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PrintMissouri men's basketball coach Mike Anderson has a chance to build a legacy. Just three years after being hired as the Tigers' head coach, the basketball program that seemed destined to fail year after year, rose above everyone's expectations. Making it through three rounds of post-season play, it's hard to imagine why Anderson would ever want to leave his boys.
But according to a Columbia Daily Tribune article, he could move south to vacant head coaching positions at either the University of Alabama or the University of Georgia.
- MU's Zaire Taylor talks to fans and signs autographs at the Mizzou Arena on Sunday after the team arrived back in Columbia.
- Ross Steelman, left, and Mathew Rothermich play basketball outside the Mizzou Arena. Their parents, like many Mizzou fans, were present to welcome back the basketball team after its successful stint at the NCAA tournament.
- MU men's basketball team head coach Mike Anderson speaks with the media at the Mizzou Arena on Sunday. A reception was held at the Arena to welcome the team home.
- Mizzou basketball fans wait outside Mizzou Arena on Sunday to greet the team as they arrived back from Glendale, Ariz., and its trip to the NCAA tournament.
- J.T. Tiller is welcomed home by fans as he gets off the team bus Sunday afternoon.
- Mizzou fans cheer and take pictures as the MU men's basketball team arrives outside the Mizzou Arena from Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday.
- MU's Kim English signs autographs for fans outside Mizzou Arena on Sunday after the team arrived back in Columbia. Mizzou fans gathered to welcome back the team after its trip to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament.
It's all speculation at this point, but Anderson hasn't denied the claims either, saying earlier this week that he wanted to focus reporters' questions on the NCAA tournament.
Other newspapers have all but confirmed that Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant will head the Crimson Tide's team, but there's no doubt that schools will be clamoring to appeal to Anderson, especially now that the Tigers have moved into the Elite Eight.
The Tribune anticipates that Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden will wait until after the season to offer Anderson a contract extension or pay raise, and even that might not be enough to keep Anderson around.
Should Alden go all out to keep Anderson around, like he did for Tigers football coach Gary Pinkel?
Comments
Alden needs to do whatever possible to keep Anderson around, the increase in merchandise sold and fan attendance will offset the costs.