Mizzou Sports Q&A: Growing Pains

Where the Tigers Stand After Recent Losses

Join Eli Hoff for a lively Q&A where he addresses Tiger football, basketball, and the evolving landscape of college sports.

"I'll take your Mizzou/college sports questions and thoughts for the next couple hours, so let's chat!" - Eli Hoff

Basketball Roster Analysis

senior scramble: I like Gates' 10-man rotation against LSU. But I wonder why coaches are even bothering recruiting freshmen? Will they get minutes?

Hoff: I agree generally with your vision of the core, though I just don't know if Shaw will reach "core player" status. I think you can add Marcus Allen to the core category, and assuming he takes a leap, Annor Boateng.

College Sports Future

Hoff: I think we're closing in on a broader college sports reckoning around the value of high school recruiting. It's better to frame it as "is high school recruiting worth it?" because this is all a numbers/money game now.

Basketball Matchup Preview

Russ: What is your quick take on the Vandy basketball team coming to Columbia?

Hoff: This is the best barometer matchup for Mizzou since the Memphis game. Mizzou is No. 42 in KenPom and No. 36 in NET. Vanderbilt is No. 50 in KenPom No. 37 in NET. These teams are very much in the same tier.

Player Development Questions

Florida Al: Is there still time for Boateng to make contributions this year? Also, the team in general shoots pretty well from the line, but virtually all of our "bigs" are struggling there.

Hoff: I don't think I could overstate how much this coaching staff loves Marcus Allen as a prospect. I never rule out growth for any player, especially Boateng. It's a red flag when it comes to the bigs. It was costly against Illinois.

Print Edition Changes

poolmwv: How is the print version going to affect you? Would the print version possibly be different because you would have more time for additional information?

Hoff: Any night game will miss our print deadline, but it doesn't really change my workflow. The LSU story was in today's paper, for example.

College Football Playoffs

Evil Calvin: Do you think Notre Dame not being in a conference massively helps them get to....and play in the CFP? I mean...they don't play in a championship game, which could possibly give them a loss.

Hoff: I do think avoiding a conference championship game is a good thing. I don't know that Notre Dame is unfairly advantaged by not being in a conference, though.

Conference Expansion Rumors

South City Steve: Do you think tripling the playoff field gave some major programs (Ole Miss, Alabama) a false sense of confidence about their likely inclusion, and the week-to-week focus and prep slipped?

Hoff: I haven't thought about it that way, but you might be onto something. All you can do is laugh at a coach like Kiffin behaving the way he did about the CFP.

Fan Interaction

Meat Athlete Experience Suggestion: Get Mizzou to grant you an athlete meal plan for a week. Eat like a lineman. Report back on the results.

Hoff: Love the idea, but like a lineman?! I'm trying to trim down this year, not bulk up!

Tournament Potential

c_good: Buy or sell: Mizzou as a relatively deep tournament team (like sweet sixteen or elite eight)

Hoff: Wouldn't buy it yet. I'd need to see Mizzou win a game that is truly decided in the final minute to feel good about that, because that would tell me that they're capable of winning in chaos in a tournament scenario.

Closing Thoughts

Hoff: Eli Hoff:\u00a0Happy Thursday! Thanks for the questions \u2014 I really look forward to doing these chats with y'all, too.