---MIZZOUWINTER 2013 t. .. with his fleet of talented transfers, a pair of returning top-flight guards and a soaring fan favorite back from injury, Frank Haith pilots the 2012-13 Tigers into the SEC. STORY BY MARCUS WILKINS ILLUSTRATION BY BLAKE DINSDALE .. • • • TIGER BA.SKETBALL '12-'13 , , ~. ',. "-'. Missouri skies have never team did the little things, and each player had an been friendlier. individual role. This year, we still have to define A record 34,748 students those roles." enrolled at MU in fall 2012. Haith's staff leads one of the most impressive Local festivals - such as collections of offensive skill in recent memory, True/False and Roots N starting with top returning scorer Mike Dixon Blues N BBQ - attract more (Kansas City, Mo.). Last season's Big 12 Sixth Man revelers every year. Colum­ of the Year didn't start a single game, but is a lean­ bia Regional Airport even er as a senior guard. added Atlanta flights in part Along with CBS Sports Preseason All-Amer­ to accommodate fans for ican Phil "Flip" Pressey (Dallas), who led the Big Mizzou's move to the South­ 12 in assists (6.4) and steals (2.1) per game, Miz­ eastern Conference. zou's point-guard tandem notched 339 combined You'll have to forgive Frank Haith for adding to assists for a team that finished 11th in that catego­ the air traffic. Upon the basketball coach's arrival ry nationally (16.2 per game). from the University of Miami in April 2011, he "I think it's simple, really: We have a lot of guys inherited a senior-heavy squad and immediately who know how to play unselfish basketball the began addressing impending roster turnover. By way it's meant to be played," Dixon says. "I think courting transfers from California to Connecti­ you're going to see more strong finishes at the rim cut and Alabama to Oregon, Haith has flown in and a lot more alley-oops." enough talent to avoid a precipitous drop-off in To rehearse that intricate choreography, the Ti­ experienced players. gers flew to Europe this summer and played clubs "There were not a lot of players available for from the Netherlands, Belgium and France. us to recruit because of the [late] timing when The biggest transfer, 6-foot-9, 225-pound Alex we got here," says Haith, who will introduce to Oriakhi, picked up where he left off at the Uni­ Mizzou five transfers from top-division schools versity of Connecticut in 2011-12. The nature of in 2012-13. "Now, if you look at the breakdown of UConn's NCAA violations was such that the for­ our classes, we've got four seniors, three juniors, ward can play immediately for Mizzou instead four freshmen and a couple of sophomores. You of sitting out for the typically required season. don't have one of those huge recruiting classes Oriakhi (Lowell, Mass.) brings an inside presence and then huge losses." the Tigers haven't seen in nearly a decade. He also It would be hard not to qualify Marcus Denmon, brings national championship maturity. Kim English and Ricardo Ratliffe - players who "The team that won the NCAA tournament have moved to the professional ranks from this wasn't even ranked at the beginning of the sea­ past season's 30-win team - as huge losses. But son," says Oriakhi, referring to UConn's 2011 title the return of savvy guards Mike Dixon and Phil team. "I have also been part of some really talent­ Pressey, and a now-healthy Laurence Bowers at ed teams that haven't been successful, so 1 don't forward, should ease the transition, while a fresh­ buy into the hype." men influx brings up the rear, Fans who attended the 2011 Black and Gold Haith believes the mishmash of veterans, Game - or caught a Pepperdine or Auburn game transfers and rookies share three common­ on TV in 2010-11- will remember senior guard alities: character, skill and toughness. After an Keion Bell (Los Angeles) and junior forward unprecedented season for a first-year coach at Earnest Ross (Cary, N.C.). Both transferred to MU, Haith will try to navigate new opponents Mizzou and sat out last season after averaging an with a revamped roster as the Tigers jet toward impressive 18.9 and 13.1 points at their respective a new frontier. former schools. "You can expect a lot of athleticism from me," says Bell, who ignited YouTube and TI-IIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING ESPN by aviating over five teammates to win To many Mizzou fans, Haith was a relatively ob­ a Pepperdine dunk contest in 2009, then upped scure choice to lead the program in 2011- 12. With it by one to clear six fans at Mizzou Madness 25 years of experience as an assistant and head Oct. 12, 2012. "People don't talk about Earnest's coach, he knows it takes more than talent for athleticism, but he's just as athletic as 1 am, if teams to rise above dazzling individual play. not more." Haith is wary of the preseason praise that Joining the team after the fall semester is red­ pundits have heaped on this transfer class. "You shirt sophomore Jabari Brown (Oakland, Calif.), need chemistry and intangibles. Last year's a five-star transfer from the University of Oregon 44 MlZZOUMAGAZINE.COM whom Haith calls "a big-time shooter, probably Plotting Trajectory the best on the team." Men's schedule Junior forward Tony Criswell (Oklahoma Battle 4 Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas With two children younger than S and a bevy of Nov.22 vs. Stanford City), like Ratliffe before him, is a community basketball recruits set to join MU, Mizzou women's Nov. 23 louisville / Northern Iowa college transfer who has added weight to his Nov.24 TBD Coach Robin Pingeton is used to ushering in youth. 6-foot-g-inch frame and looks to break out at Dec. 1 vs. Appalachian State Pingeton enters her third season in 2012-l3 with an the Division I leveL Rounding out the transfers, Dec. 4 vs. SEMO inexperienced Tiger squad transitioning to the South­ sophomore Danny Feldmann (Jefferson City, Mo.) Dec. 8 VS . Tennessee State eastern Conference. Nine ofl3 players on the roster Dec. 17 vs. South Carolina State is a rangy forward and former Ivy-leaguer from are freshmen or sophomores, and last season's top Dec. 22 vs. Illinois in St. Louis Columbia University. Dec. 28 at UCLA two scorers - Christine Flores and BreAnna Brock The freshman class includes a pair of Canadi­ Jan. S vs. Bucknell - have graduated. of late, the SEC might appear ans in forward Stefan Jankovic (Mississauga, On­ Jan.8 vs. Alabama slightly less challenging than the Big 12, home of the tario) and guard Negus Webster-Chan (Scarbor­ Jan. 12 at Ole Miss undefeated defending champion Baylor Bears (40-0). Jan. 16 vs. Georgia It's all relative, of course. ough, Ontario); a guard as physical as his name Jan. 19 at Florida suggests in Dominique Bull (Worcester, Mass.); Jan.22 vs. South Carolina "For us, because of where we are with our program, forward Ryan Rosburg (Chesterfield, Mo.); and Jan. 26 vs. Vanderbilt both conferences are big challenges," Pingeton says. coach's son Corey Haith (Columbia). Jan.30 at LSU The Tigers are deep at the perimeter, starting with From Mizzou faithful, however, no player will Feb. 2 vs. Auburn senior guards Sydney Crafton (Jefferson City, Mo.) Feb. 7 at Texas A&M receive a louder welcome when the season begins Feb. 9 vs. Ole Miss and Liene Priede (Riga, Latvia). Pingeton predicts that than senior forward Laurence Bowers. Poised to Feb. 13 at Mississippi State freshman Lianna Doty (St. Louis) will quickly become be one of the top returning players on last year's Feb. 16 at Arkansas a fan favorite with her speedy style of play, and ultimate Big 12 squad, Bowers tore his left anteri­ Feb. 19 vs. Florida sophomore Bree Fowler (Kansas City, Mo.) saw sig­ or cruciate ligament Oct. 3, 2011, in the offseason. Feb. 23 at Kentucky nificant minutes in 2011-12. High school stars and twin Feb. 28 at South Carolina "I definitely increased my basketball IQ last March 2 vs. lSU freshmen guards Morgan and Maddie Stock (Town season watching from the bench," Bowers says. March 5 vs. Arkansas and Country, Mo.) join the team with lofty expecta­ "From the last time I played to the first time 1 step March 9 at Tennessee tions, and sophomore Morgan Eye (Montrose, Mo.) on the court, it will be 18 months. It can't get here SEC Tournament led Mizzou in 3-pointers with 63 last season. March 13-17 in Nashville. Tenn. fast enough." Senior center Liz Smith (Overland Park, Kan.) played few minutes as Flores' backup, but her role will increase in 2012-l3. Forward Bri Kulas (Shawnee Mis­ THE WILD BLUE Y()NDER Women's schedule sion, Kan .), the team's only junior, began her career Like the 2012 Mizzou football team, the basketball Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico at Kansas State University and transferred to Mizzou team enters the conference home of the defending Nov.22 vs. Wichita State from Johnson County (Kansas) Community College. national champs. The Kentucky Wildcats domi­ Nov.23 vs. Green 8ay "Our four focus points are going to be on transition nated the league and the Associated Press Top 25 Nov.24 vs. Minnesota defense, rebounding, taking care of the basketball Nov.29 vs. SEMO Poll for the entire season before marching through and knocking down open shots," Pingeton says.