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PrintJason Horton admitted what many people who watch Missouri men’s basketball know. For the past two seasons, the Tigers have overlooked Davidson.
“You look at their name and it really doesn’t strike fear into you,” Horton said. “But we have to approach every team like it’s Kentucky or North Carolina. We can’t afford to overlook anyone.”
In its two meetings with Davidson, Missouri has learned that lesson. On Nov. 19, 2004 in Columbia, the Wildcats defeated Missouri 84-81. That was Missouri’s first loss at Mizzou Arena, then called the Paige Sports Arena. Over a year later, on Dec. 7, 2005, Missouri lost 82-73 at Davidson. Those results, however, should not have been viewed as a surprise. In the last two seasons, Missouri sputtered its way to a 28-33 record. Davidson, meanwhile, won 43 games and reached the 2006 NCAA tournament. Davidson coach Bob McKillop said the wins over Missouri were important to the progress of his program.
“Missouri has a great basketball tradition,” McKillop said. “Beating a major team puts you on a national stage.”
That doesn’t mean that McKillop was surprised to beat Missouri twice.
“We’ve expected to win those games,” McKillop said. “I think we’ve had some pretty good players.”
Many of the players who contributed to those wins over Missouri are gone. Ian Johnson, who scored 23 points last season against Missouri, has graduated. Guards Brendan Winters and Kenny Grant, who combined for 27 points against the Tigers, also exhausted their eligibility. But, despite losing seven players from last season’s team, the Wildcats are 3-1 and beat Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday.
“We’ve been tested,” McKillop said. “But Missouri will be the highest profile team we will have played.”
But, as forward Marshall Brown said, the Tigers are also a different team. Not only have the Tigers lost Thomas Gardner, Jimmy McKinney and Kevin Young, they have completely changed their style of play under new coach Mike Anderson. It also has beaten teams that it should, defeating four teams from mid-major conferences by an average of 17.5 points.
“If we beat them, it would show that we’ve changed,” Brown said. “We’re not going to predicate our season on whether we win or lose against them.”
Even though he wasn’t a Tiger for those two losses, freshman guard Keon Lawrence knows Missouri’s history with Davidson. He also said he thinks that the changes Missouri has made will make it difficult for Davidson to go 3-0 against Missouri.
“If we play as a team, they aren’t going to be able to run with us,” Lawrence said of today’s 1 p.m. game at Mizzou Arena. “I’m really going to be energized for this game. Let’s see if Davidson can bring it.”
Lawrence also said that what happened in the past two seasons won’t matter at game time. Because of all the changes to Missouri and Davidson, the history will be just that when the game starts. History.
“It’s a new year and we’re doing new things,” Lawrence said. “We’re all freshmen, this whole team is freshmen. With the style we’re playing, we’re all freshmen. This is a work in progress.”
Davidson might also be a work in progress. Anderson said this year’s Davidson team, while young, is one that is scoring points and is well-coached.
“They like playing the possession game. They’re shooting the ball well,” Anderson said. “This is going to be a challenge for our basketball team.”
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