84.4)

Either way, it’s not pretty. Would Ricks thrive with more minutes? Possibly, but I’m afraid the answer is that neither are good enough to make the Bears a legit Missouri Valley Conference team. And, as someone said during the Bear Nation live chat: “How much do we miss (Cardell) McFarland?”

Whoa, never thought I’d see that name again. And they might have a point.

Is this what the Bears are working toward during Saturday's BracketBuster against Nevada?

• While we are talking about the Bears, let’s talk about how the BracketBuster is a waste of time for middling mid-majors: Full disclosure, I’m excited about Saturday’s BracketBuster games.

As an alum of Northeastern University’s graduate school, I’m geeked to get a chance to see Louisiana Tech travel to the Weiser Gym-like Matthews Arena in Boston and face the Huskies on TV. A lot of it has to do with NCAA Tournament implications, as well as the obvious question: “When is Northeastern going to be on TV ever?” (That’s probably only preceded with, “What the heck is Northeastern?”)

I digress, but it leads me to my bigger point. Northeastern is playing Lousiana Tech in a game that will either bolster each team’s NCAA chances or aid to increase the ruggedness of each team’s conference. That’s obviously the reason for the BracketBuster, but, what about teams like Missouri State that don’t need the regular-season resume builder to get into the NCAA Tournament? It appears the MVC is already doomed to status as the country’s 10th-best conference.

It’s just a waste of time.

I’m not trying to go all super curmudgeon on you and I understand why each team is given a BracketBuster game. You can’t forecast who is going to emerge as legit contenders, so everyone gets a chance and occasionally one conference can have a collectively great showing. For instance, when the Big 10 beat the ACC in the Big 10-ACC Challenge this year for the first time, shouldn’t we have taken that as an indicator the ACC was going to come down from its elite pedestal? Same thing applies here.

Still, the Bears are scuffling along, having grinded to a halt at 17-10 after a 9-1 start. The 7-9 conference record is troubling, considering how many games MSU has given away in the end. When Nevada comes to town, it’s just another glorified non-conference game in the middle of the conference season. And don’t try to argue that it’s good to break up the monotony of the conference grind. If that was the case, do it earlier in the year. MSU has only two more MVC games, and both are must-wins to avoid the play-in round. Now is not the time for a non-conference game, even if it is being broadcasted on national television.

At best, Saturday’s game is an audition for the NIT, or even the CBI. Is that the worst thing the Bears can do? No, but I’d rather allow the Bears to schedule another non-conference game early in the season, rather than play on in the next-to-last week of the regular season. As good as a job as Missouri State is doing, trying to put together a great atmosphere with one of those “White-outs,” I could argue MSU would benefit more from an open date on the schedule that would give more time to prepare for Drake on Wednesday and for rest.

But, I don’t make the schedule and I’ll be watching the game, conducting another Live Blog for tomorrow’s 2 p.m. tip, which is being broadcast on ESPN2. That’s the best part of this deal for MSU, a nationally televised game. The Bears better take advantage, or it will truly be a waste of time.

• I’m shocked how much I’m enjoying the Olympics: OK, so I’m not watching every event of the Olympics and it’s not destination TV, or even much of a DVR event for me, but I’m enjoying the Olympics much more than I anticipated.

I’d like to blame it on the unintentional comedy of events like the Biathlon, where dudes are cross country skiing with rifles on their back, the way Curling is a much larger version of the Shuffleboard I can play at Finnegan’s Wake or Fox and Hound or the Snowboard Cross, which is the local neighborhood Soap Box Derby with people on snowboards.

I’d even like to blame it the way it’s packaged, with us viewers watching that same biathlon and waiting for the target to be hit or missed in a little circle in the bottom right corner of the screen, like it’s the river card during a poker tournament. Both are guilty pleasures.

I’d also like to admit it’s my undying patriotism, rooting for all things USA and watching the games in an American Flag Snuggie. (Why doesn’t that exist, by the way?) But, that’s not it, either. Ultimately, it comes down to two things: Novelty and dedication.

I’m constantly amazed at how someone can train for events like Skeleton, Moguls or Nordic Combined for what has to be an entire lifetime, just to get chances every four years to prove they’re the best in the world at their zany event.

But, that’s just it. It’s not an every four-year thing for them. It’s just a four-year thing for us.

There are Luge events all over the world where you can get paid, or at least get international glory, while securing sweet endorsements. There is a Federation Internationale de Ski that governs events. And, of course, there are the Winter X Games, which allow minimal crossover to Winter Olympic events.

I’m also very excited about the hockey this year, seeing as how Team USA is very young and big, bad Canada is set up to roll. Those two get together at 6:40 p.m. Sunday.

Still, give me some more Bobsled and Ski Jumping, while you’re at it. It’s all new to me.

This woman, porn star Joslyn James, claims to have been impregnated by Tiger Woods. Twice.

• I think we all know what Tiger Woods is going to say. Nothing: I’m not just saying this because I’m a member of the media, but if Tiger Woods says what we all think he’s going to say today, get ready for some backlash.

If he is truly only inviting friends, colleagues and “reporters he trusts” to whatever he is calling this event, then what’s the point? Just put it on your Web site, like you did for the announcement itself:

Tiger Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future, and he plans to apologize for his behavior.

While Tiger feels that what happened is fundamentally a matter between him and his wife, he also recognizes that he has hurt and let down a lot of other people who were close to him. He also let down his fans. He wants to begin the process of making amends, and that’s what he’s going to discuss.

His remarks will be open to a press pool for live coverage. It is NOT a news conference.

So, what’s the point? Are you trying to take us for fools? I’m not saying he owes anyone an apology, but he’s trying to manipulate the situation. And this isn’t jealousy or media entitlement because real reporters weren’t even invited, but it’s the pretentious process. If he goes in front of some cameras and gives off the appearance that he’s sorry, then everyone is going to forgive him, right? That’s what he’s banking on.

Again, I don’t think he owes anyone an apology, but if he comes off pompous, rather than contrite, today, he could set himself up for even more public scrutiny. And that would complete one of the more amazing Pro Wrestling-like character turns in public persona history.

My favorite angle of today’s “event” is how it’s just like firing an employee. Don’t think that’s an accident, either. Maybe he’s watched Office Space. He’s holding this on Friday, in hopes the sports talk/blog machine will lose conviction over the weekend. Sure, there will still be venom in the tips of their arrows Monday, but it won’t be as pronounced after a few days, right? At least, that’s what he’s hoping for.

Are you going to watch? It’s on ESPN at 10 a.m. He’s treading a very fine line.

Do you agree with Allen Vaughan? Like it? Hate it? Want to get in touch with Allen? E-mail him at Allen@TAGsgf.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

If you were at last month’s Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, it’s likely you saw CBS College Sports cameras sprinkled amongst the local media. Well, the finished product is here — a half-hour show that’s been running on the CBS CS channel and the folks at Springfield Public Schools have a link to the entire show on their Web site.

It’s 26 minutes long, but well worth it. Click here for the link.

Not a whole lot on the Sunday reading update today, but wanted to throw out my favorite stories of the day.

• The LA Times’ Bill Plaschke tells a touching tale about Loyola Marymount. Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Hank Gathers died? Wow.

• The Arizona Republic’s Paola Bolvin puts Kurt Warner’s future in perspective.

• Interesting read from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo on the thought process of Major League Baseball players heading into contract years.

• The New York Times’ Bruce Weber gives us a taste of Willie Mays‘ upcoming biography.

• The Indy Star’s Mike Chappell talks about how Jim Irsay turned the Colts from jokes to the NFL’s model franchise.

Here ar the T-shirts given to the student body to introduce The Cave.

3:52: Leonard forces up tough shot and it hits the side of the backboard. Koch grabs ball and heaves it down the court as time expires. UNI wins 55-54. Questionable coaching down the stretch. Off to the press conference. Should be a good one.

3:51: Creekmore misses shot, gets rebound and misses putback. Probably fouled. Bears ball with 8.1 seconds left. Where’s that go-to guy now?

3:49: Weems lets Ahelegbe get too deep and the layup is good. 5-0 spurt puts UNI up 55-54 with 31.8 left. Timout Bears.

3:48: AF hits one of two FTs. Then Adam Koch scores. Bears 54-53, 1:09 left.

3:44: Jordan Creek cleans up the mess with a putback after a contested Leonard shot. Bears lead 54-50. On other end, Creek then called for intentional foul, giving Ali Farokhmanesh two shots and UNI the ball. Plot thickens with 1:23 left.

3:42: Best offensive possession of the year for Missouri State. Has to be. Bears get two offensive rebounds, both tips out to restart the offense. Leonard continues to play huge, this time taking a dude off the dribble and scoring in traffic. Bears lead 52-50 with 2:35 left. First Bears lead since 33-32 with 15 minutes left in half.

3:40: Sensing a big possession, UNI’s defense keeps MSU out of a desired play. Leonard gets trapped and calls TO. On floor: Mallett, Pickens, Leonard, Creekmore and Weems. Best five by far.

3:38: Pickens is having a huge game. He draws a charge to give the Bears the ball back with 3:54 left. Chuck Booms is freaking out here in the press seating in the corner. He’s put his MSU hat on over his hideous Kentucky hat.

3:35: Five consecutive baskets seems like a monster spurt in this game. Leonard’s 3-pointer ties the game at 50 with 4:05 left. Leonard has 11 in the second half, including three 3-pointers. Big moment for the Bears. Best win in the Cuonzo Martin era is right in front of them.

3:33: Keith Pickens turns it over on a very questionable charge call. It’s followed by a horrible call on the other end. I obviously have no interest in who wins, but this game has been poorly officiated. .

3:31: Former MSU baseballer and current Toronto Blue Jay Shaun Marcum shown on jumbotron. Didn’t he have Tommy John last year?

3:29: Media timeout after Weems misses another 3-pointer. He’s 1-of-5 from the floor and 0-3 from 3-point range. Attendance 9,087.

3:27: Don’t have the offensive rebounding numbers in front of me, but UNI is getting some second chances here in the second half. (excuse my puns). After more BPGP (bad post guy play), O’Rear grabs an offensive rebound and calls TO in the corner. UNI 44-43, 7:40 left. This place is very loud right now.

3:26: Keith Pickens makes JQH explode. After a Weems missed 3, it lobs perfectly off the glass and Pickens skies and dunks with his left hand. Sick. Sick. Sick. That will be in the video later. UNI 44-43 with 8:23 left.

3:24: Eglseder cleans up a mess with a putback, but Leonard is channeling Reggie Miller right now. He hits another catch-and-shoot 3. I’m not sure he looked at the basket until he let it fly. UNI leads 44-41 with 9:31 left.

3:22: Leonard throws Bears a life preserver by draining a 3-pointer. Cuts UNI lead to 42-38 with 10:29 left.

3:21: Sonnen is killing the Bears. He’s scored 8 straight points, drilling another 3. Sorry about the JV crac, Marc. I didn’t mean it. UNI leads 42-35. Danger time for Bears.

3:19: Sonnen looks like a JV player after getting fouled on a 3-pointer. He makes 2-of-3 FTs, stretching UNI lead to 39-35 with 11:4 left.

3:17: Marc Sonnen, who looks young enough to play on Glendale’s JV, buries huge 3 from the right baseline. Gives UNI 37-35 lead, which is followed up by a missed Mallett 3-pointer. Anything more than a one-possession game feels like a huge lead, even with 11:44 left.

3:16: Bears regain lead via Ricks FTs. They followed more ugly post play on a jump hook from O’Rear. Bears up 35-34 with 12:15 left.

3:15: Starting to wonder if either team is going to break 50. Very physical game. Plus, Jehle AND Rhine are on floor at same time.

3:13: Bears play good halfcourt D and are blocking out well. They look like they’ve regained focus and are playing like it’s the biggest game of the year.

3:12: BTW, Syracuse escapes DePaul with a 59-57 win.

3:10: JQH explodes. A Mallett 3-pointer follows a Jehle teardrop. Bears lead 33-32 with 15:30 left. TV timeout couldn’t have come at a better time for UNI following ticky-tack handcheck call.

3:09: Bears look U-G-L-Y without no alibi on offense. Lucky to only be down 32-28 with 16:37 left.

3:06: UNI extends lead to 30-26 after Eglseder and Ahelegbe buckets. Will Creekmore drops in a jump hook in the meantime. Brett says “Big man montage will be forthcoming in post-game video.”

2:55: Stat geekness: MSU shooting 11-of-29 from the floor (37.9 percent). Bears scoring: Mallett 6, Creekmore-Leonard-Rhine 4, Ricks-Weems-Jehle 2. UNI: Eglseder 6, Jake Koch 5, Adam Koch-ali-O’Rear 4, Ahelegbe 2, Sonnen 1.

2:54: Before I forget, to honor Coaches and Cancer, both coaching staffs are wearing white sneakers with their suits. A nice gesture. Turn on a game today and you’ll probably see the same thing. Also, remember to keep Kickapoo girls’ basketball coach Stephanie Phillips in your thoughts.

2:50: Halftime music. In honor of Charlie Hannema’s Lady Gaga reference in the second installment of his Miss America diary, here is the Poker Face video. If you have no idea about Hannema’s Miss America hijinks, read all about it here.

2:47: After Mallett turns it over, Bears play good halfcourt defense, forcing a last-second 3 from the right corner from……Eglseder(!?!?!?). It’s no good and UNI holds a 26-24 halftime lead. Stat geekness to follow.

2:45: Bears force turnover and call timeout with 38.8 seconds left in half. Who’s going to get it? (By the way, after scoring six of the Bears’ first 9, Mallett hasn’t scored since.)

2:43: Four consecutive UNI FTs, plus ill-advised teardrops from Leonard (the Mark Jackson-type shot, not actual tears) give the Panthers a 26-24 lead with 55.7 seconds left in the first half. Timeout UNI.

2:41: “Jordan Creek” Will Creekmore, drops in a jump hook. The smoothness of Jordan mixed with the toughness of Will Creekmore. Bears up 24-22, 2:22 left in half.

2:40: Game is starting to get physical, which isn’t the best thing for MSU. BTW, Eglseder can only play in 4-minute stretches. That’s not 4 minutes off the clock, that’s 4 minutes of real time.

2:38: Leonard ties game after making 1 of 2 FTs. 22-all, 3:35 left.

2:37: Upset alert, DePaul 52, No. 4 Syracuse 46, 6:00 left in game.

2:35: Adam Leonard takes it to the hole on Eglseder, the lumberjack, who just scored on the other end. Leonard heading to the line after this media timeout. UNI 22-21 with 3:35 left in first half.

2:34: Fouls starting to rack up for Bears. Foul on Jehle is No. 8 of half with just under four minutes left. After a missed UNI FT, Ricks buries jumper. Bears up 21-20.

2:33: UNI sinks two FTs to take first lead since 2-0. UNI up 20-19 with 5:25 left in first half.

2:31: Brag on someone and they get two fouls, right? Weems has to sit, but don’t worry, Rhine is back!!!! Club Trillion-aires rejoyce.

2:29: After only scoring four points in the Evansville win, Kyle Weems hits a 17-foot jumper. But, that Jake Koch kid hits a deeeep 3 to make it 19-18 Bears with 6:37 left.

2:26: Media timout. Bears lead 17-15 after UNI redshirt freshman Jake Koch battles and scores after an offensive rebound. 7:50 left in first half. It’s very rowdy in here and Bears are doing a much better job defensively.

2:23: Will Creekmore dunk! OK, maybe not, but he could have, but he doesn’t get up high enough after a beautiful pick-and-roll. After two UNI FTs and a Ryan Jehle O rebound, Bears extend lead back to 17-12, 8:54 left in first half.

2:21: As we wait through another media TO, enjoy this rowdy scene from The Cave.

2:18: Toughness tour continues. Fuehrmeyer find a cutting Rhine, who ignites The Cave with a two-handed jam. JQH has rarely been lounder, but Farokhmanesh answers with a bucket. TV timeout, Bears up 13-8, 11:10 left in first half.

2:15: After a fadeaway jumper and a poor defensive possession, MSU coach Cuonzo Martin brings in Isaiah Rhine, who didn’t play at all in the Evansville game Wednesday. With the shot clock winding down, Rhine buries a 12-footer. Toughness wins every time. Bears up 11-6 12:55 left in half.

2:13: With the Bears stil leading 9-4 at the first media timeout, please enjoy (or grimace) at the awkwardness of the school’s introduction of Growl. While the naming of student section to The Cave, was fresh, this was not.

2:10: What a hot start for the Bears. MSU opens 9-4 lead after a Leonard 3, a three consecutive Mallett buckets, all in the paint. Bears lead 9-4, 14:46 left in first half.

2:07: After ill-advised 3-pointer from Adam Leonard to start things, after a double-team on Big Country-huge Jordan Eglseder (7-foot, 280 pounds), Kwadzo Ahelegbe drains an open 15-footer from the baseline. Good D, but can’t do anything else if you double.

2:02: Starters: UNI,Kerwin Dunham, Jordan Eglseder, Adam Koch, Ali Farokhmanesh, Kwadzo Ahelegbe. MSU, Kyle Weems, Jermaine Mallett, Will Creekmore, Adam Leonard, Justin Fuehrmeyer

1:55: If you didn’t read my piece on Will Creekmore, please do. Again, he’s the key to the entire Bears offense. If he can either provide some post offense, or at least a mirage of some, the rest of this will magically open the rest of the offense. Then it’s up to the defense to get some stops.

1:51: I’m here with TagSGFer Brett Johnston and we are suffering through one of the worst mascot routines ever. With eight minutes until tip, JQH PA czar Rick Jester asked us to give our attention to Boomer. All of a sudden, Boomer, the long time mascot started a dance routine and was joined by some younger looking, light-complected bear with a backwards hat. Apparently his name is Growl. He and Boomer “danced” to a mash-up of many popular dance songs. No Sugar Bears. No chearleaders. Just freaking mascots. Wow. How underwhelmed, and I’m geeked about this game.

1:45: What’s up Bears fans (and Bears haters)? We’re live from JQH Arena for today’s Northern Iowa-Missouri State game, easily the biggest game of the year. Don’t give me any coaching cliches, either. Northern Iowa is ranked No. 25 in the country and is hands-down the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference, with a 9-1 MVC record, two games ahead of Wichita State and four games in front of the 5-5 Bears.

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This is just a reminder to catch the newest way to enhance your Missouri State men’s basketball experience, the TagSGF.com Live Blog.

Sports staffer Allen Vaughan will be on hand at JQH Arena to watch today’s 2 p.m. game and offer up real time analysis, commentary and humor throughout.

• Can’t make the game? Log on back here for today’s 2 p.m. tip.
• Can’t make the game, but going to listen to Art Hain’s broadcast? Use the Live Blog as another way to enhance your MSU experience.
• Going to the game, but have a Web enabled phone? Just pop TagSGF.com into your Web browser and our mobile site will have the goods.

Still not convinced? Check back to other TagSGF.com Live Blogs, like Wednesday’s win over Evansville, our initial MSU Live Blog for last week’s crazy finish against Indiana State, or our trio of epic Tournament of Champions Live Blogs (Day 1,Day 2 and Day 3).

Missouri State junior center Will Creekmore

For everyone who has watched Missouri State’s men’s basketball team this season, the following statement is going to seem like it’s sliding right out the side of my mouth, waiting for some type of jokey drum roll and cymbal crash. So, here it goes:

Will Creekmore is the most important offensive player on the Bears’ roster.

There, I said it. And I can’t believe I believe it.

To begin to wrap your head around this, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Admit it, you think Creekmore is an awful offensive player. I’ve heard them all, and so has he. You think he gives statues personification. You think the only reason he takes so many charges is because he can’t get out of the way of quicker defenders. You don’t think you could slide a piece of paper underneath his shoes when he jumps to dunk. Maybe you didn’t think he could dunk.

But, if you watched Wednesday’s 76-66 victory over Evansville, MSU coach Cuonzo Martin wasn’t just allowing Creekmore time to post up and get the ball, he was running plays for the 6-foot-9 junior from Tulsa, Okla. Running plays. It’s incredible, really, especially for a guy whose average has jumped to 7.5 points per game from 6.1 after his last three games, which look like this, by the way:

• Evansville, 15 points, 5-7 FG, 5-5 FT
• Creighton, 12 points, 5-7 FG, 2-4 FT
• Evansville, 20 points, 7-12 FG, 6-9 FT

Will, keep your head up. You're the Bears' most important offensive player.

So, how can a guy who averages less than eight points per game and currently ranks sixth on the team in field goal attempts (107, off-the-bench Nafis Ricks has 112 in 42 less minutes), be the offensive catalyst? Easy, it’s a perception thing and, frankly, a calculated strategy from Martin.

In the Evansville press conference, Martin admitted he told his team to get the ball to the big guys inside. And with Caleb Patterson playing matador defense and not taking the ball directly to the basket, he essentially set Creekmore up for a post-offense showcase.

“What happens? The defense collapses and the shooters are able to get shots up, or (the post guys) get to the free throw line,” Martin said. “But what you also do, is get a level of confidence from your big guys to play and perform.”

That’s the kicker, confidence. Not to get too philosophical, but if perception is reality, then Creekmore looked like a stud. It’s like any reality TV “star.” If you see them on TV enough, they get on TMZ or Perez Hilton enough and draw paychecks enough club openings, their fame (infamy?) becomes solidified.

If you have a post player that puts pressure — whether or not it’s real — on the defense, then it makes scoring easier for everyone. Especially for guys like Jermaine Mallett, who isn’t comfortable being the man, Kyle Weems, who is yet to develop a top-notch one-on-one game, or Adam Leonard, who can drain jumpers from 30-feet, but isn’t necessarily a guy to take defenders off the dribble.

Even if all Creekmore does is draw a few fouls and/or get a few awkward post moves to fall, everyone else will reap the benefits. After Creekmore’s season-high 20 points, where he was “dealing” like a cross between Hakeem Olajuwon and Danny Moore, it sounds like the Frankenstein transformation is working.

Remember former MSU center Danny Moore. Creekmore is no Moore, but for one night, he looked like him.

“I’m going to try to take it at anyone who’s guarding me, it doesn’t matter who’s guarding me,” Creekmore said. “I’m not guaranteeing I’m going to dominate anybody, but I’m going to go hard at them and as long as I keep getting the ball on the blocks and getting 1-on-1, I’m going to go at them. If they double, I’m going to kick it out and play within myself and not try to do anything dumb.”

When asked about Creekmore’s recent emergence, Mallett alluded to Martin’s reaffirmed post mantra.

“Will always goes hard on defense, so coach always tells us to reward the big man,” said Mallett, who is third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game.

Ah, defense. That’s another reason Creekmore is in this position. While he only averages a third-best 4.1 rebounds per game, he is the team’s best post defender. And that’s where Patterson comes in.

I asked Martin is Wednesday’s deliberate post feeding of Creekmore was a part of a message to Patterson, one that would show what kind of a payoff he’d get for more defensive intensity and a stronger post game (read: non-fadeaway jumpers). Martin laughed, but didn’t bite. While he redirected the question, he still made a statement.

“(Patterson) is a face up type of guy and we need production on the blocks, not jump shots.” Martin said, adding that Ryan Jehle got more minutes because of his defensive intensity. “Will did a good job of posting up deep and getting the ball inside. That’s why he stayed in because he was scoring the ball.”

It’s such a good message, one that rewards defense, rebounding, toughness and teamwork. Whether or not Martin is going to continue to pound the ball inside to Creekmore, or his message was received by Patterson, I think it’s one that could work. And don’t think for a second that Creekmore thinks he’s going to turn into the star of this club, especially with Northern Iowa 7-footer Jordan Eglseder coming to town Saturday.

“I’m not flashy,” said Creekmore, who said he averaged 25 points at Edison High School in Tulsa as a senior. “I’m not going to score a ton of points, or get a lot of dunks, but I’m going to do my best to be productive. I have the capability to score 15-17, but if that’s not what it takes, I’ll do whatever.”

As we’ve discussed before, the Bears are in need of a go-to guy. And while there’s no doubting that guy is not Creekmore, he could help the Bears find one by the time the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament rolls around on March 4. If that happens, as uneven as the Bears have been, they could be capable of making a run to the finals. And just think, maybe Creekmore could get the whole process started.

That’s no joke.

Do you agree with Allen Vaughan? Like it? Hate it? Want to get in touch with him? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

Trey Starks (left) wont be make his Hornet debut until Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Psyche.

For everyone who was waiting for Trey Starks to make his Hillcrest debut on Tuesday, like TagSGF.com reported first last month, it turns out he will have to miss another week, according to Hillcrest High School boys’ basketball coach John Schaefer.

After originally thinking he would be eligible last Tuesday, Schaefer said the school got word the former Glendale star would need five more schools days’ worth of attendance. That kept him out of Tuesday’s victory over Marshfield and will keep him out of this weekend’s Lindbergh Tournament in St. Louis. Schaefer said he would make his debut at Waynesville on Tuesday. It might be a long time until Springfield basketball fans get a chance to see Starks, seeing as how an odd schedule shows the Hornets don’t return for a home game until Feb. 12 against Lebanon.

If you’ve missed any of the Starks storyline, here it is in a nutshell:

Starks is a 5-foot-11 senior guard, who was expected to star at Glendale this season. Filled with an explosive game that stretches to the 3-point line, but the strength to defend larger forwards, Starks was ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester. He withdrew from Glendale and enrolled at Hillcrest, switching from southeast Springfield to the north side. But, it turned out, he was technically living with a relative on the northside.

Starks and Hillcrest filed for a MSHSAA hardship waiver that would allow him to participate during his senior season, despite transferring within the city limits and the Ozark Conference. It was granted and as long as Starks got his grades up, as well as did the required credit recovery, he would be eligible. He did, and is now eligible.

What it does for Hillcrest is invaluable. Hillcrest (11-5) is a good, but flawed team. They rely on Taylor Sade and Dorial Green too much, but if Starks can come in, not miss a beat and improve the team, the Hornets might turn into the area’s best team.

We’ll have more on this as it develops.

When your boss comes after you, do you step up and make plays, or do you just fall in line?

We’ve all had it happen. We’ve been in meetings, catching some heat from upper management in a staff setting or maybe catching a verball beatdown from your direct boss, whether in a small, group setting, or a one-on-one grillfest. Maybe it came out of nowhere. Maybe you knew it was coming. Maybe you let your foot off the gas and started checking Facebook, Twitter, or possibly this Web site. (Thanks, if that’s the case. We’ve got your back. Shirk away.)

Either way, you or your co-workers had to do something to stop it. More sales from your group? Better results? More copy? Something to stop the competition is wiping the floor with your sorry effort, right?

All of those scenarios aren’t that different from what happened to the Missouri State Bears men’s basketball team Tuesday night. In case you missed last night’s 99-92 overtime victory, the Bears built a 52-28 lead with 16 minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation. It was a nice break from a recent stretch of four losses in five games, made possible by getting in early deficits, thanks to corpse-like flat starts. This one should have been an easy coast to the finish, a low stress Missouri Valley game, which are hard to find.

Instead it got tighter. And tighter. Guys who wear Tap-Out and Affliction T-shirts thought the tension was constricting in JQH Arena around 8:45 p.m.

For all those shots Indiana State missed early (8-of-25 first-half shooting), the offense turned into MVC replicas of Craig Hodges, Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller, hitting 11-of-14 3-pointers in the second half, including Harry Marshall’s leaning 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds. (Marshall, gave a MJ-Kobe stationary fist pump, afterward. It was bone-chilling. You can see it in Brett Johnston’s video package from the game.)

The reason I bring up the upper management scenario is because when something goes wrong, someone has to make a change, right? Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s someone in your sales group, one of your co-workers that has brilliant ideas and knows how to navigate his or her way out of the doghouse. Maybe your coworkers know how to coerce high performance out of you. Either way, that’s how stars are made, by reacting to adversity, whether it’s the workplace or the basketball court.

That may be the problem with this year’s Missouri State team. In short, there is no go-to guy.

MSU sophomore Caleb Patterson

Sure, they’ve increased the talent level immensely from last year’s 11-win team, but they’re almost all newcomers — seven new guys, as Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin pointed out in the press conference. On the floor in crunch time, it was a rotation of Jermaine Mallett, Nafis Ricks, Caleb Patterson, Kyle Weems Adam Leonard, Keith Pickens and Justin Fuehrmeyer. Only JF, the lone senior, and Weems were on this team last year. Remember that seniority thing? Weems is just a sophomore and Fuehrmeyer isn’t an offensive creator. When you look at it, this team doesn’t have a seniority hierarchy.

So, it begs the question: When they need a bucket, who do they turn to?

Patterson finished with 17 points and got some touches in the paint, but the points didn’t come in crunch time. Actually, in the game’s final three minutes, all seven points came from Ricks and Mallett, two juco guards. Mallett’s 3-pointer with 2:16 left made the lead 79-69. Three turnovers, plus a host of missed free throws plagued the Bears and let the Sycamores back into it.

Offensively, you can see what Martin is doing. He had Patterson in the post, with Mallett, Leonard, Weems and a fifth player surrounding him, looking for a double-team and a kick out, or for Patterson to go to work on the block. The Bears did finish with six players in double figures, but, no one seemed to want to be that go-to guy. It wasn’t until overtime when Mallett decided to assert himself, scoring eight of his game-high 18 points in overtime, including two dagger-like 3-pointers. Actually, Mallett only had four points until that three-minute mark in regulation. That’s 14 points in eight minutes of play, compared to his four points in the first 36.

Is this the official Jermaine Mallett-is-a-star portrait? Or, will this too, just pass?

He seems reluctant to take over. I don’t know if it’s his personality, or if he still feels like he’s finding his way, if he’s hesitant about disrupting some type of understood team pecking order, despite having 19 games under his belt this season.

When I asked Martin is he was concerned about his team’s lack of a go-to, crunch-time player, he said he wasn’t worried.

“One of the areas I wanted to address from last season was we had to have guys who could make plays,” Martin said. “I don’t think we have a go-to guy. What we have is guys feeling good tonight because you saw what (Patterson) did on the blocks, Will Creekmore did a great job, so we have so many guys who are capable of scoring the basketball, it’s great. I don’t think we have a guy right now. (Leonard) is the one guy who we have that we run plays for coming off screens.

“(Weems) is our leading scorer, but he’s one of those guys that has to pick and choose his spots, he’s not a guy who you run a lot of plays for. … I wouldn’t necessarily say we have a guy, we have guys who are able to make plays and I think in that situation like that, you’re harder to defend. ”

In theory, Martin’s right. But I believe you need guys who are willing to step up and win the game in the end. The only way I say it’s not a problem, is if one emerges naturally. Maybe that’s what Martin meant, because I don’t hardly buy you don’t need a leader in crunch time. Martin doesn’t seem like the type to micromanage, or grip over every aspect of his team, at least not publicly. I do like that and maybe the organic approach will work in the end. Balanced scoring is one thing, but you need someone to be the guy down the stretch. Will someone emerge by the end of this season? By the beginning of next season? Or, was Mallett’s final eight minutes, including a steal and a dunk that sealed it, that moment?

When I asked Mallett is this was his statement, he didn’t exactly shy away from it.

“We tried to throw it into the post, but it wasn’t working, Coach told me to shoot the open shots and be ready, so that’s what I did. So, I guess you could say that (it was my moment),” Mallett said.

Maybe the MVC management has something new to take notice about. Or, maybe not. If not, the rest of the season could be a continuation of this roller coaster ride that almost made Bears fans ill last night.

If you watched the NFL’s wild card weekend, Day 1 on the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions was nearly the exact same thing: Three blowouts and one great game.

Naturally, it was filled with glimpses of greatness, memorable moments and a big crowd (7,165). Let’s get to the rundown. (And if you didn’t check out our live blog, you should read up on Thursday’s and check back later tonight for today’s)

Game 1: Christ the King 77, Hillcrest 39 (Recap is at bottom of link)

This one was over from the beginning. CTK sophomore guard Omar Calhoun made his impression early, knocking down the first shot of this year’s T of C, a 3-pointer. He went on to scored a team-high 16 points and grab seven rebounds. At 6-foot-4, he’s smoooooth. Once he gains some muscle, he’s going to be a load. Good thing for us, we can check his high school progress one more time. He’ll be back at the 2012 T of C. Yes, he’s only a sophomore.

Christ the King sophomore forward Omar Calhoun

If you missed our video Q&A with Calhoun, you can find it here.

As for Hillcrest, it was tough to watch. They were obviously out-talented, which everyone expected, but their ballhandling was exposed by CTK’s guards. Taylor Sade finished with a team-high 16 points and Dorial Green had eight points, eight turnovers, and five rebounds.

The most intriguing thing for me to watch with this game was to see how Green matched up athletically with big-time New York City guys. We are easy to heap praise on the Hillcrest sophomore, oohing and aahing at his advanced athletic ability. But, how did he measure up?

Basketball-wise? Decent. Athleticaly? Every bit as good as you thought.

He tried to do too much with the ball and got himself into trouble, but it had to be a frustrating night.

Game 2: Milton 78, Chaminade 57

For all the hype of Chaminade’s Brad Beal versus Milton’s three juniors in Rivals.com’s top 30, the game was a dud. But, it hit big on certain levels.

Chaminade junior and future Florida Gator Brad Beal ended up with 30, impressive, seeing how it seemed he was doing it 1-on-5.

As Milton exerted its muscle on defense, it looked as if Beal, Rivals.com’s No. 7 rated junior who is heading to Florida, looked as if he was deferring to his teammates. By the time he went into superstar mode, it was too late.

Milton was led by junior forward Julian Royal’s 20 points, while Ohio State-bound Shannon Scott added 14 and Dai-Jon Parker had 10. Even sophomore Evan Nolte had 18 points. In case you missed our video Q&A with Royal, click this link.

But, in a weird way, it was Beal that stole the show, even though it didn’t matter in the scheme of things. The Chaminade junior finished with 30 points, essentially going 1-of-5. It was very impressive, especially considering Chaminade was far from being able to win the game.

In today’s 5 p.m. game against Hillcrest, there’s a possibility the two teams could meet up at state, you know, when Trey Starks comes back. That’s Tuesday, by the way.

Game 3: White Station 87, Sagemont 66

White Station's Joe Jackson showed why he's one of the best HS players in the country.

While White Station’s Joe Jackson got all the hype, it was Andre Hollins who made a few fans.

While Jackson, a future Memphis Tiger, went off for 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Hollins had the demonstrative buckets, adding an emphatic dunk and a first-half buzzer-beating 3-pointer from about 25 feet out. If you missed our video Q&A with Hollins, click this link.

The game itself, wasn’t that interesting, as it took Sagemont 7-footer Fab Melo and swingmen Rod Days and Will Sheehey a while to warm up. After the first quarter, it didn’t feel like the game was ever close.

Game 4: Kickapoo 71, United Faith Christian Academy 67

Here comes the Green Bay Packers-Arizona Cardinals reference. After a trio of blowouts, everyone in the crowd had to be wondering how much Kickapoo would lose by. And how could you blame them? The Chiefs already have five losses — to good teams — and still didn’t have a quality win.

Now they do.

Kickapoo junior Brodie Wingert

The Chiefs came out red-hot and finished the deal, even though UFCA had chances to take the lead late. Brodie Wingert played the best game of his career, finishing with 21 points and 12 huge rebounds against a much-taller UFCA team. This would be the part where we would link to the video we shot of Wingert, but unfortunately, the file was corrupted. Sorry Brodie, we’ll do it again, especially if you beat White Station.

For UFCA, future Florida State Seminole Ian Miller looked like a star, scoring 25 points, but he didn’t get enough help from his supporting cast. Still, it was a great win for Kickapoo and the Tournament of Champions.

Greatest non-sports activity at the T of C: Wilder Elementary’s cup-stacking savants

Newsworthy notes:
• In a matchup of T of C veterans, the all-time Kickapoo-White Station series is 1-1

• We are accumulating a list of our favorite dunks from this year’s tournament. Submit yours to Allen@TagSGF.com.

• As far as the running list of college coaches in attendance, it’s a short one: Northwestern assistant Tavaras Hardy, Illinois assistant Jay Price and an unidentified Penn State coach.

• Media honor roll: ESPN’s Chris Lawlor, Scout.com’s Eric Bossi, TheShiver.com’s Mark Scott, CoachesAid.com’s Fred Davis, make up the national/regional media, so far.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

So, here we are, just a few hours away from the beginning of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. Again, as a way to curb my T of C appetite, here are some more newsworthy notes about the tournament, which starts at 5 p.m. tonight.

• Of course, we’ll start with a feature story I wrote for the Springfield News-Leader, telling the tale of Sagemont (Fla.) 7-footer Fab Melo. The 18-year-old has only been playing basketball since he was 14 and will play in the middle of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, starting next year. Also, if you didn’t see it on our Web site, click here for a link to the Q&A I did with Melo who moved to the US from Brazil at age 16.

• The News-Leader’s Straight Flush Michael Stacy also pens a story on Memphis White Station phenom Joe Jackson. Just look at the photo on the right. Yes, Jackson is barely 6-feet tall.

• Also, the SNL has a small bit on Christ the King’s long history in the T of C.

• And, in summary, the SNL has a small feature on the true studs of the T of C.

• We’ve been providing this linkfest all week, but if you missed yesterday’s edition, click here, and if you missed Tuesday’s edition, click here. If you missed Monday’s Tournament of Champions Party Starter, click here.

• Of course, if you missed our Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide, it’s a must-read. It’s considered an appetizer, but it satisfies like a full meal. Click the link above, if you haven’t already. It gives you everything you need to know about the out-of-town teams, including bios on the studs, plus Web links and videos. If you love it, tell a friend.

• If you didn’t catch the bracket, click here for a copy.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

In an effort to keep my insatiable appetite for Thursday’s unveiling on the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in check, here is our hump day update for T of C week.

• Who was the last, true basketball great to emerge from the St. Louis area? David Lee?  The next might be Chaminade’s Brad Beal. The News-Leader’s Straight Flush Michael Stacy writes about Beal in today’s editions.

• Possibly the most overlooked team in this year’s field, simply because it was last year’s field, Memphis White Station features one of the country’s most dynamic talent. And just like Miller’s Hannah Wilkerson continues to climb the Missouri scoring charts, future Memphis Tiger Joe Jackson is stalking some great names on Memphis and Shelby County’s scoring list: Anfernee Hardaway, Thaddeus Young, Elliot Perry, etc. It’s esteemed company, for sure.

• The Atlanta Journal Constitution released its latest high school hoops rankings and if there was any doubt how revered Milton (Ga.) is, these should send chills up every opponent’s spine.

• We’ve been providing this linkfest all week, but if you missed yesterday’s edition, click here. If you missed Monday’s Tournament of Champions Party Starter, click here.

• Of course, if you missed our Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide, it’s a must-read. It’s considered an appetizer, but it satisfies like a full meal. Click the link above, if you haven’t already. It gives you everything you need to know about the out-of-town teams, including bios on the studs, plus Web links and videos. If you love it, tell a friend.

• If you didn’t catch the bracket, click here for a copy.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

In an effort to keep my insatiable appetite for Thursday’s unveiling on the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in check, here is our Day 2 update for T of C week.

• As expected, UFCA forward and future Mizzou Tiger Kadeem Green will miss the T of C. The News-Leader’s Michael Stacy talks about it here, as well as Kickapoo’s side of things.

• Sure, Christ the King has had Lamar Odom, Khalid Reeves, Omar Cook, Erving Walker, and countless other stars through the years, but CTK coach Joe Arbitello told the NY Post, 6-foot-4 sophmore Omar Calhoun might be the best. Wow. That’s high praise.

Ian Miller

• United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) and future Florida State guard Ian Miller and former NBAer Muggsy Bogues have an interesting story. The Charlotte Observer captures it here.

• Of course, if you missed our Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide, it’s a must-read. It’s considered an appetizer, but it satisfies like a full meal. Click the link above, if you haven’t already. It gives you everything you need to know about the out-of-town teams, including bios on the studs, plus Web links and videos.

• If you missed yesterday’s Tournament of Champions Party Starter, click here. Just like this post, it’s full of links collected on Monday.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

OK, it’s Monday of Bass Pro Tournament of Champions week, which means the hype is really starting to build. As we look forward to Thursday’s first round, I figured I’d start a series of blog posts here, highlighting more T of C coverage.

• Of course, if you missed our Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide, it’s a must-read. It’s considered an appetizer, but it satisfies like a full meal. Click the link above, if you haven’t already. It gives you everything you need to know about the out-of-town teams, including bios on the studs, plus Web links and videos.

• The News-Leader’s Straight Flush Michael Stacy rolls out a T of C feature on a team from Milton, Ga., a squad that features three of the nation’s top 30(!) juniors. It’s a stacked team, no doubt.

• A Tag favorite, KSPR’s Mike Scott, had a sit-down with T of C director and Springfield Public Schools Athletic Director Mark Fisher. Click here for the entire conversation.

• One news bit, United Faith Christian Academy coach Shawn Wiseman told me last night that Mizzou recruit Kadeem Green suffered a leg injury during a practice Thursday and will be out the remainder of the tournament.

• You can also find many things T of C by visiting BassProTofC.com.

• You’ll need to check out our Twitter feed once it becomes T of C time. And if you’re looking for all things Tournament of Champions and Twitter, use the hash tag #TofC. Good looking out to KSPR’s Brad Belote on leading that charge.

• If you’re looking for tickets, call the Missouri State box office at (417)836-7678 or (800)476-7849. Ticket prices are $12 for a reserved seat, $10 for general admission and $7 for students.

• Also, the Tag staffers are going to have a booth at the Tournament of Champions, so be sure to stop by and say hello. Yes, it’s the best time of the year.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

After missing the William Jewell Tournament with a broken left wrist, Glendale High School sophomore Cameron Johnson has been cleared to play in Friday’s battle at Hillcrest, Glendale coach Sean Williamson said to TagSGFer Brett Johnston.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3 sophomore — one of the best, young players in the city — broke his non-shooting wrist during Glendale’s 84-37 victory at School of the Osage on Dec. 22. Without him, the Falcons (7-4), finished in fourth place in their bracket of the William Jewell Tournament, going 1-2.

In his eight games played this season, Johnson is averaging 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The Ozark Conference showdown between Glendale and Hillcrest (8-2, 2-0 OC) will begin with the 6 p.m. JV game, followed by the varsity game.

The Bass Pro Tournament of Champions has delighted local basketball fans for years and has prided itself on challenging us to stretch our imaginations beyond the local basketball scene.

This year — the 26th edition — should be no difference.

Tournament director Mark Fisher released the bracket today and I wanted to get that information to you as soon as possible. While attending the press conference this morning, I tweeted some of the information, which I will expand on later. You’ll need to check back later today to get an Internet-link filled extravaganza of info on the six out-of-are teams, but for now, here is the bracket for the Jan. 14-16 tournament. For more information, you can also check out BassProTofC.com.

If you are looking for the most complete guide to the Tournament of Champions, check out my Ultimate Guide here.

Bass Pro Tournament of Champions
Jan. 14-16
At JQH Arena
First round
Hillcrest vs. Christ the King (N.Y.), 5 p.m.
St. Louis Chaminade vs. Milton (Ga.), 6:30 p.m.
White Station (Tenn.) vs. Sagemont (Fla.), 8 p.m.
Kickapoo vs. United Faith (N.C.), 9:30 p.m.

All second-day and championship games follow same time schedule: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Championship game begins at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Click here for a PDF of the bracket

The Blue and Gold Tournament has captured most of our attention, but here’s some other quick thoughts outside of high school basketball during tournament title night. (Allen is not responsible for these thoughts, unless you disagree. If that’s the case email him – Allen@TAGSGF.com – with complaints.)

* Jermaine Mallett scored 17 points last night to lead Missouri State (11-1) to its first road win since the 2007-08 season – when the Bears had just one – to open Missouri Valley Conference play against Evansville, 74-60. Read Lyndal Scranton’s story for the News-Leader.

With a win, the Chiefs could help keep the My Little Pony Express from the playoffs.

* I’m already stoked for the Chiefs-Broncos match up, here’s why: With a win in Week 17, the Kansas City Chiefs’ year can be saved with a win over Denver to help keep the My Little Pony Express out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams are playing for the rights to the most NFL-ready player I’ve ever seen – Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.

* Didn’t the Bengals win the AFC North? How are none of them Pro Bowlers? While it’s hard to make a case for each one of them directly (Cedric Benson is behind a log-jam at running back and is probably even behind snubbed N.Y. Jet Thomas Jones; Chad Ochocinco deserves a look almost merely for star appeal with numbers narrowly trailing Brandon Marshall).

Ochocinco wrote this on Twitter last night: “Pro Bowl year after year with nothing else to look forward to–this year no pro bowl but a chance at The Lombardi-damit ill take it-WHO DEY”

I’m calling it now. Ocho will be the first No. 1 receiver to score against Jets corner Darelle Revis this year. That match up is on prime time Sunday night.

* Is Matt Holliday really going to end up in St. Louis? With Jason Bay getting finalized with the Mets, there has to be a secret bidder up Scott Boras’ sleeve, right? The Cardinals can’t be completely unopposed.

* It’s LeBron James’ birthday, and he’s only 25. ESPN’s Top 10 was topped with James scoring 29 of 30 points to finish off the Pistons in a playoff game – 25 straight at one point. I still remember where I was when it happened, as if it had changed the course of history – in the corner at the Tipsy Turtle before the TV was no longer used for non-karaoke purposes, freaking out with every bucket and high-fiving former SGFer Kyle Green. Watch Bron-Bron dominate Detroit.

What if Lil' John used that "From the Window to the Wall" money to sponsor one of your university's buildings?

While passively watching last night’s Music City Bowl between Clemson and Kentucky, my wife heard about Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum, the home of the Tigers’ basketball program. We had the following exchange:

Mrs. V: Is that Lil’ Jon as in the rapper?

Allen: Who?

Mrs. V: You know, the rapper? YEEEAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

And that led us to one of the more amazing, yet pertinent discussions. What if rappers started to use their exorbitant amount of money to purchase naming rights to college facilities? And why aren’t they?

We started a running list of potential fits and this is what we’ve come up with so far. Post your combinations below:

• Ol Dirty Bastard school of Geneology.
• Notorious BIG Fitness center
• Paul Wall school of Dentistry
• Lil Wayne school of Chemistry
• Method Man school of Horticulture
• Jay Z school of Business and Dollars
  
• N2Deep school of Hotel and Restaurant Management
  
• Raekwon the Chef Culinary School
  
• NWA school of Efil4zaggin
• Blueprint school of Architecture
• Blackalicious school of Art
  
• Atmosphere school of Meteorolgy
• 2 Live Crew school of Biology
  
• Busdriver and Chamillionaire school of Driver’s Ed
• Envelope Postal School
  
• Lil John school of Yeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh!!!!!
  

If you’re not familiar with how the RecSpecs 15 works, it’s simple. These are Allen Vaughan’s high school basketball rankings, assuming each team will beat the teams ranked below them. No questions asked.

With the holiday tournaments quickly approaching, be sure to check back later this week for Blue and Gold previews, as well as Pink and White and Lady Classic.

Now, on to the rankings:

Boys

1. Nixa (8-0) – Wins over two Ozark Conference schools (Glendale and Waynesville) show Eagles have strong schedule strength, as well as talent.
2. Ozark (6-1) — Tigers aren’t a sexy pick amongst local media. They’re not flashy, but two wins over Kickapoo looks pretty good right about now.
3. Hillcrest (4-0) — With only four games played, Hornets are still trying to find a groove. Victory over Parkview helps the Hill tread water.
4. Branson (7-0) — Always entrenched in an irregular non-conference schedule, Branson’s win over Kickapoo shows B&G seed committee got it right with that No. 2 seed.
5. Joplin (4-1) — Big win over Webb City shows Eagles are knocking off the football rust.
6. Glendale (5-2) — A lopsided loss to Nixa was to be expected, but the young Falcons rebounded with a big win over Central.
7. Strafford (6-0) — Is this too high for the Indians? Perhaps, but this week’s Blue and Gold will tell us a lot about possibly the area’s best sub-Class 4 school.
8. Parkview (5-1) — A close loss at Hillcrest is a nice litmus test for the Vikings.
9. Kickapoo (4-3) — Not only did the Chiefs lose twice last week, but Kickapoo might have lost its best player in Brodie Wingert for at least the B&G, if not longer. Stay tuned.
10. Mt. Vernon (5-1) — The Mtneers are starting to prove they’re more than just the Zack Kleine show.
11. Republic (6-1) — After another win, the Tigers are off to a start well beyond expectations. The B&G is a huge opportunity to prove they are as good as the record.
12. Clever (7-1) — A 75-29 victory over Ash Grove shows how good Clever is. No matter how down AG is, it should never lose to Clever by 40+.
13. Dadeville (5-0) — Easily the top Class 1 school in the Ozarks, the Bearcats are an off-broadway hit. Unfortunately, they’re not in the B&G.
14. Stoutland (7-0) — The Tigers continue to look like they’re a Class 2 heavyweight.
15. Rogersville (4-3) — Struggling to find a groove, the Wildcats can make a good impression at the B&G.

Trying to get in focus: Miller, Bolivar, Waynesville, Greenwood, Seneca, Carthage, Webb City

Girls

1. Nixa (8-0) — Is anyone going to stop the Eagles? Just asking. Is that what the Lady Classic is for?
2. Webb City (9-0) — Webb City is gearing up for what could be one of two meetings with Nixa in the Lady Classic.
3. Kickapoo (2-3) — A huge win over Bishop Miege proves the Lady Chiefs belong in the top three of these rankings. Miege is a powerhouse in the KC area.
4. Glendale (5-2) — Defense continues to be Glendale’s calling card. Once Emily Cline is 100 percent health, watch out. A loss to Rock Bridge doesn’t hurt too bad.
5. Mt. Vernon (5-1) — The Pink and White’s top seed is on a roll. A win over Fair Grove strengthens the resume.
6. Ozark (5-4) — I still have a hard time believing the Tigers can drop below the top six. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ll deal with the consequences.
7. Parkview (5-2) — Don’t ever use injuries as an excuse. The Vikings have nearly used double-digit different combos of starting lineups. And they’re still winning.
8. Branson (6-1) — A slim win over local rival Blue Eye wasn’t as demonstrative as some would have liked, but the Pirates continue to get Ws.
9. Republic (5-1) — The undersized Tigers live and die by the 3-point shot. So far, it’s a reason to live.
10. Sparta (5-0) — Anytime your team can win 94-29 over anyone, you know it’s serious. The Lady Trojans extend the winning streak to 36.
11. Purdy (6-1) — The Lady Eagles might not lose for a while, once they get into conference play.
12. Fair Grove (5-2) — A loss to Conway muddles a little bit of the Eagles’ luster. Is it a sign of things to come?
13. Fordland (5-1) — Well below the radar, the Eagles can make some noise at the Walnut Grove Tournament.
14. Walnut Grove (6-0) — The last time the Tigers were this good, they won the Class 1 championship.
15. West Plains (4-2) — A loss to Poplar Bluff isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it could have helped foreshadow the season. Or did is that exactly what happened?

Trying to get in focus: Hillcrest, Marshfield, Hartville

Got beef with my rankings? Who did I leave out? Who did I overvalue? Email Allen Vaughan at Allen@TagSGF.com and give it to me straight.

If you’re not familiar with how the RecSpecs 15 works, it’s simple. These are my high school basketball rankings, assuming each team will beat the teams ranked below them. No questions asked.

If you missed my boys’ basketball previews, click here for the boys and here for the girls. Also, if you missed the Blue and Gold Tournament seeds, click here.

Now, on to the rankings:

Boys

1. Nixa (6-0) – The Blue Division’s top seed, Nixa is loaded and freshmen Jalen Norman and Austin Ruder might be the team’s best players.
2. Ozark (4-1) — The Tigers flash a team with experience and feel like a team without a star. It’s a dangerous, selfless combination.
3. Hillcrest (1-0) — With a game on tap tonight against Carthage, the Hornets’ Dorial Green is a little gimpy with an injured foot.
4. Branson (6-0) — The Pirates are smoking hot, showing their not just a two-man program. In case you didn’t hear, junior Avery Dingman has skills.
5. Kickapoo (4-1) — With a balanced scoring attack, Kickapoo is a No. 3 B&G seed and seem to be getting better. The Chiefs pasted Carthage (Does everyone play the Tigers?)
6. Glendale (4-1) — The young Falcons played well in a loss Tuesday at Branson. But will the high-flying Falcons be able to keep it up?
7. Joplin (3-1) — The Eagles avenged a loss to Carthage and seem to be morphing from football to basketball players. Watch out.
8. Strafford (5-0) — There are few players — let alone small-school — like Conner Wilson. The junior is red-hot and the Indians are yet to really be challenged.
9. Parkview (4-0) — Is this too high for the unbeaten Vikings? After scoring a ton of points, Parkview beat Sedalia Smith-Cotton 46-44. Was it a hiccup or a reality check?
10. Mt. Vernon (2-1) — The Mountaineers are proving to be more than just the Zack Kleine show. A second-place finish in an Arkansas tournament shows it.
11. Clever (5-1) — I’m not concerned with a 61-59 loss to Brentwood. The Blue Jays aren’t the deepest team, but are still a B&G darling with a high seed.
12. Republic (4-1) — No one wants to admit that Republic is good. Everyone respects former Drury coach and current Tiger coach Gary Stanfield. Will the two come together?
13. Dadeville (4-0) — The Bearcats won the Humansville Tournament. They’re easily the top Class 1 school in the area.
14. Miller (1-1) — A loss to Clever after a deep playoff run is nothing to sneer at. The Cardinals will get it together sooner than later.
15. Stoutland (5-0) — My old friend Lynn Long is now the coach and has a tall and deep team off to a great start.

Trying to get in focus: Bolivar, Rogersville, Waynesville, Greenwood, Seneca, Carthage, Webb City

Girls

1. Nixa (5-0) — A resounding double-digit win over Kickapoo should ould possibly give Nixa the top two spots.
2. Webb City (7-0) — The Cardinals beat Miller in the Joplin Tournament championship. It’s probably not the last tourney they’ll win (including the state tourney).
3. Kickapoo (1-3) — No, the Lady Chiefs’ record isn’t flip-flopped. Still, I’m betting on them with losses to St. Joseph’s and Nixa. They’ll fortify the rotation and turn it around.
4. Glendale (3-1) — Winning in the Bixby Tournament will get things on track, especially considering the Falcons have now beaten Ozark twice.
5. Fair Grove (5-0) — The Eagles won their tournament and seem to be right where we thought they’d be.
6. Ozark (2-3) — Two slim losses to Glendale speaks just as loudly as wins over others.
7. Mt. Vernon (4-1) — The fastest movers in these rankings, the Lady Mtneers are 2-1 against RecSpecs Top 15 teams. Including…
8. Republic (4-1) — The only loss has come at the hands of Mt. Vernon and a game against Central should clear some things up.
9. Branson (5-1) — Losing a top player? Who cares, the Pirates are off to a great start.
10. Sparta (3-0) — Sparta continues to roll. That’s 34 consecutive victories for the Lady Trojans.
11. Miller (2-2) — Already with two tournament championship appearances, the Cardinals might have a better supporting cast than we thought.
12. Purdy (4-1) — A dominating win at Central proves Purdy isn’t just a small-school wonder.
13. Fordland (3-1) — An opening season loss to Sparta is the only blemish thus far.
14. Parkview (3-2) — Even without Lydia Key, the Vikings are keping things close. When/if she comes back, they’ll turn it up a notch.
15. West Plains (3-1) — The Zizzers fell short in the Fair Grove Tournament, but proved they’ll be a force in the Ozark Conference.

Trying to get in focus: Walnut Grove, Hillcrest, Marshfield, Hartville

Also, if you didn’t catch the Blue and Gold Tournament seeds, click here for the News-Leader’s coverage, as well as here for a bracket.

Who could have predicted this as of Dec. 9?

AP Poll
Others receiving votes: Memphis 99, Clemson 96, Vanderbilt 74, Florida State 59, Kansas State 59, Northwestern 48, Miami (FL) 46, Oklahoma State 41, Notre Dame 37, New Mexico 35, Illinois 18, Charlotte 18, Baylor 17, Richmond 17, Louisville 15, St. John’s 14, Missouri State 14, Brigham Young 13, Pittsburgh 11, Dayton 8, Seton Hall 6, California 5, Minnesota 5, North Carolina State 3, Cornell 3, Illinois State 3, Tulsa 3, William & Mary 2, UAB 1, Northern Iowa 1.

College Insider Mid-Major Poll
1. Butler (6-2)
21. Missouri State (7-0)

RPI (KenPom.com)
54. Missouri State (7-0)

The final straw would be finding a way into Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology, right? Calm down, the Bears aren’t quite there, yet.

Yes, Missouri State’s 7-0 start with quality home wins over Auburn and Tulsa has been astonishing, considering the Bears were 11-20 last season and struggled to find ways to win. As I laid out in my five questions piece from the preseason, they’ve answered the talent portion. There’s no doubt the caliber of player has improved.

But are we equipped to answer how good the Bears actually are? The honest answer is somewhere in the middle of a scale from Hyperventilating to Skeptical.

Tonight’s home game against UT-Martin should answer many questions. Sure, the Skyhawks (1-5) have the second-lowest RPI of any team the Bears have faced (268), but UTM has the sixth-toughest non-conference strength of schedule, according to KenPom.com. In comparison, Missouri State has the 281st toughest strength of schedule mark. Both SOS numbers resemble Tiger Woods’ latest reported transgression.

How many Tiger jokes have there been lately? A million? More? Probably.

(Wouldn’t you say when picking up a Perkins Restaurant waitress, Tiger’s strength of schedule would be 281 out of 347? What about hers? Would Tiger Woods be the sixth-toughest athlete to pick up? Who would make up the top five? Tom Brady? Derek Jeter? David Beckham? Dwyane Wade? Roger Federer? Did I just rank who I think are the five best looking male athletes? Is it time to get back to the column?)

All Tiger jokes aside, past MSU teams would potentially trip up here. The Bears are on the brink of a four-game road trip, including games at Saint Louis and Arkansas. Tonight, they’ll most likely be without sophomore Cardell McFarland and emerging star Caleb Patterson. At Tip-Off Club Monday, MSU coach Cuonzo Martin raved about Patterson’s offensive ability, especially on the block. How will they handle the slight adversity? Like cocky worldbeaters, chip-on-their-shoulders gangbusters or somewhere in between?

It leads to other questions, too. With an assumed win tonight, how far can Missouri State take this? The Auburn (5-4) loss is starting to lose its luster, with the Tigers’ RPI slipping to 131. But, the Tulsa (7-1, RPI: 34) win still has traction. Otherwise, the Bears have one road victory over Arkansas-Little Rock (RPI: 216).

As I’ve stated before, I’m a huge believer in learning how to win. You can be talented, but still not understand how to win the game. Somewhere teams have to understand how to pull out that big win late in crunch time, avoid a slow start in a big game, etc. How they handlde perceived creampuffs is a part of the equation, too. Obviously, this is just one more piece of the puzzle, but last year’s Bears team would struggle with this UT-Martin team (a team MSU beat 79-77 last season on the road).

How this year’s team reacts tonight will go a long way. We still may not be able to figure out how good they are, but we’ll be that much closer to figuring it out.

Missouri State (7-0)
Scoring leaders
1. Kyle Weems 15.0 ppg
2. Adam Leonard 13.3
3. Caleb Patterson 9.0

Rebound leaders
1. Weems 5.6 rpg
2. Patterson 5.3
3. Justin Fuehrmeyer 3.7

Assists leaders
1. Fuehrmeyer 4.0 apg
2. Jermaine Mallett 3.6
3. Leonard 2.7

UT-Martin (1-5)
Scoring leaders
1. Benzor Simmons 22.0 ppg
2. Reuben Clayton 14.4
3. Delrico Lane, 10.5

Rebound leaders
1. Simmons 7.8 rpg
2. Lane 4.7
3. M.J. Brown and Dominique Mpondo 4.5

Assists leaders
1. Lane 4.0 apg
2. Brown 2.7
3. Clayton 1.5

Need to get in tough with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him your thoughts at Allen@RecSpecsOnline.com. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the links.

This season can’t get over fast enough.

Of course, that’s just from a gambling perspective. As for the actual games and real fandom, I’m still invested. More than ever, actually.

However, after a tragic 3-8 week — including an 0-for-2 week for yours truly — there are still plenty of NFL games left to choose from and the greatest measure of college football spread picking prowess. Yep, the bowl challenge. (More on that later.)

Because of an exorbitantly busy week and a clashing of schedules, there is no Spring Vegas podcast with Uncle Rob this week, but we did correspond over e-mail and we have our official picks. Hopefully, this is the comeback we’ve been looking for. (We haven’t said that before, have we?)

NFL
Allen
Seattle at Houston (-6) — Finally with the pressure off, Houston goes off at home
Washington at Oakland Under 37 1/2 — Two disgusting offenses against good defenses. Underrama.
Cincinnati (+7) at Minnesota – Minnesota should win, but Cincy is tough on road and tends to cover when an underdog

Uncle Rob
Panthers (+13.5) at New England — Thats too many points at this stage of the season. Carolina’s running game is decent and I think they will try to keep the ball out of Brady’s hands and keep it a low scoring game.
Buffalo at Kansas City Over 37 1/2 — A lot of trends point to the over. K.C. defense is horrific, and that’s a pretty low number
San Diego at Cowboys (-3) — Chargers seem like the pick at first glance, but I just think the Cowboys will step up here.

John Wall was ridiculous last night for Kentucky, much of which could have been forecasted by T of C diehards.

I feel like a ton of hyperbole is being slung around by many media outlets lately, especially today. And with that said, it’s tough for me to not act like ESPN’s current love affair with John Wall when I think of the Missouri State Bears.

(Yes, this is the same John Wall of T of C-Bill Self-odd conversation fame. Does this link jog your memory?)

I didn’t expect Tennessee-Martin to beat the Bears, but I expected something more competitive, rather than a 79-51 groin kick. But that’s just it about this year’s MSU squad. They actually seem to have a killer instinct, some type of esoteric toughness about them. That’s exactly what UTM coach Jason James said, heaping high praise in Missouri State’s direction. Unlike other coachspeak, this sound byte has value, seeing how UTM has already played (and lost to) Missouri and Southern Illinois.

“Missouri’s a little longer and a little more athletic,” James said. “(SIU) is very similar. Both are deep … but I think there’s a toughness level here with (MSU) that it’s going to be hard for them to be beat, especially at home.”

Yesterday, I posed the question, wondering if we can honestly tell how good MSU is. We learned a few things, but honestly, I felt the UTM beatdown opened the door for many tantalizing thoughts. And with that said, let’s unleash a Thought Notebook on the MSU Bears.

• How large is this four-game road stretch? It’s huge.

Skeptics would claim that a team, no matter how good, should win every home game. That might not seem realistic, but it’s a perception. Beginning Saturday, the Bears will have something to prove when traveling to Arkansas State. It’s the first of a four-game stretch away from JQH Arena.

• Dec. 12th: At Arkansas State (3-4, RPI 182)
• Dec. 19nd: At Saint Louis (5-3, 112)
• Dec. 22th: At Arkansas (3-4, 217)
• Dec. 29: MVC opener, at Evansville (4-3, 225)

{Yes, you read that correctly. Both Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock (212) have higher RPIs than Arkansas. Weird.}

I guess we’ll see how tough the Bears are when they have to play schools in larger conferences on the road. It will be a tell-tale sign.

• A first half to remember: It wasn’t just how the Bears played, it was why they came out so fired up. It’s one thing to say you want to get off to a quick start, but it’s another to pull it off.

Consider these numbers from the first half that saw MSU build a 50-27 lead:

• 20-of-37 from the field (54 percent)
• 6-of-10 from 3-point range
• 13 assists to six turnovers
• Seven steals
• Adam Leonard — 13 points, 5-of-5 from floor, 3-of-3 from 3)
• Jermaine Mallett — Scored first five points of half, finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in first half
• UTM was 10-of-25 from the field
• UTM had Five assists, 16 turnovers
• Longest run: 14-0, MSU

Not bad considering MSU had final point totals in the 50s in 13 of the team’s 31 games last season. (And I don’t care how bad a team is, honestly.)

• Recruiting: I asked MSU coach Cuonzo Martin about how he felt the team’s quick start, coupled with road trips to Arkansas and St. Louis would impact recruiting. Of course, mid-majors don’t worry about fancy recruiting services like Rivals.com, ESPNU, etc. Instead, it’s a local reputation battle.

St. Francis Borgia senior Nathan Scheer might be coach Martin's most heralded MSU recruit yet. Will the Bears' success translate into an even better talent base?

Admittedly, he’s more consumed with improving this year’s team. He also brushed off perceptions of how the Bears’ start could influence future recruiting classes.

“When you recruit, you have to put hours in the program. (Last year), we didn’t have a lot of success and we still put together (one of the best) recruting classes in the nation,”Martin said. “You can’t sit back and say, ‘Well, we’re winning, so we can recruit.’ You have to recruit like you’re winning championships. There’s a level of focus, a level of preparation in trying to find the guys you’re trying to help build you program.”

I’m going to have to disagree with Martin, here. I understand he has guys targeted, but you’re telling me if the Bears go to Saint Louis and beat Majerus’ bunch, it won’t help if Martin shows up for a recruiting visit? It’s not a huge issue now, but it’s something to keep in the back of your mind as the Bears continue their hot start.

• Missouri vs. Missouri State: Oh, if there was ever ammo for the MSU fan to make noise and clamor for an invitation to the “Who’s the best D-I basketball team in the state” party, it’s today.

If you didn’t see it, the Tigers lost 50-49 at Oral Roberts last night. No, that’s not a misprint. It leaves the same Tigers team that went to the Elite 8 last year at 5-3, with losses to Richmond, Vanderbilt and the Mr Bobs. I’ve heard it already, and while in my estimation, it doesn’t hold water now, you could make an argument for the Bears>Tigers.

If MSU keeps up its torrid start and parlays it into MVC success, I’ll broach the topic, but for now, I’ll just let it simmer. And let the record show I at least acknowledged the MSU myopians on this one.

• There’s so much to like and only one thing to question: Post offense.

MSU's post offense sure isn't the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon. It's not even Akeem, either.

So many things are coming into focus for this year’s Bears team.

• Jermaine Mallett is quickly becoming the perfect poster child for this team. The 6-foot-3 juco junior scores (7.6 points per game, 13 last night), he rebounds (5.8 leads the team) and he makes good decisions (3.3, leads the team, too).
• Adam Leonard is channeling some type of Blake Ahearn-Kevin Ault presence with his 3-point shooting prowess (50 percent, 23-of-46).
• Of the Bears’ 13 players, 11 are averaging more than 12 minutes per game.

But aside from a slight rebounding advantage (33.9 to 32.4), the post offense is most troubling for me. Sure, the Bears defend well enough to get easy transition buckets, but in a tough, close game, they’re going to need to get easy buckets in the paint. With Caleb Patterson’s inability stay 100 percent healthy and the lack of offensive post skill from Will Creekmore and Isaiah Rhine, it could be the Bears’ kryptonite. Martin acknowledged it in the press conference.

He said he has confidence in all his bigs, but their lack of production is heartburn waiting to happen. Patterson is averaging 8.9 points per game, but much of it isn’t coming from true post moves. Creekmore is averaging 4.4 ppg and Rhine is at 2.7 ppg. Martin also said he is working with 6-4 freshman Keith Pickens and Mallett to post up smaller defenders to create an advantage.

Either way, something needs to be done. The Bears are no Hakeem Olajuwon in the paint. (Nor are they Akeem Olajuwon, before he added the H.)

But the fact remains, MSU is 8-0. A fight toward legitimacy continues with a huge road swing. And as surprised as we all are in the midst of all the unbeaten hubub, Martin was asked in the press conference if he was surprised.

“Yes.”

Now, that’s a thought that resonates.

Need to get in tough with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him your thoughts at Allen@RecSpecsOnline.com. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the links.

OK, there is so much going on this weekend, I can’t possibly contain it all in one post, so let’s try something new.
If you’re not following me on Twitter, click here to do so. If you think you’re not technically savvy enough to try Twitter, just visit my site at Twitter.com/RecSpecsOnline. You can catch my updates, and feel free to contribute.

This is what I’ll be watching today:
• CFB, Big East championship, Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh, 11 a.m., ABC
• CBB, North Carolina at Kentucky, 11:30 a.m., CBS
• CFB, SEC championship, Florida vs. Alabama, 3 p.m., CBS
• CFB, Big 12 championship, Texas vs. Nebraska, 7 p.m., ABC

I’m also paying attention to many high school games thanks to TheScoreboardGuy’s Twitter page and keeping up with the Missouri State-Air Force basketball game through Lyndal Scranton’s Twitter page.

So, ta-da, welcome to Twitter Saturday.

Here is my first tweet, for a sample of what you’re going to get.:

• The Pitt-Cincy game reminds me of why the spread O is so annoying and why Cassville won another state title. Is this a blowout in waiting?
Here’s a recap:

I would like to think good coaching karma would trump Mack brown’s inepitude. Early line: Bama -6 10:44 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Replay sends Texas to bcs title game. #MackBrown<LesMiles 10:34 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

RT Best play McCoy has had all night is a pooch punt. #gerhartforheisman (via @SeanCablinasian) 9:27 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie.

RT Final from JQH Arena – MSU 58, Air Force 48. Kyle Weems 19 points and 7 rebounds. MVC-Mtn. West Challenge tied at 2-2. #sgf @Lscranton 9:11 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

RT Final media time out. 51-42 MSU over Air Force, 3:30 left. #sgf (via @Lscranton) 8:54 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie.

RT Bears aren’t going to hit 70 tonight, but they’re going to be 7-0. MSU leads 51-40 with 5 1/2 minutes left. #sgf (via @Lscranton) 8:42 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Don’t think longhorn fans are tripping? One just texted me and asked when they were going to start converting fourth downs. 8:21 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Zac lee is texas’ best player rite now 8:02 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

If you’re a Texas fan, when do you get nervous? When do you wish you still had Vince Young? 8:00 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Uh oh RT Halftime at JQH Arena – Air Force 28, Mo. St. 27. Falcons outscore Bears 22-10 over final 13:54 of half. #sgf (via @Lscranton) 7:58 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

No one plays more disgusting football than Nebraska. Love it. #huskersoffense 7:41 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

RT @Lscranton Bears 17, Falcons 11. TO w/10:35 left in half. Caleb Patterson to locker room. Appeared to hurt ankle in scramble for reb. 7:27 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie.

#SpringVegas thought: If I was in Vegas (with @WhitlockJason, no doubt), I’d lay Teaser: Nebraska +20 1/2, Neb-Texas Under 53, UConn -1. 7:04 PM Dec 5th from web

Lscranton Decent crowd on hand at JQH. I’m guessing about 8,100. #sgf

RT @WhitlockJason At this point, Tiger’s PR team needs to pay a blk woman to claim an affair with him. I’m sure Star Jones would do it. 6:45 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

RT Cardell McFarland won’t play tonight for Missouri State. A bruised knee keeps him out a 2nd straight game. #sgf (via @Lscranton) 6:40 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

And tebow cries…on cue. 6:40 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Get ready for media to annoint McElroy as the new Tebow. “He’s never lost a start!!!!” 6:16 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Uh-oh, tiger RT http://bit.ly/5RJYH5 (via @Adam_Schefter) 5:22 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

McElroy was Daniel’s understudy in HS. Wonder if Daniel was as stubbly and chubbily back then. 5:19 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Watching Greg McElroy and hearing how he sat behind Chase Daniel makes me wonder why. He’s a stud. 5:15 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie .

Brian Kelly can have any job he wants right now, but I’m not for sure he deserves any of them. Wannstedt went Wannstedt to save the ‘Nati 2:56 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Who is more to blame? Brian Kelly or Tony Pike? 1:49 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Foul John Wall, right? 1:39 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Today will make John wall millions of $$$. Hype machine will be out of control – and can u blame it? So siiick. 12:32 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Notre dame search party should decide if it wants Brian kellys MAC gimmickry to win big game in the cold. Winter is spread kryptonite. 12:30 PM Dec 5th from Tweetie

Forgot how strong Demarcus cousins was. Beast. One of the T of C’s best ever. #sgf

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Of course, Thankgiving means football, and football means Spring Vegas. With all the holiday travel, I wasn’t able to hook up with Uncle Rob — the shrewdest Vegas man I know — to get a full conversation about this weekend’s cornucopia of football games. But, I did get an e-mail with his unmatched Vegas eye and I’m still going to list our picks for the faithful listeners and fighters for football game-picking perfection.

So, happy PicksGiving to everyone out there. (And yes, ignore the thick irony between the comfort of home, family and friends and how Uncle Rob chose nearly all road winners this week…)

College football
Allen
Illinois at Cincinnati (-18 1/2)
Oklahoma State (+10) at Oklahoma
Georgia at Georgia Tech (-7 1/2)

Uncle Rob
Middle Tenn. State (-3 1/2) at UL-Monroe — SunBelt Special!!!!
Tennessee (-3) at Kentucky
Temple (-3) at Ohio
North Carolina (-5 1/2) at NC State
Utah (+7 1/2) at BYU
UCLA at USC (+13)

NFL
Allen
Washington at Philadelphia (-9 1/2)
Oakland (+14) at Dallas
Arizona at Tennessee (-2 1/2)
Three-team teaser: Indy at Houston (+8 1/2), Seattle (+3) at STL and Jacksonville (+9 1/2) at San Francisco

Uncle Rob
Miami (-3) at Buffalo
NY Giants at Denver (+7)
Three-team teaser: Chicago at Minnesota (-4 1/2), Washington at Philadelphia (-3 1/2) and Kansas City at San Diego (-7 1/2)

Last week
Overall: 5-8
College: 3-4
NFL: 2-4

Overall: 61-53-1
College: 37-33
NFL: 24-20-1ve

Yes, I understand the Thanksgiving holiday and its extended weekend are all about family. It’s a time to reflect on what we have been given, what we have earned and what we have to look forward to.

It’s also a time to drown ourselves in live television, DVDs, PlayStation 3 and conversation. Oh yeah, and sports.

Now, I’m the nerdy type that likes to know what’s going on, so I don’t miss anything. Now, I might have to miss something because of “family obligations,” but at least, I know what I’m missing. So, without further ado and for public consumption for the first time outside of my household, is the RecSpecs Thanksgiving watching guide. Enjoy, and pass it on to someone who might be interested.

<strong>Caveat No. 1 —</strong> I understand this isn’t a complete guide and there are far more things that you could watch, but this is what I would take in if I was lame enough to sit down and watch all of it at once. (Dare me?)

<strong>Caveat No. 2 —</strong> Yes, I understand much of this overlaps. We need options, right?

<strong>Caveat No. 3 —</strong> Acronyms. CBB is College Basketball, CFB is College Football, HSFB is High School Football and NFL is (duh). If you can’t figure something out, this probably won’t interest you in the first place.

<strong>Wednesday</strong>
4 p.m. — CBB, Maui Invitational, Teams TBA, ESPN2
6 p.m. — CBB, Preseason NIT, LSU vs. Connecticut, ESPN2
8 p.m. – CBB, Preseason NIT, Arizona State vs. Duke, ESPN2
9 p.m. — CBB, Maui Invitational, Teams TBA, ESPN

<strong>Thanksgiving Thursday</strong>
10:30 a.m. – 1946 World Series, Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals, ESPN Clasic
11 a.m. —  CBB, Old Spice Classic, Creighton vs. Michigan, ESPN2
11:30 a.m. — NFL, Green Bay at Detroit, Fox
1 p.m. — CBB, Old Spice Classic, Xavier vs. Marquette, ESPN2
3:15 p.m. — NFL, Oakland at Dallas, CBS
3:30 p.m. — CBB, Texas A&amp;M vs. Clemson, ESPN2
5:30 p.m. — CBB, Old Spice Classic, Baylor vs. Alabama, ESPN2
7 p.m. — CFB, Texas at Texas A&amp;M, ESPN
7:20 p.m. — NFL, NY Giants at Denver, NFL Network
7:30 p.m. — CBB, 76 Classic, Minnesota vs. Baylor, ESPN2
9:30 p.m. — CBB, 76 Classic, UCLA vs. Portland, ESPN2

<strong>Food Coma Friday</strong>
10 a.m. — CFB, Rutgers at Louisville, ESPN2
11 a.m. — CFB, Illinois at Cincinnati, ABC
11 a.m. — CBB, Old Spice Classic, teams TBA, ESPN
1 p.m. — CBB, 76 Classic, teams TBA, ESPN
1 p.m. — CBB, Preseason NIT, teams TBA, ESPN2
1 p.m. — HSFB, Class 2 championship, Maryville vs. Brentwood, Fox Sports Midwest
2:30 p.m. — CFB, Nebraska at Colorado, ABC
4 p.m. — CBB, Preseason NIT, teams TBA, ESPN
4 p.m. — CBB, 76 Classic, Teams TBA, ESPN2
4:15 p.m. — HSFB, Class 4 championship, Helias vs. Kearney, FSMW
6 p.m. — CFB, Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia, ESPN2
6:30 p.m. — CBB, Old Spice Classic, teams TBA, ESPNU
7:30 p.m. – HSFB, Class 6 championship, Hazelwood Central vs. Blue Springs, FSMW
8:30 p.m. — NBA, Milwaukee vs. Oklahoma City, ESPN
9 p.m. — CFB, Nevada at Boise State, ESPN2

<strong>Saturday</strong>
11 a.m. — CFB, Clemson at South Carolina, ESPN
11 a.m. – CFB, North Carolina at NC State, ESPN2
11 a.m. — CFB, FCS (Division I-AA) championship, Appalachian State vs. South Carolina State, ESPNU
11:30 a.m. — CFB, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, FSMW
2:30 p.m. — CFB, Teams TBA, ABC
2:30 p.m. — CFB, Teams TBA, ESPN
6 p.m. — CFB, Arkansas at LSU, ESPN
7 p.m. – CFB, Teams TBA, ABC
7 p.m. – CFB, Teams TBA, ESPN2
10 p.m. — CFB, UCLA at USC, FSMW
11 p.m. —  NFL, 2002 AFC Championship, Oakland at New England (Tuck Rule Game), ESPN2

DVR alert: It looks like ESPN is re-airing some of its 30 for 30 project over the weekend. If you missed it, the evil 4-letter network took 30 of the best sports moments from the past 30 years and turned them into documentaries. You can get the <a href=”http://30for30.espn.com/schedule.html” target=”_blank”>full schedule here</a>.

Thursday
2 p.m. — King’s Ransom, (Wayne Gretzky to LA Kings)
3 p.m. — Muhammad and Larry (Ali vs. Holmes)
4 p.m. — Without Bias (Len Bias)
5 p.m. — Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?