I'm not the only one that thinks MU SUCKS

Snyder's return only delays inevitable at Missouri
Nov. 16, 2005
By Gregg Doyel
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Missouri should have fired Quin Snyder in March, and I mean that in defense of Snyder.

Quin Snyder's Tigers are already off to an 0-1 start. (Getty Images)
Like Mike Davis at Indiana, who clearly must lead his team into the 2006 NCAA Tournament or start packing his things, Snyder is facing a win-or-else season at Missouri.

No one has come out and said exactly that -- no one who would know, anyway -- but that's the widespread speculation. Quin must win, or Quin is gone.

Even Snyder speculated as much this summer, and then last month he said he suspected that Missouri "might can my ass" -- an outrageously honest thing for a coach to say so close to the early signing period. Within days, point guard Armon Bassett had backed off his commitment to Missouri (and opted for Indiana, of all places).

The only person who knows Snyder's status for sure is Missouri athletics director Mike Alden, and he's not talking. He didn't respond to multiple interview requests from CBS SportsLine.com on the topic. Alden knew what my question was going to be. By refusing to even entertain it, he basically gave away his answer.

Quin must win, or Quin is gone.

Which is ridiculous, because Quin can't win. Not this season. Not with this Missouri team in this Big 12 conference. The Big 12 is awesome, perhaps as awesome as it's ever been. Missouri is young, perhaps as young as it's ever been. That's a bad combination. Losing to Sam Houston State on Monday night was not a fluke. It was an omen.

But there were omens before, if Alden had been paying attention. He should have known in March where Missouri fit into the Big 12's immediate picture. Don't start with Linas Kleiza, either. Kleiza knew in March he was leaving for the NBA. Snyder knew. Alden had to know, and if Alden didn't, shame on him for being unable to see the forest (the Big 12's outlook in 2005-06) or the trees (Kleiza's NBA plan).

Despite its recent mediocrity on the court and an NCAA investigation that ended with three years of NCAA probation, Missouri chose to bring back Snyder for a sixth season. Alden made that announcement in February. He also indicated that Snyder didn't have a lifetime appointment, or even a multiple-year guarantee. To keep his job beyond 2005-06, Snyder needed to win more games. Alden was clear on that.

Nice. You don't walk into a Kia showroom and ask to see a Cadillac. You don't hit the McDonald's drive-through and order filet mignon. And if you're the athletics director at Missouri, you don't look at the current state of your basketball program, and at the current state of the Big 12, and demand immediate and noticeable improvement ... or else.

You fire the coach. You make the move, and you move on. That's what Alden should have done, because it would have been a lot more realistic than expecting tangible improvement on the court this season. Missouri is not Indiana. Snyder is not Mike Davis. If Indiana can't get into the 2006 NCAA Tournament with the talent on hand, Davis doesn't deserve another year in Bloomington.

Indiana basketball isn't the mansion it once was under Bob Knight, but it's still a damn fine house, and it's move-in ready. Missouri is a fixer-upper. Missouri needs time. Whoever the coach is, he needs time.

Another layer to this conversation is the relationship between Snyder and Alden. There isn't one. That's the worst-kept secret in Columbia, Mo. They clash over everything, from the location of Snyder's parking space to the time of daily department meetings.

Their relationship turned during the NCAA investigation. The NCAA went looking for $100 bills but found only nickels and dimes, but it was enough. It was embarrassing, beginning with the Ricky Clemons fiasco that began to unfold in 2003 and had turned Missouri into a punch line by 2004.

Alden could have fired Snyder several times along the way. He didn't, though it's not clear if he was showing strong leadership or weak indecision.

Now, Alden apparently has given Snyder an NCAA-or-else ultimatum. That's not indecision, but it's not leadership, either.

It's a wasted year for everyone involved.

My Thoughts on the Darnell Jackson situation

I've been in the US=CLASS, THEM=NO CLASS boat for a long time....and I've finally recently come to the conclusion that that belief is complete horseshit.

There are, or have been, classy fans and idiot fans at every university. There are, or have been, classy players and idiot players at every university. There are, or have been, classy coaches and idiot coaches at every university. There are, or have been, classy administrators and idiot administrators at every university.

And I realize this means that I've said that MU has some classy people too. I don't have problems with them. It's the idiots I can do without....and that's regardless of what university they represent.

WE ARE KANSAS. But we are far from above the law....and I think that entire line of thinking needs to go out the window with the rest of the bathwater.

Should we strive for it as a university, as fans, as coaches, as administrators, as students, etc? Hell yes. But will there always be friggin' idiots that screw it up? Hell yes.

So we'll just keep fighting the good fight....keep having good natured rivalries.....keep cheering on our alma mater.....and roll with the punches when bad luck or misfortune falls upon our beloved university.....

I mean...what other choice do we really have? Is anyone here going to stop being interested in KU basketball or football anytime soon? I know I'm not.

Mic

Kurtis Townsend on 810 A.M.

Kurtis Townsend was on 810 A.M. this morning...here are a few tidbits....

*Thought the kids played hard and really shared the ball. They played unselfish.
*Brandon can score 15-20 points and make it look easy. He played pretty good defense and rebounded the ball really well.
*Christian gives you "that steady hand and he's been there before".
*Russell Robinson--"Russell's had a great fall and a really good summer. He's gotten a lot stronger. I thought Russell did a good job. He can shoot the ball really good and didn't shoot it as good as he wanted to."
*Stephen Vinson--"Coach rewards guy that work the hardest and do the best. He doesn't have the talent that the other guys do. Coach sends the other guys a message on this is how hard you have to work. He's a great leader in practice. He's been the best of the guys in practice for 3 weeks. I thought he played hard like he does every day in practice and Coach rewarded him for that."
*Most important things to work on before Maui---Every day in practice, try to get better. We really have to get better defensively. Good teams aren't going to turn it over that much (as FHSU). We want to get the ball up the court and run. We've got things we definitely need to work on. I'm impressed on how hard they played and shared the ball.
*Best freshman last night--Rush--really impressed with how he played...and shot the ball so well from the FT line.
*Mario has unbelievable poise. He doesn't look or play like a freshman.
*Free throw shooting is always a concern, but they haven't worked on free throws much because they've been working on so many other things in practice. If you take Sasha out, the team didn't shoot that bad. Sasha has to get better because he is going to get fouled a lot. We'll work on it and get better.
*Different approach for coaching such a young team--Last year's group was great, but there is something about youth...they come in and are wide eyed....they are like sponges....even the sophomores....they all like each other...it's a challenge every day and it's fun....it's a good group and we're looking forward to the season.
*Darnell Jackson---has an eligibility issue--more precautionary thing--I can't say more than that--Coach Self would have to address that. I expect him to be ready for the season, but that's in somebody else's hands.
*Matt Kleinnmann--Matt's a fan favorite...he's a kid that works very, very hard....he works as hard as anybody...he's one of our best sealers of all of the big men, but doesn't have the athletic ability of the other big men...I think he's going to be able to help us before he gets done...that was fun to see him get out there and score enough last night.
*Sherron Collins--one word: TOUGHNESS...he grew up on the streets....he is a really tough kid that hates to lose...he'll be a really exciting player and I think you guys will really like him.
*Brady Morningstar--great feel for the game---great local kid---great program player--someone that will work hard every day, understand the fundamentals, and do the things that will help you win.

Mic

First Half Thoughts--KU vs. Fort Hays State

KU forced 9 TO's in the first 8 minutes. Quick, quick, quick hands!

Anyone else in love with Mario Chalmers yet?

Nice give and go from Rush to Sasha for a dunk early in the game.

Oh and did I mention the defense? Wow...I love the full court pressure....I love the intensity.

And how about CJ Giles showing some range on a couple of nice jumpers?

This team is going to be A LOT of fun to watch if they bring this type of intensity night in and night out.

Dear Sasha: Please call 1-800-I-Need-Help-With-My-Free Throw-Shooting. A little arc might help as generally the ball doesn't go in when you throw it in a straight line at the rim.

Clearly this team is learning who can score and will go through some lapses where no one really wants to take the shot. CJ seems like the only one that isn't a bit gun shy....but the unselfishness is nice to see across the board.

Hawkins with 3 fouls in the first 16 minutes....but also three 3's.

Mic