Bring your Tigers football, basketball and recruiting questions, and talk to Eli Hoff in a live chat at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Transcript
Eli ±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýGood morning and happy Thursday, all! Thanks for coming by this week's Mizzou chat. I'll take your questions and thoughts for the next couple of hours here, so... what have you got?
µþ°ù±ð³Ù³Ù´Ç:ÌýHas the NCAA placed limits on the total amount of money a college can use for NIL and is there a single player limit. I worry that college football will go the way of the Major League Baseball in that the schools with 100,000 seat stadiums and rich alumni will simply buy all the best players.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýThe short answer is no, and that it's already going that way.
There will be a limit on revenue sharing, once that takes effect, with a cap of sorts likely in the $22 million range (though I think that will go up each year to some degree, as those things do). But while that's a cap for that specific form of compensation for athletes, at the highest level of college sports, it's really the floor — you'll see schools stack NIL on top of that. The cost is only going to keep going up. And there just are only so many schools that can realistically keep pace to be competitive. The SEC and Big Ten seem to be pulling away in that regard. There will be degrees of investment and spending within those conferences as well. But I don't think there's a way to come back from this kind of split when the path forward is what it is.
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µþ°ù±ð³Ù³Ù´Ç:ÌýLuther Burden is constantly put in motion, but very rarely is thrown the ball. He is a once in a decade player for Mizzou and it seems like they are wasting his talent and limited time at Missouri.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýIt took Mizzou 31 plays to get him a touch against Auburn. That just can't happen. I fully understand that teams are trying to take him away and he's priority No. 1 for opposing defenses. I also understand that there's a lot I don't know about football. But to me, the simple tenet of giving your generational talent the football seems like a good core philosophy for this offense.
Eli Drinkwitz talked about Burden's muffed punt being a well-intentioned error because he was frustrated and wanted to make a play. Maybe if he'd gotten the ball a few more times before that point, a mistake like that doesn't happen. But letting a 30-play stretch at any point in a game pass by without a Burden touch is the sort of thing that costs a team wins.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýWhat do you think the big issue was last year with the men’s basketball team. And have we corrected that issue
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýOn one level, the big issue was injuries. So many guys got hurt, which stunted both development for young players and the ability of some veteran players to contribute. I'm not saying Mizzou would've been a Sweet Sixteen team with everyone healthy, but I think it would've at least, like, won a conference game. So in that sense, I think there's optimism that the injury bug just can't be as bad as it was last year.
On the court, I'd say the biggest issue was post play. Not having a reliable center cost Missouri on the boards, in having that as a scoring option and in being able to defend down there. I don't think the Tigers need an elite center, even, just someone viable. Josh Gray coming in should help. He at least has the size and experience, so there's a base level of competence. Peyton Marshall has the size, too. He'll have to adjust to the college game, but that should help too. This is no knock on Aidan Shaw, but I think if he doesn't have to come in and play the 5, Mizzou has done what it's needed to at the center position.Ìý
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýit was great to see a lot of Mizzou fans at the UMass game. I know it’s not a party, but as an alarm, it was great to see Mizzou out here.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýI couldn't reliably put a number on it, but there was a strong showing of Mizzou fans at that game. One half of the stadium was occupied by what seemed to be almost exclusively Missouri folks. I imagine if you're an alum on the east coast or in New England (or wanted an excuse for a trip out there in the fall), it was cool to see your team in that neck of the woods. I personally had a blast visiting that part of the country for the first time.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýIs gates on the hot seat if we don’t make the NCAA tournament
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýSome of this will depend on Laird Veatch's expectations for the men's hoops program this year, but I'm inclined to think no. I'm not really sure what the job security bar is for Dennis Gates this season. I think his seat would be quite hot if he doesn't win a conference game again, but I'm not sure what threshold you say Mizzou absolutely needs to hit. Making it back to the tournament would obviously be a big step for him and this program, but I think a respectable showing in SEC play is the more reasonable expectation.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýWho has been your favorite person to interview so far at Mizzou
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýThis is a fun one. I've gotten to talk with offensive coordinator Kirby Moore individually at a couple of media days, and that's always fun. He knows a ton. I think my favorite football assistant to talk to, though, is cornerbacks coach Al Pogue. He's funny, genuine and always has some really good insight. On the basketball side, Coach Nutt is full of wisdom and energy — and he got to ring the bell last week after his cancer treatment, which is just wonderful to see. Player wise, Darius Robinson was the gold standard last year. Just a great dude who was thoughtful when he spoke with media.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýhow is Kobe doing.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýKobe Brown was a DNP in the Clippers' season-opener last night. Seems like he'll be pushing for a spot on the roster and in the back end of the rotation again this season.
´³±ð°ù±ð³¾²â:ÌýI know a lot of people, you and Ben included, have compared Cook to his numbers from last year. But last year he had a good O-line. Have you compared him to 2022 when he had poor pass protection and TE's and RB's were being used as extra blockers? How does he stack up with that Brady Cook? ... I also feel like this is yet another season where in December/January Drinkwitz is going to reveal that Cook was actually playing hurt all season. After his injection against Auburn I think that became undeniable. And I realize you're asking Drinkwitz about injuries; there's nothing more we can do.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýMaybe that is the fairest way to do it. Here are his per-game stats and percentages for those two seasons... 2022: 210.7 pass yards per game, 64.8% comp, 1.08 TDs, 0.54 INTs, 45 rush yards, 0.46 rush TD. 2024: 220.7 pass yds per game, 63.1%, 1 TD, 0.14 INT, 16.7 rush yds, 0.57 rush TDs.
So, basically: Slightly more yardage, a comparable but slightly down completion percentage, about the same number of passing TDs, way fewer interceptions, less rushing yardage but more scores on the ground.Ìý
Cook mentioned during an on-air interview with a KC radio station last week that he'd been dealing with some lower-body stuff, which confirms a lot of folks' suspicions — and goes against what Cook and Drinkwitz had said. That was before this ankle sprain, too. But now at least it's clear that he's dealing with an injury, so no dodging that now.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýDo you think our issue in basketball is talent or not the appropriate coaching?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýI think it was evident last year that there just weren't the pieces to be a high-level team. Replacing Kobe Brown, for example, required talent and not just scheme. A player like Noah Carter struggled to step into that role. That's not to say there weren't coaching plans that didn't work out, but I do think there was a lack of talent that could round out a rotation. And again, injuries are a factor there.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýhow is our basketball recruiting looking for next yea
Hoff:ÌýFour-star PG Aaron Rowe, who plays locally at Father Tolton in Columbia, remains the only commitment. Mizzou's going after a couple other players, but this won't be another five-man recruiting class. It seems like it'll be just a few guys who the staff really likes as developmental pieces.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýWhat is up with our poor pass protection when we pass?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýMizzou lost two veterans on the left side of the offensive line. Replacing them was always going to be tough. Cayden Green is in just his second year of college football. Marcus Bryant is making the jump from SMU to the SEC. That has caused some growing pains and a step back from last year.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýI really had high expectations for our receiving group this year. What happened?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýA handful of things coalescing. The deep ball hasn't been there. At times that's been a Cook issue, a pass protection issue and a wideouts-not-finishing-their-routes issue. Contested catches aren't happening like they were last year. Burden has missed time and been limited by a lack of targets, like we talked about earlier. It's clear the talent is still there, but this hasn't been the best wide receiver corps in the country by a long shot.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýdo we make nil $ amounts public ?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýNo, and I'm not aware of anywhere that does. It's a problem across the country. No transparency and no safeguards... yuck!
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýdo you travel to away football games? What about men’s bball
Hoff:ÌýYes, I travel for all football road games — I'll be in Tuscaloosa this weekend and then Starkville and Columbia, SC in November. I'll also be in Memphis for the men's basketball opener. But that team doesn't actually go on the road again until January. We're working out plans for what SEC basketball games are worth going to cover versus doing remotely.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýwhat Sports teams, do you follow up besides Mizzou?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýMy following of Mizzou is unique because it's a) my job and b) as a journalist, I'm not a fan. I don't get a chance to watch much besides Mizzou in the college sports world. I grew up in Minnesota, so every Vikings game is appointment viewing, and the Twins disappoint me at the end of every summer. I didn't watch much basketball as a kid but started tuning in for the Celtics right around Jayson Tatum's emergence. I love watching soccer, so I'll watch Minnesota United (the first sports team I covered) in MLS and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
´³´Ç³ó²Ô³¢:ÌýThe game Saturday could get out of hand by quarter 2 unless MU's offensive line shows up and blocks the 'Bama front 7. Thus far in 2024, our line is soft and gets pushed around. We made Auburn look like a top team. What does your crystal ball tell us MIZZOU fans.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýI agree with you there. Drinkwitz compared the Alabama defensive line and pass rush to Texas A&M's. I haven't watched the film to be able to say one unit is more dangerous than the other, but that's not his point: The bottom line is that Mizzou needs to do a lot better in the trenches than it did against the Aggies. Nothing will work without that. My crystal ball prediction is heavily dependent on whether Brady Cook's a go, which I doubt will be clear until right before kickoff on Saturday. If he's viable, which is an if at this point in the week, Mizzou has a chance with a fairly perfect game. If he's not, I struggle to see a path to victory for the Tigers.
¶Ù¶Ù¶Ù:ÌýI don't think the QB for the 2025 Tigers is on the roster currently. Any players that stand out that could be QB1? Any portal guys come to mind? Or will Horn be ready to go? Lot of uncertainty.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýI'm not going to say you're wrong there. I think we talk about this every few weeks in these chats, but there's actually been a shift in my thinking here after seeing Drew Pyne play in a real situation. It's a small and panicked sample size so I won't make it more than it is, but I do think his performance adds to my belief that Mizzou will bring in someone from the portal to compete for the job.Ìý
Sam Horn isn't expected to be healthy for spring practices, and there's always the chance he chooses baseball because of his pro potential throwing the ball off a mound instead of in a pocket. It would make sense to me if spring practice involved Pyne and a transfer, with the possibility of Horn entering the competition come preseason camp, if that's the route he wants to go. That would be very similar to the competition going into 2023 (Cook, Horn, Jake Garcia), so there's a precedent. As far as who the transfer might be, I really have no idea at the moment. Once guys start entering the portal, I'll keep an eye out, but I'm not in that mode quite yet.
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:ÌýHow do you think we do in wins and losses for the remaining games on our schedule in football?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýMizzou should win its final four games of the year: Oklahoma, at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, Arkansas. I would guess the Tigers will only be underdogs against South Carolina on the road.Ìý
µþ´Ç»å³Ù¾±²Ô:Ìýwhat is your prediction for our men’s basketball teams win/loss record for this year?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýThis is tougher. I'd like to say 'Let me watch a few games first," but I'm not sure that will offer all that much insight. I will say this: I voted Missouri to finish 10th in the SEC on my preseason conference awards ballot. That's probably around six or seven SEC wins.
³¾´Ç±ð:Ìýit appears that the first bball game, vs. Memphis on 11/4, is only available on espn+, any confirmation or comment about that??
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýLooks like that'll be the case. Mizzou lists it as a 7 p.m. tip-off, too, which is new. I haven't seen either the time nor the network announced. As someone who hates streaming in all of its forms, I don't like it. But I know my voice means nothing against the machine of modernity.
Joe:ÌýDo you think drink could be perhaps overstating cooks unavailability on Saturday to keep bama guessing as their defense prepares this week? I find it hard to believe he came back on Saturday, looked good (especially his scrambling), and led us to a tough W that essentially saved our playoff hopes. I find it hard to believe he will not at least give it a try Saturday at Bama in the biggest game of the season.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýYes, absolutely. To be clear: I'm not saying anyone's exaggerating it nor reporting anything other than that Cook was listed as doubtful last night. But it wouldn't shock me. It would shock me, however, if Cook is ever listed as "better" than questionable or a game-time decision. Barring a miracle or setback, I, like many of you, suspect this will come down to how his ankle feels, moves and holds up after treatment on Saturday. Anything definitive before that point seems rather foolhardy. And if this makes Alabama prepare for Pyne, too, I don't think Mizzou will be feeling bad. Plus it gives Cook and the Tigers the "well he was doubtful coming in!" protection if he plays and it doesn't look right on Saturday.
³¾´Ç±ð:Ìýwho is the quarterback behind Pyne if qb1 can't play this Saturday?
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýThe unofficial depth chart given to media only goes two-deep at quarterback. My observations tell me Brett Brown would likely be the next man up. He was the second-best quarterback during spring practices, when Pyne hadn't yet joined the team.
°Õ·É¾±²õ³Ù±ð°ù18:ÌýI am a Mizzou alum and my daughter is a senior at Alabama. I am going to the game. What is the appropriate attire. I said Mizzou shirt and Alabama hat. Thoughts? BTW - we will be at tent 162 in the quad if you want to stop by.
±á´Ç´Ú´Ú:ÌýThat's a tough one. You're asking the guy who is usually wearing a button-down and, for a big game like this, sport coat carefully picked to avoid having either team's colors so as to dress neutrally. You could always go with layers that allow you to swap into the apparel of whichever team wins. I'll be intrigued to see the scenes around the campus and stadium before the game, so hopefully you can have a fun tailgate.
°Õ¾±²µ²µ²µ±ð°ù´Ú²¹²Ô:ÌýEli: certainly the O-line has shown some weakness but it seems to me that when Walters is in, good things happen. Is there a reason he doesn’t start? Just his size alone should help!
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