What the Haith is going on in Columbia?

About a month ago Missouri fans were frustrated and disappointed about the departer of head coach Mike Anderson to Arkansas. A couple weeks ago when Missouri hired former Miami coach Frank Haith, Missouri fans were asking, will their ever be a Missouri basketball program again?

If you havnt been paying attention too the latest media. You probably should start.

Last week Haith hired probably one of the best young recruiting coaches in America Tim Fuller. Since then, Haith has been busting his rear and been all over. Yesterday Frank Haith got a call from 5 star 7 foot forward Tony Woods who commited to Wake Forrest in 2008 as the #5 player to come out of High school but decided to transfer to Louisville when Tim Fuller left. Now sources are stating that Woods might possibly be heading to Columbia to play for Missouri. If that’s the case, by NCAA rule he would have to finish his career at Missouri and since he has already sat out one year for transferring he would be allowed to play right away for Missouri.

The former five-star recruit chose the Cards based largely on his relationship with Fuller. With the aforementioned assistant now holding down a job at Missouri, Woods' next move is apparently completely up in the air.

Today Haith offered 6’11 big man Ajai an offer who was formally recruited by haith at Miami and now considering high on Missouri. Although he is only a 3 star,This pick-up would be a good start off point for Haith. In a news confrence a week ago Haith said his MAIN thing was to get a big guy. Depending on what you read, it has him as a 6'9 to 6'11. Not many big men around much anymore. Fuller works with big men (see woods) and hes a great recruiter so I believe he can turn him into a good basketball player at Missouri. Haith is proving that he is giving all he can to turn Missouri into a National powerhouse and to think Missouri could get BETTER as what they have been next year to a couple if they play the cards right.

Frank Haith and Tim Fuller also went down the road to Raytown to visit with 5 star guard Ismail Wainright who is currently the #8 player in the class of 2013. He was formally recruited by Mike Anderson, but says he has no intentions on visiting UA and is a die hard Missouri fan. The main thing Haith needs to do is keep players in the state of Missouri and Ishmail Wainright must really want to play in the state! Mike Anderson was after him...He talked with Haith and Fuller and has reportedly been offered by Mizzou. He said he really like Mizzou. Tells you something when a coach that was recruiting you left the school but the player STILL wants to talk and look at missouri! 2013 is also the same class that the #1 recruit is considering Missouri and Frank Haiths squad.

Missouri junior forward Kim English tweeted today, Frank Haith is about to shock everyone in a couple days and you all will be eating some crow when it comes to Frank. He's about to sign some top notch players! Won't be long before it's announced, unless they want to wait until May 18th at the late signing period. Mizzou fans will be happy! Miami Athletic Director Mike Timmons told ESPN that Haith will surprise a lot of Missouri fans, because what people don’t relize that he coached at Miami, a school that basketball players ask where is that? When recruited. Columbia, is different.

Missouri is called the “show me state” and its well proven that Frank Haith is showing Missouri fans he is out to clean up business.

Mizzou mid-season outlook. Big twelve stronger than its been for a while?

This will no doubt be one of the biggest season in Missouri basketball history. That was a big underline statement a lot of Missouri fans have said before the 2010-2011 season kicked off. Halfway through the college basketball season and one month away from March Madness, the tigers are currently 16-3. So has the tigers underachieved or have they maybe overachieved so far?

Missouri started the season 5-0 with maybe a few disappointing starts until dropping an overtime thriller to the Georgetown Hoyas 14-5 (3-4). Than Missouri went on winning nine straight games with an impressive win over the Illinois Illini 14-5 (4-2). However Missouri opened conference play with a disappointing loss to Colorado 14-5 (3-1) who completely shot lights out with a strong play of Sophomore Alec Burks. Missouri than beat Nebraska 14-4 (2-2). Than on the road once again, losing in overtime to Texas A&M 16-1 (3-0). The loss too Georgetown and Texas A&M probably could have been easy wins had if Missouri knocked down their free throws down late in the stretch. Missouri is currently 7th in the league at Free Throw percentage. So in order for the tigers to step up their game, they must be able to knock down free throws especially late in games and on the road. So could the tigers be 18-1 and a top five team in the nation? Sure. But their not.

Missouri is coming off an impressive win over Jacob Pullen, the 2010-2011 Big 12 pre-season player of the year, All-American and the Kansas State Wildcats. If Missouri can play the rest of their remaining games on the road like they are able too at the wood chipper, they can run the table in the Big Twelve. But in order to do so, they must play like it. Marcus Denmon, who leads Missouri in scoring is getting better and better every game and looking like an all Big Twelve guard and a possible conference player of the year. Phil Pressey also getting use to "Uncle" Mike's system and producing some good minutes and numbers. The statistics for Missouri isn't bad, but they must raise some standers and continue too bring numbers up.

The Big Twelve may just be stronger than it's been in a couple years and more better than a lot of fan's have thought. Especially the home court play. Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa State all teams who were picked to finish at the bottom have respectful records and a few impressive wins. Colorado beat ranked Missouri and Kansas State. While Nebraska has a solid win at home against Colorado and played very tough on the road in Lawrence losing by three to Kansas. Iowa State pounded Baylor up in Ames. Home court advantage will and is going to play a big toll on teams and how they finish. I really don't see any "bad" teams in the Big Twelve this season except for the exception of Oklahoma and Texas Tech which again can surprise anyone at home. The Big Twelve is crazy and good this season.

So as of now, Missouri 16-3 (2-2) Still has a lot of work to do. But the next couple of games will determine how good Missouri really is. They must protect, as I said the home court this weekend against Iowa State. Than the tigers will have to travel to Austin too play the Longhorns than off too Oklahoma State. Two dangerous games that could be huge for the tigers if they can get wins. Than the tigers are back home too play Colorado in a "revenge" game before going into Lawrence on Big Monday too play the mighty Jawhawks of Kansas. Before the season started I predicted the tigers would go 26-5 (12-4). As the tigers stand, the update I have for the season so far is 23-8 (10-6). So from here on out, we will see what happens.

Current Big Twelve Standings.
1. #2 Kansas (3-0), 18-0
2. #11 Texas A&M (3-0), 16-1
3. #10 Texas (2-0), 14-3
4. Colorado (3-1), 14-5
5. #13 Missouri (2-2), 16-3
6. Nebraska (2-2), 14-4
7. Baylor (2-2), 12-5
8. Iowa State (1-2) 14-4
9. Oklahoma State (1,2), 13-6
10. Kansas State (1,3), 13-6
11. Oklahoma (1,3), 9-9
12. Texas Tech (0-4), 8-11

Updated 1st team All Big 12.
G. Alec Burks Colorado
G. Marcus Denmon Missouri
F. Marcus Morris Kansas
F. Markieff Morris Kansas
F. Perry Jones Baylor