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NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Missouri Tigers (Big 12)

Quick article by Jason Green detailing the Missouri Tigers 2011 Season win total odds for over under NCAA Basketball betting futures and a season wins prediction…

2011-2012 NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Missouri Tigers

Mizzou is a legit team and had a decent shot to win the Big 12 and go far in the Big Dance mainly because Laurence Bowers and Kim English decided to forgo the NBA and come back to Columbia.

Let’s take a look at the numbers:
NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Missouri (Big 12 Conference)
Odds To Win National Title: +10,000
Odds to win Big 12: +600

However, Bowers suffered a season-ending knee injury in the pre-season and that is a big blow to the Tigers.

The Tigers have a new coach in Frank Haith, who left sunny Miami to take reigns at Mizzou, but can an up-tempo running team like the Tigers play in his half court man-to-man game? Big question.

There are big expectations for Mozzou this season mainly because they have a great backcourt with 3 returning players that all averaged double figures last season. Still, while the Tigers can score they only ranked 151st in the nation in rebounding last season and that is a concern.

Additions

FW Kadeem Green is not really a new addition, as he red-shirted last season and he is 6’8″ and a good athlete that will be counted on to score and hit the boards. Andy Rosburg came to the Tigers from Mizzou’s club team to provide depth in the front-court. The Tigers may be a year away from being a great team, as next year Bowers will likely return and the Tigers have a great 2012 recruiting class coming in.

Subtractions

The one major loss is Bowers, who was the team’s 2nd leading score and leading rebounder last season. Most of the other main players return to Columbia. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Key Players

Marcus Denmon (16.9 ppg 3.5 rpg last season) is the leader of the team and he is a shooting guard that can also rebound. Michael Dixon (10.3 ppg 3.5 apg last season) and English (10 ppg 2.0 apg last season) will probably be the 3-guards in the starting lineup for the Tigers and all can fill it up. Not only can all 3 shoot the rock, but they are also solid defenders.

Surprising Stat

Even though the Tigers play in a great conference in the Big 12 they do not face a team ranked in the preseason top 25 until over half their season is over facing 19th ranked Texas A&M on January 16th.

Strengths: The backcourt is the obvious strength of the team both on offense and defense. Denmon, Dixin, and English can also score in bunches and they should have no problem getting up and down the court and creating many turnovers with their defense.

Weaknesses: The Tigers have big question marks in the front-court now with Bowers out and Ricardo Ratliffe (10.5 ppg 6.1 rpg) will really need some help in the paint. Will he get it? If he does not the Tigers may struggle, as opposing teams will load the perimeter to keep the high scoring G trio from killing them.

Post Season: Even with Bowers out I think the Tigers will make to the Big Dance, but I do not think they will make much noise once there.

Projected Wins: 22

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By Jason Green

Jason Green is back with Cappers Picks again to give out his free sports plays. As always he's hoping the Braves and Redskins can win a championship since their last one in the 90’s was long ago. He’s starting to know the pain of Cubs fans.