2008 Missouri Tigers Basketball Predictions & Season Preview
Written October 9, 2008 by Jack Jones
It’s time for third-year head coach Mike Anderson to get this Missouri basketball program back on track. When he came on board he promised fans his style would be fast paced and big on aggressive defense. That was the style he learned as a disciple of Nolan Richardson while at Arkansas, but so far he hasn’t been able to duplicate the results here at Missouri. This is supposed to be the year as he saw the seniors that were causing so many off the court problems graduate and he brought in seven new players this year. Guys who are supposed to fit his system. He needs to step it up this year from last year’s 16-16 record and 6-10 performance in the Big 12. The odds makers think he will do a little better and so do we. Missouri is currently a 9-to-1 favorite to win the Big 12 title.
The Missouri frontcourt is in good hands with a pair of seniors. DeMarre Carroll was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year when he averaged 13 points and 6.7 rebounds a year ago. Those numbers could have been even better but he was struggling with an ankle problem most of the season. With his tough rebounding inside and ability to slash to the basket, you can expect another great season out of Carroll. Leo Lyons will also be looked upon to carry the offensive load. Lyons is coming off a junior campaign in which he averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting a league-high 58.3% from the floor. He can stretch the defense out with his jump shot and is extremely quick for being 6′9″ and 240 pounds. Justin Stafford also returns and has a solid shot and pretty good quickness, but he needs to be more consistent. Some newcomers expecting to see time are Keith Ramsey, one of the best junior college forwards in the country a year ago, Steve Moore, and Laurence Bowers.
The backcourt is the bigger question mark, especially since their fourth leading scorer a year ago in Keon Lawrence decided to transfer. The point guard spot will be a fight between Zaire Taylor and Miguel Paul. Paul is more of a pass-first guy who looks like a great floor leader, while Taylor is fast and lanky which should give the Tigers a solid defensive stopper on the perimeter. At shooting guard it will be either JT Tiller or Marcus Denmon. Tiller has experience, works hard, and plays solid defense while the freshman Denmon is a Kansas City native who can really score. At small forward there is Matt Lawrence. Lawrence is a sharp shooter from deep but he needs players around him to give him open looks.
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Final Analysis - 7th in our Big 12 Basketball Predictions
If the new players can come in and contribute right away then this Missouri team will surprise some people. I really like Lyons and Carroll up front, but the backcourt is full of question marks with so many new faces having to contribute right away. This team probably ends up somewhere in the middle of the Big 12 pack, but with an upset or two could work their way into the NCAA tournament. Missouri is currently 150-to-1 for winning the national title come April.
