I doubt it. They should have four scholarship QBs on the roster, three who have started at least one college game. Robinson should probably be considered the leader in the clubhouse to be the 2020 starter - and I wouldn't think that's the most appealing situation for Costello to consider.
Missouri's best chance is to ugly things up, turn it into a low-scoring grind, don't give aways possessions with turnovers and hit timely 3-pointers. It's a massive game for Tilmon. He'll be facing the best big man he's seen all year. He has to be on the floor as a viable threat. The Tigers can't afford to get down early because they don't have the kind of offense that can mount a big comeback. Illinois is the better team with the better credentials through two months, but as we've seen around the country, there's a lot of parity in college hoops. We've seen far bigger upsets than Mizzou beating Illinois.
I think there's a little too much revisionist history going on here. Odom's staff certainly dropped the ball with the 2018 class. But at that point he didn't have much of a sales pitch and hadn't really proven he could win games. After his first two seasons and then again during his fourth, his job security was always in question. It's hard to recruit great classes when there's doubt about the head coach's job status. Plus in 2017, the 2015 campus meltdown was still a factor. But the staff continued to work hard in St. Louis. They got decent results in 2019. The last two recruiting cycles Mizzou signed nine players from St. Louis. That's more than anyone else. Illinois signed seven over the same two-year span. Now, Mizzou's problem was they missed on most of the top recruits in the area, several of whom barely showed any interest in the program. That's a problem that needs to be addressed. At the same time, you need a sales pitch that can match what they're hearing from programs like Ohio State and Oklahoma. They can sell the playoffs. Mizzou obviously can't. It's more about vision and hope.
I don't know. But let's be clear, Shawn Robinson never stated a personal problem with Curtis Luper. Robinson got injured during the 2018 season and from what was reported at the time his issue with the TCU staff revolved around his injury. I'd be surprised if the team's co-coordinator/running backs coach was a major factor in whatever conflict arose from that situation. For all we know he might have had a great relationship with Luper.
I don't know. There was some talk within the athletics department that Hill could have another role, but that hasn't led anywhere to my knowledge.
Interesting situation. Dominique Johnson, who surprised most when he committed to Mizzou because he didn't have any other Power 5 offers. He visited MU over the weekend and seemed solid by all accounts. A person saying he was a cousin tweeted yesterday that Drinkwitz wanted to move him to linebacker, thus the flip to Arkansas. That tweet was later deleted and the person who tweeted wouldn't agree to interviews. I reached out to Johnson and never got a reply. I talked to his high school coach and he gave a very stern "no comment." Mizzou can't and won't comment on a recruit it didn't sign, but Drinkwitz made it pretty clear they didn't have any signing day surprises on Wednesday. He was very happy to sign running back Elijah Young. You might interpret that as Mizzou not being upset that Johnson chose Arkansas. I've seen plenty of coaches grit their teeth and show their true colors after a recruit jilts them on signing day. I didn't get that impression from Drinkwitz on Wednesday.
I can only continue to share what Martin told me back in the early fall: He didn't expect Okongo to play in a game until January at the earliest. He had an injury that set him back during the preseason. Then he's had to catch up and learn a lot. Martin said there was still a bit of a language barrier. Obviously if they believed he could be helping them on the floor right now he'd be getting minutes.
Missouri doesn't have an opening for a nonconfernece game until 2026. So, unless they tear up a contract that's already been signed for another nonconfernece game, it'll be at least six years until they play Kansas. MU has noncon road games scheduled for 2026 (at Illinois), 2027 (at San Diego State) and 2028 (at Illinois), so if they play KU in any of those seasons in Kansas City that would leave only six home games.
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There will be high school players on the market. Maybe not high-profile, highy coveted players. But you can find some gems for the February date. They might come with some baggage or have some risks, but this staff will have to add some pieces.
Not really. I didn't expect the offensive staff back.
I don't speculate on transfers. There are almost always a few every offseason, especially after a coaching change.
I think they need to fill some holes, but there are enough pieces there to have a competitive team. You're not competing with Georgia and Florida at the top of the East. Tennessee is starting to approach its potential under Pruitt. Don't write off Kentucky. But there's no reason to expect South Carolina and Vanderbilt to be huge obstacles next year. Granted, Mizzou couldn't beat Vandy head to head last year, but take a step back and look at the entire body of work and Vandy was not a good team. Neither was South Carolina. Arkansas will be picked last in the West and Mississippi State, MU's other West opponent, will probably be picked fifth or sixth. The trip to BYU won't be easy, but anything less than 3-1 in conference play would be disappointing - even with a potent Louisiana-Lafayette team coming to Mizzou late.
It should be appealing to offensive players. They go fast and score points. They run the ball downhill, throw it around a lot and mix in trick plays.
Mizzou just announced that cornerbacks coach David Gibbs will stay on staff.
Yes, most likely Elijah Young and possibly the kicker, Harrison Mevis.
