Missouri

Marcus Lucas will make his first career start as a Missouri Tiger on Saturday, the sophomore out of Liberty replacing an injured Jerrel Jackson at wide receiver.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel this morning said Jackson is doubtful to play in Saturday's season opener in Columbia against Miami (Ohio) because of a hamstring pull. Also likely out is cornerback Kip Edwards because of injury.

Definitely out of the game because of injuries will be starting center Travis Ruth, reserve receiver Gahn McGaffie and reserve tight end Eric Waters.

I had a chance along with Chris Gervino (KOMU-TV in Columbia) and Joe Walljasper (sports editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune) to be on a panel in Rick McGuire's sociology, sports and media class on Monday night in Columbia.

Great session, and one that dealt in what some may considered a harsh and unfair reality.

One of the abiding themes concerned over-coverage of football and men's basketball at the expense of non-revenue women's sports.

Chicken and the egg discussion regards would those sports be better attended and more popular if the media covered them more.

There should be a lot of black and gold at Kauffman Stadium on June 4.

The Royals will play host to Mizzou Night at the K for the 6:10 game against Minnesota. Tiger fans will get discounts on tickets and parking. The first 700 Tiger fans to purchase tickets online will get a black and gold Royals cap.

Missouri has confirmed what has already been reported via Twitter: That juniors Kim English and Laurence Bowers plan to register for the NBA Draft.

According to an MU release, neither English nor Bowers plan to hire an agent, thus clearing the way to return for their senior seasons.

Bowers' move came on the heels of English, on Sunday night, telling some in the media that he planned to take this action.

They have until May 8 to withdraw from the draft and maintain their college eligibility.

UPDATE - In light of renewed speculation out of Arkansas that the Razorbacks are going to make a push to convince Mike Anderson to leave Missouri for Fayetteville, Anderson was asked a question of which he is growing tired following Missouri's NCAA Tournament loss to Cincinnati.

“I thought I dealt with that,” Anderson said. “I’m excited about what’s taking place at Missouri and I plan on being at Missouri. That’s the bottom line.”

(Written Thursday, prior to MU's loss to Cincinnati)

Kansas and Missouri gained ground in the Associated Press top 25 poll on Monday, while Kansas State dropped out.

KU moved up one spot to No. 2, behind new No. 1 Ohio State. Missouri is No. 13 after being ranked 15th last week.

Kansas State held on to a spot in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, ranked No. 24.

Syracuse is behind the Jayhawks at No. 3 in the AP poll, while former No. 1 Duke fell to fourth.

The AP poll:

1. Ohio State
2. Kansas
3. Syracuse
4. Duke
5. Pittsburgh
6. San Diego State
7. Villanova
8. Connecticut
9. BYU
10. Texas
11. Texas A&M
12. Kentucky

Having just turned off the Chiefs telecast midway through the final quarter in order to do something constructive with my life, I'm done with the constructive.

Took down the Christmas tree. Disposed of five year's worth of ashes in the fireplace pit.

And now have moved from the constructive to the reconstructive.
Whatever. What I mean is that although my final AP Top 25 college football vote isn't due for a bit - there being 4,003 more bowl games to consider - that I am taking time to move teams around off what has already happened.

We have to turn in our bowl game predictions this week at The Star, and I just sent in mine.

As I do every year, with no strong belief that I know what I'm doing.

Although I am currently tied - along with the KU and K-State beat writers - atop the selection standings, consider that ours is a five-person competition.

And it is entirely possible - even probable - that every one of us is largely clueless when it comes time to picking so many games.

As I remember a year ago more of my bowl predictions were wrong than were right.

Days after making first-team All-American on the Walter Camp Football Foundation squad, Missouri junior tight end Michael Egnew received another huge honor Tuesday: He was named a first-team Associated Press All-American.

Egnew led the nation’s tight ends with 83 receptions this season. His 698 receiving yards was second-most among all tight ends.

The team:

First-team offense

Quarterback — Cam Newton, junior, 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Auburn.

Running backs — LaMichael James, sophomore, 5-9, 185, Oregon; Kendall Hunter, junior, 5-9, 200, Oklahoma State.

Congratulations for the AP voters on selecting Missouri's Andrew Gachkar to the first team at linebacker on the All Big-12 Conference football team and Brad Madison to the second team at defensive end.

Gachkar and Madison are the type of players who too often are ignored on these teams. Mainly because they weren't on the radar before the season began.

A lot of us who watch Missouri for a living were saying most of the season that Gachkar was having an All-Big 12 style of year. So kudos to the voters who were primarily watching some other team.