Friday, February 17, 2006
This weekend will mark another page in one of the finest rivalries in college sports. Yes, Saturday brings part two of the 2006 basketball duel between Kansas and Missouri.
First things first when getting to this game. When former Missouri coach Quin Snyder was forced to resign last week, it came about two years too late. It was the latest debacle for the Missouri basketball program, which is in about as bad a state as I have ever seen. The Tigers are being coached by Melvin Watkins, a man only in his second year with the program and one who has no shot at becoming head coach.
Before it gets better it gets worse. The Tigers haven’t been in the NCAA Basketball Tournament since 2003. Last year they lost in the first round of the NIT Tournament at home. This year they’re a measly 11-11 and have no shot at even making the NIT. They had lost six in a row before beating an average-at-best Kansas State team at home on Sunday. But the little good news for Missouri fans is that they already beat Kansas.
Tomorrow the Tigers can go for the regular season sweep of the hated Jayhawks in historic Allen Fieldhouse. What better way to shine a little bit of light on a pitch black season? It’s cliché but it must be said, because when it comes to intense rivalries such as this one, you can throw the records out the window. But nonetheless, Tiger fans should pray.
Junior guard Thomas Gardner is an outstanding player and Snyder did a great job of developing his offensive skills. He might be the best wing man in the Big 12 and he’s putting up the points to prove it (first in the conference isn't bad). Kansas made Gardner look like Duke guard J.J. Redick back on Jan. 16 in Mizzou Arena. He put up 40 points on the Jayhawks, most of them coming from three-point range.
To be frank, Gardner must duplicate a performance like that one if the Tigers have any hopes of staying in tomorrow’s game.
The Jayhawks have not lost since the loss to Tigers in mid-January. They are the hottest team in the conference with a 9-2 record that trails only No. 6 Texas. When you look at the fact that Mizzou has no coach, an 11-11 record, and a road game against a team who has won eight straight, you would probably suggest a blowout.
But what do I know? These two teams hate each other so much that it won’t matter what anyone off the court thinks. This game will be played out on the floor tomorrow, and it has potential to be just like the game in January. The Tigers have nothing to lose, and a team with nothing to lose is a dangerous one.
There's more hope for Missouri fans beyond Saturday. Next season, they can look forward to a fresh start for what Snyder turned into a dormant basketball program. Snyder left the program in shambles, and Missouri fans can at least hope that he'll take the shambles with him.
Hall is a Woodbridge, Va., junior in journalism.
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