Perhaps I Spoke Too Soon

Last week I wrote about how Thomas Gardner was Missouri's star player and had been named to the mid-season list of 30 players for the John Wooden Award, and how he had earned this honor through his tremendous play. Well, I may have spoke to soon. Since that posting of mine Gardner has performed, how shall I put this, not well (I guess that is the nicest way to say it). When I had posted about him being named a finalist for the Wooden Award, Gardner was averaging 21.3 points per game, in the two games since then, Gardner has scored a total of 17 points, and is coming off a dismal 2 point showing against Texas Tech in which he was benched for the second half. The worst part about all of this is the fact that with Gardner struggling to get open the last two games, the Missouri offense has gone into a state of confusion. The other players have looked like a deer in the headlights when they can't find Gardner open, and have been turning the ball over at a ridiculous pace (16 first half turnovers against Texas Tech).

Tonight, the Tigers can put some of the negativity that has been surrounding their program behind them. The Tigers (10-10 overall, 3-6 in the Big 12) take on a Baylor program that has been in shambles since the murder of one of their players, Patrick Dennehy, by another team member, Carl Dotson. Dotson was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison. This year, Baylor has a record of 1-7. The reason they have played so few games is that the NCAA imposed a punishment on them, not allowing them to play non-conference games this season. This punishment is stemming from actions that the program performed in trying to cover-up the murder. Missouri is suffering through a 5-game losing streak, and a game against the Big 12's worst team couldn't come at a better time. I am hoping that tonight's game can help Missouri, and Thomas Gardner, regain the confidence they had when the Big 12 season kicked off, and more specifically, the confidence they had in their win over Kansas. There are still enough games left on the schedule for Missouri to make some noise, and they still have a very outside chance at making the NCAA tournament, but they have to start winning, and soon. Tonight's game against Baylor can hopefully return the winning ways to the Missouri program, and launch them into an impressive run down the stretch.

Publish Date: February 7 in the Missourian