Source: Columbia Missourian

Mizzou has recently become a school that is familiar with ESPN’s popular show College Gameday with the show televising from campus in 2010 for the Homecoming game against No. 1 Oklahoma. The basketball version of the show also stopped by for the past year’s Border War victory against Kansas. Fans now have a chance to bring the program back to Columbia for a third time.

The football edition of College Gameday is holding a fan vote to choose where to film a commercial for the show over the summer. It would be an opportunity to further put Mizzou in the national spotlight, something Athletic Director Mike Alden and the rest of the Mizzou athletic department has emphasized since moving to the SEC. Mizzou also holds the attendance record for the taping of a show, set on Oct. 23, 2010, before Mizzou’s Homecoming upset of then-No. 1 Oklahoma. More than 18,000 people packed onto the Francis Quadrangle that morning, creating a frenzied atmosphere with the iconic columns and Jesse Hall in the background.

Unfortunately, Mizzou has quite a bit of ground to make up before voting ends on May 2. The current standings have Mizzou at ninth with 4,583 votes. The current leader is fellow Big 12-to-SEC transfer Texas A&M with a ridiculous 377,798 votes. NC State (330,584 votes), Nebraska (33,427), Virginia Tech (15,948) and Arkansas (15,212) round out the top five. And in case anyone was wondering, Kansas ranks 79th with a paltry 178 votes.

Mizzou helped create one of the most memorable atmospheres in College Gameday history and it’s apparent that Tiger fans would come out in full force to support their team, given their holding of the attendance record. But Texas A&M and NC State have blown away the competition so far and it appears one of those schools has the early advantage for the TV spot. But Mizzou may have a chance for a return of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and Desmond Howard and the rest of the Gameday crew next season when Georgia comes to town in the second week of the season, Mizzou’s first conference game in the SEC. Fans can vote for the TV spot at GamedayVote.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/collegegameday.

While it might seem that a rebuilding year for the Wildcats would be imminent, as a result of losing all five starters and sixth man Darius Miller, it is important to note how coach John Calipari has employed a recruiting style different from any other major college coach since arriving in Lexington. And now that he has a national championship under his belt to back up his philosophy of recruiting players that intend to leave for the NBA after one season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more and more top recruits make the Wildcats their top choice in the coming years.

For next season, the Wildcats bring in a trio of players that share resemblance to three of the Wildcats’ most important players from this season. Calipari’s top signee was 6 foot 4 guard Archie Goodwin, who was ranked as high as 7th in the nation by MaxPreps, and who reminds many Kentucky fans of current guard Doron Lamb, who quietly and efficiently led the team in scoring throughout the NCAA tournament. And at some period of time next year, it is expected that Goodwin will get some playing time at the point guard position, once he has mastered and comfortable with the offense scheme.

In addition, Calipari was able to sign 7 foot center Willie Cauley, a Kansas native, away from the in-state Jayhawks and to the Wildcats. While Cauley is a 7 footer, he is comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter and boasts a true all around game, traits that are very similar to current player of the year Anthony Davis. When Cauley explained why he chose Kentucky over Kansas, he stated, “I felt going to Kentucky, I’ll be playing against the best in the nation. I’ll get better and have a chance to go (to the NBA) early. That was a big thing.” Clearly, this statement shows how more and more top recruits are comfortable with the idea of being a one and done player, now that the system has been in place for several years. And as a result, players like Cauley from across the country are abandoning their respective in-state powerhouses to come play for the Wildcats.

The final Kentucky signee of the 2012 class is 6 foot 7 small forward Alex Poythress, who closely resembles current small forward and future NBA lottery pick Terrence Jones in his stature and athleticism. In fact, rivals.com senior analyst Jerry Meyer went as far as to say that Poythress is a more explosive athlete than Jones.

Clearly, these three incoming freshmen will play prominent roles for the Wildcats next season, and although Kentucky will not be as dominant as they were this season, they have to be considered early favorites to win the SEC championship in 2013.

March 08, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Kim English (24) gestures after scoring during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center. Kansas won 83 - 66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

The No. 5 Missouri Tigers (28-4) got off to a dominating start in their final run in the Big XII Tournament, defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys (15-18) 88-70. Their next opponent, the Texas Longhorns (20-12) also kicked off their Big XII Tournament campaign on the right foot, upsetting the Iowa State Cyclones (22-10) 71-65. The two teams will square off for a berth in the finals tonight at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

The Longhorns and the Tigers have had very different seasons up to this point, but still have plenty to play for. Texas is squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but may have earned a spot in March Madness when they, the sixth seed in the Big XII, beat the third-seeded Cyclones. A win over Missouri would all but guarantee them a spot in the dance. The second-seeded Tigers can’t allow that to happen if they want to continue their contention for a number one seed in March Madness, which is still in their sights. They will likely have to win the Big XII Tournament to do so, which would mean defeating Texas first then beating either Kansas or Baylor, who play in the other semifinal. Finishing ahead of Kansas in the tournament, who is currently projected to be a one seed in March Madness, would give Mizzou their best shot to claim a top seed.

Mizzou advanced to the semifinals by blitzing Oklahoma State in the early goings of the first half and not looking back. Led by senior guard Kim English (14.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG), who scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half, the Tigers went on a 26-5 run in the first half, and led by as many as 29 points. The Tigers were an offensive juggernaut, shooting 59.3 % for the game and had four players score in double figures, including 24 points and eight rebounds from senior guard Marcus Denmon (18.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG). Sophomore guard Phil Pressey (9.5 PPG, 6.3 APG) also added 12 assists, one shy of a team record, and five steals. The Tigers also manhandled the shorthanded Cowboys, who were missing Big 12 Freshman of the Year Le’Bryan Nash (13.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG) who is out with an injured hand, on the glass, outrebounding them 37-18 and not allowing an offensive rebound in the first half. There was an emotional moment at the end of the game when OSU senior guard Keiton Page (17.1 PPG, 2.2 APG), one of the most accomplished players in Oklahoma State history, was removed from his final game as a Cowboy. Page  received a standing ovation from the majority of fans in attendance, even non-OSU supporters. (more…)