Stories for Missouri

• Missouri could see $10 million windfall by joining Big Ten
  posted on January 15, 2010 - 09:42:51 am
  
  
  Christopher Tritto, St. Louis Business Journal

  ST. LOUIS—University of Missouri officials have about 10 million reasons to make the leap to the Big Ten Conference should they be invited.

  
  
  
• Missouri could see $10 million windfall by joining Big Ten
  posted on January 15, 2010 - 09:42:51 am
  
  
  Christopher Tritto, St. Louis Business Journal

  ST. LOUIS—University of Missouri officials have about 10 million reasons to make the leap to the Big Ten Conference should they be invited.

  
  
  
• Missouri steams past Colorado
  posted on February 06, 2010 - 03:30:19 pm
  
  

  BOULDER, Colo. -- Marcus Denmon scored a career-high 22 points, Kim English had 21 points and Missouri routed Colorado 84-66 on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Texas A&M knocks off Missouri 77-74
  posted on February 03, 2010 - 08:40:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo.

  
  
  
• Missouri whips Oklahoma State 95-80
  posted on January 30, 2010 - 01:25:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo.

  
  
  
• Aldrich powers Jayhawks to 84-65 win over Missouri
  posted on January 25, 2010 - 08:25:02 pm
  
  

  LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Cole Aldrich had 12 points, 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots, helping No. 2 Kansas run over rival Missouri 84-65 Monday night.

  
  
  
• Missouri-Kansas Preview
  posted on January 24, 2010 - 02:10:02 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  Marcus Morris might not have garnered as many accolades as a pair of teammates or received the hype of freshman Xavier Henry, but he's helped Kansas get off to another strong start in Big 12 play.<

  
  
  
• Draft Dish: Tebow must prove he can play in an NFL offense
  posted on January 24, 2010 - 07:09:35 pm
  
  

  MOBILE, Ala.--Nearly every NFL scout and personnel man, and many coaches, arrived in Mobile on Sunday, preparing to evaluate the top senior prospects up close for the 2010 draft.

  
  
  
• Paul helps lead Missouri past Nebraska 70-53
  posted on January 23, 2010 - 05:20:21 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Reserve Miguel Paul scored a career-best 15 points with 10 coming during a 15-1 second-half run that helped Missouri put away Nebraska 70-53 on Saturday night.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Colorado no longer a Big 12 pushover
  posted on January 19, 2010 - 12:59:04 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News college basketball expert Mike DeCourcy ranks the BCS conferences—an
  
  
  
• Oklahoma ends Missouri's 9-game win streak 66-61
  posted on January 16, 2010 - 12:25:02 pm
  
  

  NORMAN, Okla.

  
  
  
• Missouri hangs on to top Texas Tech 94-89 in OT
  posted on January 13, 2010 - 09:00:29 pm
  
  

  LUBBOCK, Texas -- Marcus Denmon and Kim English scored 20 points each to lead Missouri to a 94-89 win over Texas Tech in overtime Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Missouri uses D to bump off No. 11 K-State 74-68
  posted on January 09, 2010 - 02:05:04 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Marcus Denmon scored nine of his 14 points in the final six minutes and Zaire Taylor hit a big 3-pointer late, lifting Missouri to a gritty 74-68 win over No.

  
  
  
• Kansas St.-Missouri Preview
  posted on January 08, 2010 - 01:00:09 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  Riding one of the best starts in school history, Kansas State coach Frank Martin feels his team is ready for a rugged Big 12 schedule.

  
  
  
• Late run lifts Missouri over Savannah State 74-45
  posted on January 06, 2010 - 07:15:16 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri used a 14-0 run over 6:06 in the second half to offset an abysmal opening half and pick up its seventh straight win, beating Savannah State 74-45 on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Missouri beats Georgia 89-61
  posted on January 02, 2010 - 03:40:18 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Laurence Bowers scored a career-high 23 points, including 17 in the first half, to lead Missouri to a 89-61 win over Georgia on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Dobbs leads Navy to 35-13 win over Missouri
  posted on December 31, 2009 - 04:10:02 pm
  
  

  HOUSTON -- Ricky Dobbs ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns and Navy manhandled Missouri with its triple-option offense in a 35-13 win over the Tigers in the Texas Bowl on Thursday.

  
  
  
• After slow start Missouri defeats UMKC 91-57
  posted on December 30, 2009 - 07:30:13 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Laurence Bowers scored 17 points and Zaire Taylor added 10 to lift Missouri out of an early first-half funk in a 91-57 win over Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Missouri braces for Navy's triple option
  posted on December 30, 2009 - 02:30:08 pm
  
  

  HOUSTON -- The Missouri Tigers prepared for Navy's triple-option by tripling the number of tackles in practice.

  
  
  
• NFL prospects have much to prove on New Year's Eve
  posted on December 30, 2009 - 12:51:30 pm
  
  

  Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts take a look at top draft prospects in Thursday's five bowl games:

  
  
  
• Conference Call: James the anchor for Longhorns in Big 12
  posted on December 28, 2009 - 11:21:48 am
  
  

  Conf.

  
  
  
• 3-pointers carry Missouri past Austin Peay, 94-79
  posted on December 27, 2009 - 02:30:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kim English scored 23 points and Marcus Denmon tied a career-high with 17 points as Missouri relied on a barrage of 3-pointers to beat Austin Peay 94-79 on Sunday.

  
  
  
• 3-pointers carry Missouri past Austin Peay, 94-79
  posted on December 27, 2009 - 03:05:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kim English scored 23 points and Marcus Denmon tied a career-high with 17 points as Missouri relied on a barrage of 3-pointers to beat Austin Peay 94-79 on Sunday.

  
  
  
• Missouri sets the tone, reverses Braggin' Rights trend
  posted on December 23, 2009 - 10:14:53 pm
  
  

  ST.

  
  
  
• Missouri ends 9-game skid vs. Illinois, wins 81-68
  posted on December 23, 2009 - 08:55:23 pm
  
  

  ST.

  
  
  
• 3-Pointers: Tough schedule complicates Heels' quest for identity
  posted on December 21, 2009 - 12:04:33 pm
  
  

  Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy analyzes what Monday's buzz means to college basketball.

  
  
  
• Missouri whips Arkansas-Pine Bluff 88-70
  posted on December 19, 2009 - 07:25:10 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo.

  
  
  
• Navy-Missouri Preview
  posted on December 17, 2009 - 09:00:02 am
  
  
  STATS Senior Writer

  A potent passing game has helped Missouri to its fifth consecutive bowl game. The nation's fourth-best rushing offense has guided Navy to its most victories in three seasons.

  
  
  
• Sporting News All-Big 12 first team
  posted on December 16, 2009 - 11:00:00 pm
  
  
  Sporting News

  Offense

  QB  Colt McCoy, Texas
  RB  Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
  RB  Keith Toston, Oklahoma State
  WR  Jordan Shipley, Texas

  
  
  
• Sporting News All-Big 12 freshman team
  posted on December 15, 2009 - 09:37:04 pm
  
  
  Sporting News

  Offense

  QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma
  RB Christine Michael, Texas A&M
  RB Tre' Newton, Texas
  WR Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M

  
  
  
• Missouri routs Fairleigh Dickinson 87-36
  posted on December 12, 2009 - 07:20:04 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kim English had a game-high 20 points to lead Missouri past Fairleigh Dickinson 87-36 Saturday night.

  
  
  
• Oral Roberts edges Missouri, 60-59
  posted on December 09, 2009 - 07:25:02 pm
  
  

  TULSA, Okla. -- Michael Craion's layup with nine-tenths of a second left and interception of the ensuing inbounds pass gave Oral Roberts a 60-59 victory over Missouri on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Texas Tech's unbeaten record gaining validity
  posted on December 07, 2009 - 04:39:07 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy ranks the BCS conferences—and teams within eac
  
  
  
• Missouri runs away from Oregon 106-69
  posted on December 05, 2009 - 04:35:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo.

  
  
  
• Ogilvy scores 25, Vandy edges Missouri 89-83
  posted on December 02, 2009 - 09:05:02 pm
  
  

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A.J.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Top recruits can’t save Oklahoma
  posted on November 30, 2009 - 03:20:58 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy ranks the top six college basketball conferences -- and the
  
  
  
• Week 13 postgame, the players: Gerhart punches his trophy ticket
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 08:11:08 pm
  
  
  

  Tree-huggers can't get enough of Toby Gerhart; the Irish needed a saw to stop him.

  Sporting News' Derek Samson covers the best and worst performances of Week 13 in college football.

   

  Game balls

  1. Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB. Gerhart likely punched his ticket to New York for the Heisman ceremony with another monster night: 205 rushing yards and three scores, an 18-yard touchdown pass and the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds left to beat Notre Dame 45-38.
  
  2. Riley Skinner, Wake Forest QB. Skinner's college career ended in fitting fashion. He was the catalyst in Wake Forest turning around its miserable program (the Deacons returned to gloomy days this year, however). Skinner passed for a career-high 372 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to help Wake Forest defeat Duke 45-34. He was 28-of-38 passing and did not throw an interception.
   
  3. Danario Alexander, Missouri WR. Alexander's November was remarkable, as he added 15 catches and 233 receiving yards in Saturday's win over Kansas. That gives Alexander 49 receptions for 820 yards and five TDs this month. And to think Alexander didn't even put up the best receiving numbers in Saturday's game. KU's Dezmon Briscoe caught 14 passes for 242 yards.
   
  4. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech RB. Williams rushed for 182 yards and four touchdowns in likely sending Virginia coach Al Groh to the unemployment line (or a second career as a poet).
   
  5. Frank Warren, Grambling State RB. Dipping into the I-AA ranks, Warren rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns to help Grambling State beat Southern 31-13 in the 36th Bayou Classic in the Louisiana Superdome.
   
  6. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP QB. Vittatoe threw for 517 yards and five TDs in the mauling of Marshall.
   

  Heisman Watch

  Sporting News' Matt Hayes sizes up the Heisman Trophy race after Week 13.

  QB Colt McCoy, Sr., Texas: Forget about Big 12 defenses; he is the Texas offense, and the reason Texas is unbeaten.

  QB Tim Tebow, Sr., Florida: Numbers aren't as impressive as others, but weren't last season, either -- when he should have won it then, too.

  RB Mark Ingram, Soph., Alabama: His struggles against Auburn opened the race again.

  RB Toby Gerhart, Sr., Stanford: The best indicator of Gerhart's dominating season: Everyone knows he's running -- and can't stop him.

  DT Ndamukong Suh, Sr., Nebraska: No one impacts the game on defense like Suh, who commands double and triple teams.

  What's next: It's championship weekend, and all the undecided voters will be glued to the SEC and Big 12 championship games. Four of the above five players will be on display in those two games.

  Closing in: He missed three games and most of another, yet Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike might find a way to New York City with a big game in the de facto Big East championship game next week against Pittsburgh.

  Stat of the day

  102-of-155, 1,222 passing yards, 10 TDs: Kansas QB Todd Reesing's combined statistics in his three games against Missouri. Reesing was 37-of-55 passes for 498 yards in Saturday's loss. He also was tackled for two critical safeties in the series, one in 2007 and one on Saturday.
   

  Play of the day

  Ole Miss WR Shay Hodge stretched around Mississippi State DB Marcus Washington as he was falling to the ground, tipped the ball over Washington and then caught it on his back in the end zone. Hodge became the first receiver at Ole Miss with 1,000 yards in a season (1,023).
   

  Making history

  • Clemson's C.J. Spiller set an NCAA record with his seventh career kick return for a touchdown. Spiller was stopped on the 25-yard line on the first kick Saturday, but South Carolina was called for off sides. He took the second kick back for the score. The return also moved Spiller past 7,000 all-purpose yards, the fifth player in NCAA history with that many.
   
  • Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis passed for 387 yards and became the 60th player in Division I-A history to pass for 10,000 career yards.
   
  

  Anthony Dixon scrambles Ole Miss, letting Mississippi State order eggs over easy.

  • Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon rushed for 133 yards in a 41-27 win over No. 20 Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. Dixon has 1,390 yards in 11 games, breaking James Johnson's school record by seven yards.
   

  Nobody's perfect

  Steve Aponavicius kicked four field goals in Boston College's win, but he'll remember the 31-yarder he missed. Aponavicius made 37 consecutive conversions and was 12-for-12 on field goal tries before the third-quarter miss. "I was just so mad. It felt like losing a no-hitter in the ninth inning," he said. "Just nothing you can do about it."
   

  OU's MASH unit

  A season riddled with injuries continued for the Sooners, who played without LT Trent Williams. His absence left the Sooners with one of their regular starters on the line, but it didn't seem to matter as they made rival Oklahoma State look like a Pop Warner team.
   

  Punter-turned-QB

  Washington State went through three quarterbacks in two quarters of the Apple Cup, winding up with a backup punter calling the shots. Starter Kevin Lopina left the game against Washington with an apparent shoulder injury after he was intercepted on his seventh pass. Marshall Lobbestael entered. Nine passes later, he tried to run over Washington's Jason Wells on a downfield scramble. He stumbled trying to get up and was helped to the bench by two trainers.
   
  Lopina re-entered, but then was driven hard into the turf by UW's Cameron Elisara. He landed on his shoulder and was eventually carted off the field. With freshman Jeff Tuel's right knee still sprained, redshirt sophomore Dan Wagner finished the half. He's listed as the backup punter. Lobbestael returned in the second half.
   
  Mercifully, the season has ended for the Cougars (1-11).
   

  Quotes of the day

  "I'm going to look back on this and be very proud that I made this decision (to play football)." — Syracuse QB Greg Paulus, the former Duke point guard who led the Orange to a 4-8 record.
   
  "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. It felt really good to send those guys home." -- BYU QB Max Hall, who threw a touchdown pass in overtime to beat Utah 26-23.
   
  This story appears in Nov. 29's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
   
  Derek Samson is a senior editor for Sporting News. Email him at dsamson@sportingnews.com.
  
  
  
• Last-second field goal gives Tigers win over KU
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 04:45:02 pm
  
  

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri got a late safety and Grant Ressel hit a 27-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Tigers a 41-39 win over Kansas on Saturday in another wild Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.

  These rivals put on a show in last year and somehow topped it, trading big plays, scores and momentum seemingly with every snap.

  Missouri (8-4, 4-4) had 553 total yards, but needed a safety with 2:39 left and Ressel's fourth field goal of the game to beat its biggest rival and potentially end coach Mark Mangino's eight-year stint at Kansas (5-7, 1-7).

  Danario Alexander caught 15 passes for 233 yards, the third time he's eclipsed 200 yards in four games, and Derrick Washington ran for 111 yards and two scores for the Tigers.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• What We Learned: Behind BCS big three, things are shaking
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 10:20:17 pm
  
  
  

  Andy Dalton is front and center for the Horned Frogs' offense. A perfect 12-0 season has TCU in its first BCS bowl game.
  

  Out Stanford way, Toby Gerhart is the people's Heisman choice.

  The next-to-last set of BCS standings come out Sunday, and the top will feature no changes. Florida-Alabama-Texas remains the refrain of the 2009 season.
   
  But Saturday's action wasn't without significance. The games shook up parts of those BCS rankings, put coaches' jobs further in jeopardy and identified two deserving Heisman Trophy finalists.
   
  Here's a look at the key results, and what they meant: 
   
  Florida 37, Florida State 10
  Helps: Tim Tebow's Heisman hopes. He accounted for five touchdowns in his Swamp swan song and set up No. 1 Florida versus No. 2 Alabama next week for the SEC championship.
  Hurts: Bobby Bowden's future: Whipped by Florida again, the legendary FSU coach said he wants to return for season No. 35 at Florida State but, "I want to go home and do some soul searching."
   
  Stanford 45, Notre Dame 38
  Helps: Toby Gerhart. The bruising back dominated Notre Dame's defense with 205 rushing yards and touchdowns Nos. 24, 25 and 26. "This is the guy," Harbaugh said. "He deserves the Heisman Trophy."
  Hurts: ND pride. After a winless November, the 6-6 Irish are bound for another buzz-less bowl game. Oh, and that whole Charlie Weis debacle.
   
  TCU 51, New Mexico 10
  Helps: Gary Patterson. The TCU coach should emerge as a candidate for the probable opening at Notre Dame. Meanwhile, he'll prep his unbeaten team for its first BCS bowl trip. "We still have one more left," linebacker Daryl Washington told reporters. "It's been a great year so far."
  

  For Mark Mangino and other embattled coaches, the fat is in the fire.

  Hurts: Boise State. TCU finishing undefeated means Boise State's inclusion in the BCS will be in danger if certain scenarios play out next week.
   
  Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 0
  Helps: Boise State. The Cowboys' loss bumps them from BCS at-large contention, making Boise a more viable Orange, Sugar or Fiesta Bowl candidate.
  Hurts: The Big 12. If Texas takes out Nebraska next weekend, only one conference team will reach a BCS bowl. And that will cost the conference $4.5 million in postseason money.
   
  Missouri 41, Kansas 39
  Helps: Who cares? Kansas won't make a bowl, and Mizzou won three straight to take second in the Big 12 North.
  Hurts: Mark Mangino's mojo. The KU coach's rough two weeks got worse Saturday when his questionable-at-best play-calling led to a late Mizzou safety and eventual game-winning field goal.
   
  This story appears in Nov. 29's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
   
  Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.
  
  
  
• Week 13 postgame, the teams: Coaches join the employment line
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 06:23:32 pm
  
  
  

  Steve Kragthorpe: He's out at Louisville.

  Sporting News' Derek Samson covers the best and worst performances of Week 13 in college football.
   

  You're out!

  Add Louisville and Akron to the list of Division I-A schools searching for coaches. Louisville fired Steve Kragthorpe after finishing the season at 4-8.
   
  "I felt we needed to go in another direction and get this program back on the track," Cardinals athletic director Tom Jurich said Saturday afternoon.
   
  Kragthorpe went 15-21 in three seasons after replacing Bobby Petrino in January 2007. He had two years remaining on a contract that paid him about $1.1 annually. Jurich said Kragthorpe will receive a $2.2 million buyout.
   
  Akron fired coach J.D. Brookhart after the Zips finished the season at 3-9. Brookhart was hired in 2004 and had one year remaining on his contract. He was 30-42 record and was MAC coach of the year in 2004.
   

  You're in ... maybe!

  Memphis has called a news conference for Sunday amid rumors that LSU assistant head coach Larry Porter will be named the its coach. Meanwhile, Memphis sent out fired coach Tommy West with an overtime loss to Tulsa -- a game in which the Tigers led 30-23 in the final minute.
   
  "I've never seen so many bad things happen to one football team," West said.
   

  

  Al Groh: a poetic sendoff at Virginia.

  Going out in style

  Virginia coach Al Groh probably coached his last game with the Cavs on Saturday. And after his weekly trip to the woodshed, he recited the poem "The Guy in the Glass" for the media. He then, according to the Daily Press, offered these words of his own:
   
  "When I visited the guy in the glass, I saw that he's a guy of commitment, of integrity, of dependability and accountability. He's loyal. His spirit is indomitable. And he is caring and loving. I'm sure I will always call the guy in the glass a friend."
   
  Groh then left the news conference.
   

  Heading up

  Missouri. The Tigers have won three straight and four of five -- albeit against the four weaklings in the Big 12 North. Still, the Mizzou offense is humming again after a midseason snooze. The Tigers ran for 250 yards and threw for 303, beating rival Kansas 41-39 on a last-second field goal. 
   

  Heading down

  Arizona State. Anyone notice the stench from the desert? Perhaps it can be blamed on every ASU game kicking off around 2 a.m. ET, but somehow this program's plunge receives little national attention. The Devils won 10 games just two years ago and were No. 15 heading into Week 3 last season. Since then, ASU lost 15 of its past 22 games, including the final six of this dismal 4-8 season. Surely Dennis Erickson will bolt Tempe soon and take his 183rd coaching job elsewhere.
   

  

  Aloha! Shawnbrey McNeal and the Mustangs end a 25-year bowl drought.

  Making history

  • Mississippi State's 41-27 win over Ole Miss marked the sixth straight time -- and 10th in the last 11 games -- the home team claimed the golden egg-shaped trophy given to the winner.
  • Behind Shawnbrey McNeal's 147 rushing yards, SMU beat Tulane to claim one of Conference USA's six automatic bowl bids. SMU has not appeared in a bowl game since the 1984 Aloha Bowl.
   

  Number of the day

  15: UConn's five losses have come by a total of 15 points.
   

  SEC-ACC challenge

  The teams playing for the ACC title (Clemson and Georgia Tech) played two mediocre SEC teams (South Carolina and Georgia) on Saturday. The score: SEC 2, ACC 0.
   

  No luck of the Irish

  All six of Notre Dame's losses came by seven points or fewer.
   

  Poll Vault

  Sporting News' Dave Curtis gives his view of how Week 13's results should impact the latest Top 25 voting.

  Curtis' top five

  1. Alabama

  2. Florida

  3. TCU

  4. Texas

  5. Cincinnati

  Rising

  No. 14 Virginia Tech: Let the Ryan Williams 2010 Heisman Trophy campaign begin.

  No. 18 BYU: Cougars need OT to outlast Utah in another Holy War classic.

  No. 25 Houston: Seventy-three points vs. Rice means a Division I-A best 539 this regular season.

  Falling

  No. 7 Georgia Tech: C.J. Spiller gets energized watching Jackets allow two 150-yard rushers vs. Georgia.

  No. 11 Oklahoma State: Cowboys get six first downs and four second-half yards at Oklahoma.

  No. 20 Mississippi: The September version of Jevan Snead and the Rebels returned in Starkville.

  Unit Watch

  • Miami (Fla.) secondary. South Florida came into Saturday having scored at least 30 points in two of its past three games. But the Hurricanes held Bulls QB B.J. Daniels to 6-of-16 passing for 77 yards with an interception in a 31-10 spanking.
   

  Fraud alert

  Oklahoma State and Ole Miss. The duo shared the distinction of most out-of-place in the preseason top 10. Oklahoma State's 2009 belly flop wasn't quite as severe, but both teams ended the regular season proving just how overhyped they were heading into this season.
   
  The Rebels (8-4) were dominated by a Mississippi State team that entered Saturday with three wins over I-A competition.
   
  And with the school's first BCS bowl on the line, the Cowboys (9-3) predictably did not show up. They mustered six first downs and 109 total yards in a 27-0 beatdown by rival Oklahoma.
   

  Unplugging the Fridge?

  Maryland (2-10, 1-7 ACC) lost again and coach Ralph Friedgen addressed his future -- sort of -- after the game.
   
  "I expect to be coaching the team next year," he said. "I put in a lot of time with these kids and I want to see it through with them. But we'll have to see."
   

  Coaching quote of the day

  "We can play with anybody. ... This team can play with a lot of people, and not just this year." — TCU coach Gary Patterson, after securing the school's first undefeated regular season in 71 years.
   
  This story appears in Nov. 29's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
   
  Derek Samson is a senior editor for Sporting News. Email him at dsamson@sportingnews.com.
  
  
  
• Richmond wins tournament, beating Missouri 59-52
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 08:15:06 pm
  
  

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- David Gonzalvez scored 18 points to lead Richmond to a thrilling 59-52 win over Missouri on Saturday night to clinch the South Padre Island Invitational.

  Gonzalvez gave the Spiders (6-1) the lead for good with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with a little more than four minutes remaining.

  The Tigers (4-1) kept it close after that, even pulling within two points when Laurence Bowers hit a shot with eight seconds left to make it 54-52.

  However, after being fouled, Kevin Anderson hit two free throws with four seconds left to give Richmond some breathing room. He scored 14 points overall.

  Anderson, who also hit the winning shot against Mississippi State the night before, was named the tournament's most valuable player.

  Sophomore guard Kim English led the Tigers off the bench with 14 points.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri knocks off Kansas on last-second field goal
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 05:18:17 pm
  
  
  Associated Press
  KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri tackled Todd Reesing for a safety with 2:39 remaining and Grant Ressel hit a 27-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Tigers a 41-39 victory over Kansas on Saturday in another wild Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.
   
  These rivals put on a show in last year and somehow topped it, trading big plays, scores and momentum seemingly with every snap.
   
  Missouri (8-4, 4-4) had 553 total yards, but needed a safety and Ressel's fourth field goal of the game to beat its biggest rival and potentially end coach Mark Mangino's eight-year stint at Kansas (5-7, 1-7) with a seven-game losing streak.
   
  Danario Alexander caught 15 passes for 233 yards, the third time he's eclipsed 200 yards in four games. Derrick Washington ran for 111 yards and two scores for the Tigers.
   
  Missouri's Blaine Gabbert threw for 303 yards and a score, and ran for 94 more yards in the 118th Border Showdown, boosting Missouri's chances of getting into a bigger bowl.
   
  Reesing threw for a school-record 498 yards and four touchdowns -- two to Kerry Meier -- in his final collegiate game and Kansas had 547 total yards, but it may not be enough to save Mangino's job.
   
  Mangino is under investigation by the university for allegations of harsh treatment of players.
   
  Kansas' Dezmon Briscoe had 14 catches for 242 yards in what may be his final game -- the NFL could be next -- but lost two fumbles that led directly to Missouri touchdowns.
   
  Like last season, when they won 40-37, the Jayhawks were in position to win.
   
  Jacob Branstetter hit a 39-yard field goal with 5:10 left to put Kansas up 39-36, then the Jayhawks forced Missouri into a punt.
   
  Starting the drive at its own 3, Kansas opted to pass instead of milking clock. After two failed passes, Brian Coulter and Aldon Smith converged on Reesing in the end zone for a safety to cut Kansas' lead to 39-38. Worse yet, the Jayhawks ran just 14 seconds off the clock, giving Missouri plenty of time to move into position for the winning score.
   
  The Tigers did just that, getting a 27-yard run from Washington to set up Ressel's attempt. He split the uprights and, after a brief delay for a penalty on Kansas, the Tigers rushed the field for one of their wildest wins against their biggest rival.
   
  Most of the action took place in the second half.
   
  Trailing 21-13, Missouri marched down the field on its opening drive of the second half for Washington's 14-yard touchdown run up the middle. Kansas answered with a 2-yard pass from Reesing to Meier after Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon was called for running into the center on a made field goal.
   
  Missouri's turn, Jerrell Jackson got the right corner on an end-around and scored on a 37-yard run. The Tigers needed just 55 seconds to score again, following Briscoe's second fumble with Alexander's catch-and-run 68-yard touchdown. Ressel's third field goal, from 37 yards, put Missouri up 36-28 early in the fourth quarter.
   
  Kansas and Briscoe weren't done. Streaking up the sideline, Briscoe pulled down a long pass from Reesing, wobbled safety Jasper Simmons' knees near the 20, then went in for a 74-yard touchdown. Reesing hit Meier for the 2-point conversion, tying the game at 36-all.
   
  Kansas got the ball back, starting inside its 1, and drove down for Branstetter's field goal to set up the final flurry.
   
  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
  
  
  
• Missouri takes Old Dominion 66-61, gains final
  posted on November 27, 2009 - 08:15:02 pm
  
  

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- Missouri held off a late run by Old Dominion to win their semifinal matchup at the South Padre Island Invitational 66-61 Friday night.

  The victory set up a championship game Saturday between the Tigers and Richmond, which beat Mississippi State in the other semifinal.

  Missouri (4-0) was led by senior guard J.T. Tiller with 12 points and seven assists. Kim English added 11 points.

  Senior guard Marsharee Neely of Old Dominion led all scorers with 20 points. Gerald Lee had 13 and Ben Finney 12.

  The Monarchs (4-1) cut the lead to four late in the second half but never got any closer.

  Old Dominion struggled with Missouri's aggressive defense, turning the ball over 24 times and creating easy baskets for the Tigers.

  Missouri led 32-18 at the break.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Mangino could be coaching final game for Kansas
  posted on November 27, 2009 - 08:55:02 am
  
  

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The last thing this ancient and acrimonious rivalry needed was an extra adrenaline jolt.

  Kansas and Missouri are so quarrelsome already, they can't even agree on who has beaten whom the most.

  According to Kansas, the Jayhawks have built a 55-53-9 lead since that day in 1891 when fans arriving by carriage and horseback witnessed their first kickoff. But the Tigers claim a 54-54-9 standoff.

  Two things both sides do agree upon are that Mark Mangino is 4-3 against Missouri, and the embattled coach may be leading Kansas for the final time Saturday in the 119th renewal of college football's second-oldest rivalry.

  For two tense weeks, Kansas has been conducting an internal investigation into Mangino's treatment of players. Since news of the probe broke, many former players have come forward with stories of insensitive comments they claim Mangino made to them in the heat of games and practice. Other players, past and present, have leapt to his defense.

  It has become obvious that Mangino and his boss, athletic director Lew Perkins, are at serious odds. Each man says tersely that they have a good professional relationship. But neither claims any personal warmth toward the other, and the whole mess could wind up in court if the Jayhawks try to fire Mangino for cause and save about $6 million.

  So add all that to an already juicy rivalry that traces its roots to the violent frontier days that preceded the Civil War. The discrepancy in the series record stems from Missouri noting that Kansas was ordered to forfeit a 1960 victory for using an ineligible player. But according to the Jayhawks, they were victims of conference politics and the player was not ineligible, and so their victory stands.

  Mangino's combative public stance has been that he's done nothing wrong, that his coaching philosophy is the same as it was two years ago when Perkins gave him a contract extension and big raise after the Jayhawks went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl.

  He insists he intends to return for a ninth season, but concedes it will not entirely be up to him.

  "What I think probably is not as important as what other people are believing or thinking that are involved in this situation," Mangino said. "But I can tell you I'm going strong. I'm really focused on Missouri. The players are."

  For more motivation, the Jayhawks (5-6, 1-6 Big 12) can look to end a six-game losing streak and become bowl eligible while beating a bitter archrival.

  The stakes are also high for Missouri (7-4, 3-4). The Tigers are angling for an attractive bowl invitation, hoping to bolster Danario Alexander's bid for postseason honors - and beat a bitter archrival.

  "We're certainly excited about being part of a big rivalry like this," said coach Gary Pinkel. "The day I got here we heard a lot about this from a lot of different alumni from the moment I walked in this place. It's a great rivalry and not every school gets to be part of a rivalry like this."

  The Tigers have rescued their season by winning three of their last four, a run that coincided with the emergence of Alexander at the tail end of an injury-plagued career. The senior wide receiver, who's had four operations, totaled 214 yards receiving against Baylor on Nov. 7; 200 yards the next week at Kansas State; and 173 yards last week against Iowa State.

  "This is an intense rivalry. It's the biggest game on the schedule," said Alexander, the Big 12's leading receiver. "If you win no games throughout the season but beat KU, it's an OK season."

  But Kansas can also throw the ball. Senior quarterback Todd Reesing holds virtually every meaningful school passing record. He'll be throwing to wide receivers Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, whose combined yardage of 197.87 per game is second in the NCAA.

  In last year's game, Reesing connected with Meier on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds to play.

  "I'm just tired of hearing their names," Pinkel said. "I think Meier's been there for like 15 years. They're real good. Their numbers are good and they've certainly had their struggles but they have a good football team."

  Mangino says he's confident a 6-6 record would be good enough to secure a bowl invitation. It might also prove awkward if the school decides to part ways with the man who would then be just one win away from tying their 99-year-old record for most coaching victories.

  "For everything Coach has done for us, if we could do anything to give back, we're going to try to do it," Meier said. "We're behind him 100 percent because he's brought us to where we are today and we're going to try to get him another victory this Saturday."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri harasses Chattanooga in 99-56 win
  posted on November 24, 2009 - 07:20:07 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kim English scored a career-high 26 points to lead Missouri to a 99-56 victory over Chattanooga in second-round play of the South Padre Island Invitational.

  The Tigers (3-0) harassed the Mocs (2-2) for a school-record 24 steals and poured in 18 3-pointers, just two short of the school record.

  English had 21 points in the first half and fellow sophomore Marcus Denmon had 11 of his career-high 17 points in the opening frame as Missouri built a 59-28 halftime lead. The Tigers have scored at least 50 points in the first half in each of their first three games this season.

  English continued his hot shooting, hitting 10 of 17 from the field after setting his career high in the Tigers' game Sunday against Texas-Pan American.

  Forward DeAntre Jefferson led Chattanooga with 12 points.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri runs past Texas-Pan American, 100-44
  posted on November 22, 2009 - 01:40:12 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kim English scored a career-high 25 points and Missouri defeated Texas-Pan American 100-44 Sunday in the opening round of the South Padre Island Invitational.

  The Tigers (2-0) trailed 8-4 before taking control with 28 unanswered points.

  Ben Smith led the Broncs (0-4) with 15 points, all on 3-pointers.

  During Missouri's scoring burst, Pan American missed 12 field goals and two free throws. The Tigers finished the first half on a 46-5 run.

  Pan American's 13 first-half points were the fewest in Mizzou Arena history.

  English shot 9 of 12 from the floor, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Marcus Denmon, who started in place of the injured J.T. Tiller, added 10 points.

  Pan American shot just 29 percent, and Missouri outrebounded the Broncs 44-27.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri running back out with concussion
  posted on November 21, 2009 - 01:00:06 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri running back Derrick Washington has been sidelined by a concussion in the first half Saturday against Iowa State.

  Washington had 62 yards on 11 carries in the half of the Tigers' home finale, including a 4-yard run for the game's first touchdown. It was not clear when Washington, Missouri's leading rusher, was injured.

  Washington did not have any carries past the midway point of the second quarter.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri beats Iowa State 34-24
  posted on November 21, 2009 - 02:15:08 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Danario Alexander reached double digits in receptions for the third straight game and Jerrell Jackson had a career day, helping Missouri end a three-game home losing streak in a 34-24 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

  Alexander had 11 catches for 173 yards and a 63-yard score, breaking records for single-season and career yardage set by Jeremy Maclin last season. In his last three games, Alexander has 34 catches for 578 yards and five touchdowns. On Saturday, Jackson had eight receptions for 142 yards and a 70-yard score.

  Both of the big plays came in the third quarter for Missouri (7-4, 3-4 Big 12). Iowa State (6-6, 3-5) led 17-10 at halftime.

  Blaine Gabbert was 23 for 32 for 337 yards and two touchdowns and had 51 yards on 12 carries, helping fill the void after Derrick Washington sustained a concussion in the second quarter.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Missouri's Alexander sets yardage record
  posted on November 21, 2009 - 12:05:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Danario Alexander broke Missouri's single-season record for yards receiving in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Iowa State.

  Alexander needed 23 yards to surpass the mark of 1,260 yards set last year by Jeremy Maclin, who left for the NFL after his sophomore season. Alexander had four receptions for 37 yards in the first quarter, helping Missouri take a 10-7 lead in the home finale.

  Alexander entered the game 21 receptions and two touchdowns shy of two more Maclin records, both also set last season.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Mizzou receiver Alexander having big senior season
  posted on November 19, 2009 - 12:10:06 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Just last year, Jeremy Maclin set Missouri single-season records for receptions, yards and touchdowns in a scintillating sophomore season. Then he jumped to the NFL.

  That puts Danario Alexander in very good company. The senior who once started ahead of Maclin has rebounded from four operations, three on his left knee, and is close to erasing all of Maclin's marks.

  With two regular-season games plus a likely bowl game left, Alexander is only 22 yards receiving, 21 receptions and two touchdowns away from the standards set by Maclin.

  "For some reason, he always gets open," sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert said. "Danario is a big-time threat every time he gets the ball in his hands."

  Maclin had 102 receptions for 1,260 yards and 13 touchdowns in 14 games in 2008. He's now thriving with the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded up two spots to take him with the 19th pick of the draft.

  A couple weeks ago, Maclin realized his records were in serious jeopardy.

  "When he saw I was getting close, J-Mac called," Alexander said. "I told him, 'I'm coming for it,' and he encouraged me. He told me to go ahead and do my thing."

  The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Alexander isn't all the way back from the latest surgery less than a year ago. Entering the season, he was not considered first-round material given concerns over his ability to make precise cuts.

  A lengthy highlight reel should answer any doubters. Alexander has a 40-inch-plus vertical leap, enabling him to effortlessly elevate over a Kansas State defender for one of his three scores last Saturday. He has cat-like balance, landing on the run after his leaps or pivoting away from tacklers. He has enough speed, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, to win footraces for touchdowns of 84 and 80 yards the last two weeks.

  He's averaging a spectacular 44.7 yards on his 11 touchdowns.

  "They always ask, 'Do you think he'll pass the physical?"' offensive coordinator Dave Yost said. "I always tell them there's no question.

  "If you're going to test him, (you'd say) I can't believe he's ever been hurt."

  Alexander already has tied one school record with his big day at Kansas State, and he could match an NCAA record with a third straight 200-yard game on Saturday in the home finale against Iowa State.

  Unquestionably, he's the go-to player for the Tigers (6-4, 2-4 Big 12), rebuilding after the departures of Maclin and several other stars.

  Alexander has more catches, yards and touchdowns as a senior than in his first three seasons combined, with 81 catches, 1,238 yards and the TD total all among the nation's best. Missouri runs a lot of five-wideout sets in a spread offense and Alexander often lines up wide, making it difficult for opponents to double-team him.

  Coach Gary Pinkel predicted a big year from Alexander on media day. Not this big. Not outdoing Maclin.

  "J-Mac is the best player I've ever been around," Pinkel said. "He can change a game like that."

  Then he paused to consider Alexander's breakout year, and the fact nobody heard much from him until now: "This guy is doing some pretty remarkable things. All-conference, All-America - you would wish that he gets what he deserves."

  Alexander started the 2007 opener ahead of Maclin as a sophomore, missed three games with the broken wrist and returned as a backup. He tore knee ligaments in the 2007 Big 12 championship game, then reinjured the knee the following summer and was less than 100 percent all of 2008.

  All those hours in the training room are finally paying off.

  "I've got everything back, I've kind of gotten trust in my knee or whatever," Alexander said. "There's nothing I can't do."

  Yost sees Alexander's confidence growing weekly. The cuts are sharper, the stops and starts, too. Beyond the physical gifts, he's shown a gritty side, losing his helmet and not seeming to notice while bulldozing to a key first down last week.

  So, how to stop him? Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon believes the only way is to jam Alexander at the line, and that's his strategy in practice.

  "When I go against him I try to get my hands on him," Weatherspoon said. "But I see guys getting hands on him and he's still making plays. It's just amazing."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.