If we're talking about truly locking down the state, you're right. I think we can land 2 of the top 3 every year, though. The Mizzou brand is exploding right now.

It's just tough when you have so many other schools so close to your recruiting beds.



Realistically, STL and KC are your hot spots. You have KSU and KU in the KC area and Illinois and others in STL.


I think MU can absolutely get and should get 75 percent of the top guys. It gets tough when you have the UNC's, Duke's and Ku's coming after guys as well.


Saul is right though, the MU brand is blowing up right now.

I agree, in a Norfolk-stantic way.
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KU obviously presents some challenges, but I think that can be overcome. KSU is a non-factor.

Somehow I'm not real worried about losing recruits to KSU. Even when KSU was at their apex, they weren't exactly stealing recruits from under our noses. Now that good ol' Dudly Weber is there, I just don't give a large rats ass about the fightin' Ekos.

Likewise with Illinois. They haven't generally been a threat for premier Missouri talent.

If Mizzou can lock down 1/2 of Missouri's top-shelf (i.e. 4 and 5 star) talents, they'll be in very good shape. That's 1 or 2 of those premium players every year; more than enough to build the foundation for a very strong program. Surround them with a plus transfer, a high-end out of state player or 2, (getting a Webster-Chan caliber player every season shouldn't be tough) and some good coaching finds (the Dixons/Denmons of the world) and Mizzou should be a threat for the Sweet 16 most seasons.

Well, provided they can slip past Norfolk State, that is.

(!@#$)

I've never really trolled in MU threads.

But after this past year, and with Haith's 2nd year looming -- what are your guys expectations of MU and MU in the SEC?

Yeah probably Illinois and Ksu were reaches, but I was just talkin.


Granted the State of Missouri doesn't turn out 4 and 5 stars yearly, it's pretty often. MU needs to lock down those guys for sure. I think they will, but it's still something that Haith hasn't had to do yet so you never know.


He's off to a good start and I really expect MU to contend for the SEC next year. I think the year after and the year after that are the years you will really see what Haith can do in regards to recruiting.

Also have to worry, for some reason, how Florida keeps grabbing these guys from STL.

Am I the only one that would prefer Dixon come off the bench again next year instead of being a starter? I think he's much better as a high-energy, quick offense guy rather than a starting shooting guard.

He is our only other legit PG besides Flip so I don't like both of them playing at the same time except rarely to give a different look. I also think him and Flip are too small to play often at the same time.

Give Dixon starter minutes just like this year but bring him off the bench.

My expectations are kind of up in the air, to be honest. We have a good class coming in and should have decent depth. It will be interesting to see how Haith does with a more traditional type of team rather than the four guard lineup he used this past season.

I don't think you can do that to the kid.

He's been a model soldier and one of the hardest workers I've seen in a long time for Mizzou. As a senior, he deserves to get that first run at the starter gig.

If he can't handle it or Mizzou is better with him coming off the bench, I'm confident that Haith will deal with that and Dixon will take the demotion like he's taken everything in his career. But ultimately he's absolutely earned the starting job going into the season.

Besides, Dixon more of an undersized 2 than a true 1 anyway. And we don't really have anyone to replace Denmons volume as a scorer if Dixon stays on the bench. I don't think you can count on that from Ross or Bell.

If one of them can just force Dixon to the bench, so be it. But it has to be Dixon's job to lose. He's earned that right.

I would prefer Dixon off the bench, but I want him to start if he wants to start. He's earned it, and I don't want him feeling slighted.

I think Haith can stagger his substitutions so that we will almost always have one of them on the floor.

Stick around.

I expect Mizzou to finish in the top 3 in the SEC next year. Hell, I think we can win it if a few things break our way.

In the long-term, I need to see how Haith recruits before I can set expectations. So far, I've got no reason to doubt that he is going to recruit well, but this is the Show Me State.

You start Dixon. No question.



Like stated you need some scoring and you know he can bring that offense. I think again, like state, he's a natural two who can swing and play the point if needed.

Gabe DeArmond was on 810 this morning talking about how the staff is preparing for Pressey to leave after next season. I can't imagine him being dumb enough to think he's going to get drafted high enough to warrant making the leap.

Dude's 5'9 with a shaky jumpshot. He's a brilliant facilitator, but I don't know who he could possibly guard in the NBA.