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2007 Missouri Basketball Predictions & Season Preview

The Tigers have gone four seasons now without advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Can they get back to the big dance this season? Find out in Jimmy’s 2007 Missouri Tigers predictions and season preview.

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A 7-9 finish in the Big 12 and an 18-12 record last season was not good enough for postseason play. Missouri’s biggest downfall keeping them from an above .500 conference finish was its rebounding. The Tigers were outrebounded by an average of 8.8 boards per game against conference opponents last season. Head coach Mike Anderson is hoping that 6’8’’ Vanderbilt transfer, DeMarre Carroll, will be able to gobble up enough boards to get his team back in the field of 65. Carroll averaged 10.9 points and 6.4 boards per game as a sophomore with the Commodores. Carroll’s presence will hopefully bring the best out of senior Marshall Brown as competition normally does. Brown averaged a solid 12.0 points per game in league play last season. While power forward looks to be in good shape, the center position is thin following Anderson’s decision to remove Kalen Grimes from the team following an arrest. Leo Lyons will step in and give the Tigers a better offensive player, but he won’t be the same force defensively.

The backcourt will be held down by senior Stefhon Hannah. He took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors last year, leading the Tiger in scoring, with 15.4 per games, assists, with 4.6 per game, and steals, with 2.4 per game. Anderson has called his star out telling him that he needs to reduce his 3.3 turnover per game and to become a better defensive player. Often times, his desire to get steals off the ball cost him. Sophomore Keon Lawrence will team with Hannah to make a solid backcourt duo. The 6’2’’ guard averaged 10.7 points per game in Big 12 play. Matt Lawrence brings a great three-point shooting presence as well.

Expect Missouri to be one of about four teams (Texas, Texas A&M, Kansas State the other three) challenging for a spot among the league’s elite behind Kansas. Even if they finish fifth in the league, they will almost assuredly get an NCAA Tournament bid. I think this team is putting too much emphasis on Carroll and losing Grimes will hurt more than they are letting on. Still, I think Missouri gets back to the Big Dance, but will likely be one and done.