The return of a True Son

It's finally over! After 11 days of stealth like secrecy, it's no coincidence that only 11 miles from now current Mizzou Basketball coach Kim Anderson's former job at Central Missouri University in Warrensburg is Whiteman Airforce Base (Knob Noster) that houses the Stealth B-2 Bomber. Just like the B-2 has the ability to allude radar and the human ear, this coaching search was much like that. More time was spent on guessing who the candidate might be, tracking flights via smart phone apps, and having Mizzou beat writers even drive to Columbia Regional Airport to take photos of 6 middle aged golfers from Philly late last week.

It drove the media nuts. They didn't like being left in the dark on whether it was going to be Anderson, Greg Marshall or Ben Howland. Ultimately after the Board of Curators left their meeting earlier today the decision had been made and Anderson was hired as the 18th coach of the University of Missouri.

Many don't know this but Anderson is a former Tiger player and coach. He played from 1973 to 1977, then he was an assistant coach under Norm Stewart from 1982 to 1985, was then a Baylor assistant from 1986 to 1991, returned back to Missouri in 1991 and stayed until Norm Stewart stepped down in 1999.

One question that many ask is: Why Now?
That question is hard to answer because Anderson was interviewed for the Head Coaching job after Norm retired in 99', and was passed up then as well as the hires of Mike Anderson in 06' and Frank Haith in 11'. One thing that may have opened some eyes at Missouri is that Anderson's team at CMU just won the D-2 National Championship this April. Also, with Haith's late departure it put Mizzou behind the eight ball in the hiring process.

Why I think this hire will work:
This hire will work to do a couple of things: bring an actual coach with some strategy on the defensive end and bring in the Mizzou fans into the arena.

Will there be some fans that are dissatisfied with the hire:
No doubt, but as I have learned during the time on earth that Missouri fans will never be satisfied. From the calls for Gary Pinkel to be fired just last year or the unreasonable expectation that Missouri should be able to compete for anything they want in every sport, Missouri fans will never all be satisfied.

Who will this please in the fan base:
Mostly fans over 40. The nostalgia of having a former Norm coach and player interests the segment of the fan base, but I will say that many under will like the hire because they remember or know about who Kim Anderson is as a person. Right now the basketball program needs someone that has a clean record and many think that Anderson won't do anything to jeopardize his Alma Matter.

What questions will the younger Tiger fans ask:
Why nor Marshall or Howland? Well Marshall was going to take over $3 Million to get him to come to Missouri, plus he is returning a top 10 team and Wichita State and his son is going to be a Senior in High School and they didn't want to move him right now. Missouri is now investing in the football program and to sink that money in a coach probably wouldn't be smart. As far as Howland, there was too much baggage from UCLA. The university was looking for someone with a clean track record and Howland wasn't such a person in order to meet that criteria.

Final Thoughts:
This hire makes me happy for a few reason: 1) He is a former Tiger and has pride for this University so he should have a drive and want this team to do well. 2) He is a Missourian so he has had pride in his state and the flagship school. 3) He is one coach that could galvanize the fan base, but he will have to win or put a better product on Norm Stewart Court for the foreseeable future.
We will just see how Anderson handles recruiting and who he hire to be his assistants.

My one request:
Please find more than one good three point shooter, please. Pretty please. Also, fans go to the games.

Mizzou Network feature on Kim Anderson

Every True Son Lyrics

Every true son, so happy hearted,
Skies above us are blue.
There’s a spirit so deep within us,
Old Missouri, here’s to you! (Rah! Rah!)
When the band plays the Tiger war song,
And when the fray is through,
We will tramp, tramp, tramp around the columns
With a cheer for old Mizzou!
Hit it!
Hooray! Hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hooray! Hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hooray! Hurrah! And a Bully for Ol’ Mizzou!
Rah rah rah rah!
Mizzou-Rah! Mizzou-Rah! Mizzou-Rah! Tigers!

2013-2014 Mizzou Tiger

Well, the season is over, (Finally! is what some of you might say) with a 71-63 loss to Southern Mississippi in the NIT. Many Mizzou fans are mad, want Coach Haith fired (mostly because of the Miami thing) but one thing, University of Missouri won't fire a coach that has had 3 seasons in a row of winning 20 or more basketball games. Let's take a look at why this team didn't do very well or meet the expectations of the some fans this season.

1. Over hyped - This team came into the season in the minds of many fans as a team that would finish at least in the top 3 in the SEC, but that didn't happen. This team wasn't near as good after the best three players, and it showed.

2. Lack of Post (Dominant) Presence - The addition of Juco transfer Keanu Post didn't offer the post presence that Haith's pick and roll offense needed. JW3 wasn't strong enough to bang with the experienced Centers in the SEC, but he does show some promise and with some strength, has shown that he may be a great player in the future. Ryan Rosburg is playing out of position, but doing the best he can for a role player who is forced to start nearly every game. Tony Criswell's head wasn't on straight all season. Torren Jones development was slow and he wasn't ready to contribute until the end of the regular season.

3. Lack of a true point guard - With Phil Pressey leaving early for the NBA and ultimately for the Boston Celtics, there was a glaring hole at pg this year for Mizzou. Asking a shooting guard (Jordan Clarkson) to play puts him out of position and screws things up for the rest of the offense. Wes Clark didn't develop like he needed to in order to help the offense. Shane Rector didn't contribute much either but for Freshmen they showed some improvement.

4. Basketball IQ - This team, for whatever reason, lacked basketball IQ. Valuing the basketball and making good decisions wasn't this teams strength. The team didn't assist the scoring much, many times lower than 30% of the baskets with assists. This team just didn't play well together, mostly because of trust of letting the other guys score outside of the big 3, but this team just never learned.

5. Leadership - This team lacked Senior leadership. No one on the team stood up and told the other players that this is what they are going to do. A team needs this to be successful. Mizzou has that with Kim English two years ago. This is needed to advance in the tournament and win conference games on the road.

This teams has other flaws like standing and looking for the other player to do something on offense. That won't work anytime especially if you want to score. Defensively these teams are weak, especially on the perimeter. Haith needs to extend his defense out in order to limit the 3-point baskets. If this team continues to struggle, next season may be the last in Columbia for Frank and his staff.