The Missouri Tigers are having an outstanding season. These guys attack their opponents on the offensive end and defend them on the defensive side. Pressure is the Missouri game.
The Tigers are ranked No.3 nationally (24-2 overall, 11-2 conference) and just pounded Oklahoma State last night. Reason tells you Missouri wasn’t going to lose another game to the Cowboys. Oklahoma State inflicted one of Missouri’s two Big 12 Conference losses earlier in Stillwater.
If first-year coach Frank Haith doesn’t win Coach-of-the-Year honors it will be great oversight. Health has pushed nearly all the right buttons this season and deserves credit for bringing the team together.
Missouri has an opportunity to claim the Big 12 regular season championship. The big game is later this month against Kansas. Both schools are tied for the lead now. The Tigers already have a win over the Jayhawks.
Missouri also figures to be an interesting NCAA team. Armed with quickness and solid shooters, but lacking in height and depth (only seven players receive playing time), will the Tigers put together a serious tournament run or fall victim to their vices. You figure a tall, solid rebounding team might send Missouri to the NCAA sidelines.
But don’t count this gritty team out. The Tigers seem to find a way to get victories and they hope that march lasts all the way into April.
Showing posts with label Frank Haith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Haith. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday, April 7, 2011
More Coaching Talk
If you think the folks at NC State were surprised with their basketball hire, what about the fans at Missouri?
Missouri named former University of Miami coach Frank Haith as its new coach this week. And the initial reaction was far from favorable
To be blunt, schools weren’t exactly knocking down the door to hire Haith. He complied a 129-101 record in seven seasons at Miami, but only a 43-69 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Canes went to just one NCAA tournament, but four NIT affairs.
No doubt Haith jumped at the Missouri opportunity. Rumors said he was on the hot seat in Florida. So, apparently Missouri gave him a huge break.
The jury is still out whether Haith can coach. Some say he was hindered in Miami by the school’s lack of support for the basketball program. Some say he did more with less. He comes to Missouri with more resources and more support.
He battled the likes of Duke and North Carolina in the ACC, but the Big 12 Conference has top talent too. Texas, Kansas and Kansas State will make life interesting for the new Missouri coach. Word has it Haith is a strong recruiter and he will need those skills in his new conference.
Missouri tried to make a splash hire in courting Purdue’s Matt Painter. In these first few months, Haith will need his public relations skills as much as his coaching ones. He must prove that splash doesn’t necessarily translate into success and there are different paths to the victory column
Missouri named former University of Miami coach Frank Haith as its new coach this week. And the initial reaction was far from favorable
To be blunt, schools weren’t exactly knocking down the door to hire Haith. He complied a 129-101 record in seven seasons at Miami, but only a 43-69 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Canes went to just one NCAA tournament, but four NIT affairs.
No doubt Haith jumped at the Missouri opportunity. Rumors said he was on the hot seat in Florida. So, apparently Missouri gave him a huge break.
The jury is still out whether Haith can coach. Some say he was hindered in Miami by the school’s lack of support for the basketball program. Some say he did more with less. He comes to Missouri with more resources and more support.
He battled the likes of Duke and North Carolina in the ACC, but the Big 12 Conference has top talent too. Texas, Kansas and Kansas State will make life interesting for the new Missouri coach. Word has it Haith is a strong recruiter and he will need those skills in his new conference.
Missouri tried to make a splash hire in courting Purdue’s Matt Painter. In these first few months, Haith will need his public relations skills as much as his coaching ones. He must prove that splash doesn’t necessarily translate into success and there are different paths to the victory column
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