Mizzou's Mike Anderson: Talking Tigers and the Big 12 Tournament

From Ramsey’s Rage, to Third Time Against Nebraska and even a comment on the duties of sportswriters. . . Missouri Coach Mike Anderson touched on a bit of everything on Monday morning in a pre-Big 12 Tournament teleconference before the Tigers’ 2:15 p.m. open-to-the-public practice session on Tuesday at Kansas City’s Sprint Center.

On Keith Ramsey, who since the loss of forward Justin Safford, has averaged 38 minutes on the court, eight rebounds and has hit 10 of 20 shots in MU’s last three games:

“He’s a senior and I think it means a lot to him,” Anderson said. “He knows that the team needs him. We try to get him as much rest as we possibly can.
“The reasons he’s probably playing so many minutes is we have some people getting in foul trouble. Now he’s got to get out there even longer than I want him to.
“Keith, he’s laying it on the line. He’s giving us everything he’s got.
“He plays with energy. . . a lot of energy and a lot of emotion.
“The games are winding down. He has a great opportunity to continue to put his face on our program. You talk about leadership and ownership. He’s showing us that now.”

How tough could it be for Missouri to beat Nebraska for the third time this season, which is the requirement with the Cornhuskers providing the Tigers’ opposition at 2 p.m. on Wednesday?

“It’s tough to beat a team anyway,” Anderson said. “Our games have always been competitive. Doc (Sadler) does a great job with them. Defensively, they get after you.

“We know what they’re going to do. And they know what we’re going to try to do. Everybody’s got tape and everybody knows about everybody.

“You’ll see some teams go down. Therefore, you’d better bring it, each time you take the floor.”

So, that’s just an angle that sportswriter’s ponder?

“That’s what they get paid for,” Anderson said, “to think and write. I guess.”

On Marcus Denmon, who now has moved up to become Missouri's second-leading scorer behind Kim English:

“He’s the sixth man on our team and I think even in the league because of what he brings to the table,” Anderson said.

“He’s doing more than just scoring. That’s what really excites me.

“He’s attacking. He’s getting to the free throw line. He’s making assists. He’s rebounding the basketball. The game against Iowa State, he had eight rebounds.

“He’s continued to evolve.”

No team has won four games in four days to win the championship of the Big 12 Tournament. So is Anderson really even looking at that possibility?

“It’s one at a time,” Anderson said. “For a team that plays a lot of players, which we do, our depth is going to be important.

“The most important game is that first game.

“You go four days you’ve got to have some guys dragging. My first year at UAB we were able to play four games in four days and we were probably a basket away from beating Louisville at Louisville.”

“I’ve seen it done before.”

Where the team is now compared to last year’s team, which came in with a head of steam and won the Big 12 Tournament title?

“We’re in an adjustment period right now because of losing Safford. We’re still trying to find those guys who are going to fill in. We’re still adjusting.

“I’m one of those guys. I don’t worry about what you don’t have at this point. You’ve got to work with what you’ve got. Good teams will make that adjustment.

“Keith’s stepping up. Steve Moore has filled in. Hopefully Laurence Bowers will continue to evolve in that starting role.”

Talking about three Kansas City-area players seeing minutes for Mizzou this season:

“Denmon is the second-leading scorer. Steve Moore is getting some opportunities to play some big minutes. He’s really improved from last year and even from this year to what he is right now.

“Mike Dixon. He had a very-good non-conference season. In conference, he’s like any other freshman. He’s kind of been up and down. But you can see the potential with him, with his quickness and his basketball IQ.

“They are having an impact on our program and I’m sure they’re looking forward to coming home and having an opportunity to play in front of family and friends and the Tiger Nation.”