Yeah but, there is still Duke and UNC. The media loves them and for MU to get a #1 seed they need to practically win out. Also they have to worry about KU leapfrogging them, especially if they win against MU at AFH.

Re: Next year for Mizzou

Bringing back a core of Flip Pressey, Mike Dixon and Laurence Bowers gives plenty of reason for optimism. Pressey and Dixon have been possibly the most IMPORTANT players on this team (can't run a pick-and-roll offense without great point play).

Of the incoming players, there are enough bodies that I think Missouri will find 4-5 capable players to fill out the rotation.

On the wing, Earnest Ross, Keion Bell, Jabari Brown and Negus Webster-Chan is a tremendous start. Bell and Ross are proven D-1 players (though as the focal point of the offense) who will be playing with great talent for the first time in their careers. Both are tremendous athletes who have all-around skill sets. Neither is a lights-out shooter from distance, but both are capable.

Brown is a bit of a wild card. He didn't stick long enough at Oregon to show anything at all, but he's a tremendous athlete with a big-time jump shot. His ability to hit from distance could earn him a lot of PT.

Webster-Chan is probably my favorite recruit from the incoming class. 6-6, good athlete, good ball handler, good teammate. The backcourt will be crowded, but he'll see some PT (and potentially a lot if they play small a lot).

I'm confident they'll find at least two guys out that group to fill out the rotation on a consistent basis, and probably three.

Inside is a little different situation. You can be reasonably sure Bowers is good for 12/6 (possibly a little more or a little less). Unlike Ratliffe, he really can't play the 5 and match up against most big men on the block. He will be GREAT on the pick and roll, in my opinion, though.

Like at the wing, you're looking at several different guys who can potentially give you minutes here.

Tony Criswell, the JUCO transfer, is the most likely candidate. Wouldn't need to score much if he can defend and board. Also in the mix is Danny Feldman, who apparently has had a nice season on the practice team. Feldman is a face-up shooter with some length. If he can hold his own defensively, he'll get decent PT.

Then there are two freshman... Ryan Rosburg looks like he should be able to provide some solid depth minutes from the start. He's big, he's already fairly physically advanced, and he's a consistent finisher at the rim. Stefan Jankovic... well, if NWC is my favorite recruit coming in, Jankovic is a close second. 6-11, handles the ball well, very good shooter, and is a pretty good athlete. Jankovic is SAF (skinny as...) and probably will contribute more down the road, but he's an intriguing matchup problem.

Again, I think they'll find at least two guys from that group of four to at least give them solid minutes.

The star power already is in place (Pressey, Dixon, Bowers). I think the odds are good that at least one of the 3 wing transfers is a star (Ross or Brown, IMO), too. The rest just needs to be solid depth.

I don't think they'll be a top 5 team (though I won't rule it out), but it will be a top 20 team that makes the tournament and makes some noise in the SEC (2-3 finish) and the NCAA tournament (pushes for Sweet 16 run).

And as I say all that... it is still possible Devonta Pollard picks Mizzou. If he does, that's a lot of length, athleticism and defense to put on the floor (my mind shudders at the thought of a Pressey/Bell/Ross/Pollard/Bowers lineup - would be able to play in stretches and just overwhelm teams with speed and athleticism).

Duke is prime for a few more losses. They should have been beaten this last week at home by NC state. They also still have UNC at home.

UNC is somewhat of an enigma. They are probably the most talented team in the nation from top to bottom, but they seem to lack something mentally.

I think there is a good chance that KU and MU end up with 1 seeds.

Traditionally, the Big 12 is a stronger basketball conference than the SEC, so Mizzou should fare pretty well. Top two or three, and with the constant threat of Cal having to vacate a season of wins, you may very well win a conference regular season title there.

(P.S. I'm not trying to troll... Kentucky is the bb tradition there, Florida has had some good fortune, but I think you'll compete with the top of that conference as you have in the Midwest.)

So you and Messier didn't take time to read the article by Burwell that I linked earlier in the thread.....you just came in here to troll?

Did you get a chance to read the article I linked in here that Burwell wrote about the 4 that are transfers that practice as the scout squad? It touches base on those guys...

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colum...0661b16f4.html

MU will be fine in the SEC.

UK is always going to be a beastly squad, but the rest of the conference is pretty meh.

Should be an annual contender for the top three spots.

I just glanced at their rivals board (http://rivals.yahoo.com/missouri/bas...12/missouri-22) to see what they have coming in.

And no I didn't read your article...

Sorry to hurt your feelings.

Good call on the DGB ;)

Didn't hurt my feelings...just proved that you were uninformed and pissing in the wind.

OK.

Neat.

Is this an accurate rundown of how much eligibility our non-Freshmen will have after this season?

Bowers: 1 year

Dixon: 1 year

Keion Bell: 1 year

Phil Pressey: 2 years

Earnest Ross: 2 years

Tony Criswell: 2 years

Jabari Brown: 2.5 years (eligible starting second semester of 2012)

You forgot Phil Pressey, who has two years remaining.

I think I "cut" him and forgot to paste him when putting them in order. Thanks. Are the rest accurate?

That, and Danny Feldman (who will have three years left).

Haith really has done a pretty amazing job dealing with complete lack of class balance he inherited.