Tigers nearing conference play
By Jeff Stoffey
When it comes to women’s basketball, the Big 12 conference is expected to be one of the best in the country this season. Currently six teams are ranked and two others are receiving votes. Despite the success those eight teams have had thus far, one team that wasn’t expected to have a big year may surprise some people.
And that’s the Missouri Tigers.
MU is 9-2 on the young season. The Tigers are within a few breaks of being undefeated this season. They blew a 20-point lead against Memphis and gave No. 12 Florida State trouble in Tallahassee. Other than those two games, the Tigers have had no blemishes on their schedule. Before the season, the Tigers were picked to finish last in the conference.
While the Tigers haven’t had a grueling schedule up to this point, it is about to get interesting. Missouri will play its final two non-conference games against a 9-4 Duquesne team and No. 15 Xavier. Then, the road through the Big 12 begins. Here are a few things to look for in the upcoming weeks.
- Will Amanda Hanneman regain her form before Big 12 play? The senior played her first game since Dec. 10 and it showed. She shot airballs on her first two shots and finished 2-for-10 from the field. Before her suspension, Hanneman was shooting the three better than almost anybody in the country. If the Tigers are going to be successful in conference play, she will have to find her shot again.
- Is RaeShara Brown the best defensive player in the Big 12? This remains to be seen. But after leading the Big 12 in steals last season, Brown is doing even better this season. She has 19 steals in her past three games.
- Will depth be a strength for this years Tigers team? At certain positions, yes. The play of Christine Flores, Marissa Scott and Kendra Frazier has been a pleasant surprise. It adds to the depth the Tigers knew they already had with Jessra Johnson and Shakara Jones in the post. However, at the point guard position, senior Toy Richbow has seen a lot of minutes. When the game is tight, she must be on the floor, as should Brown. The Tigers simply can’t afford not to have those two ball handlers out on the floor in close games.
- Can Christine Flores be the surprise player of the year? So far, it appears that way. The sophomore had a double-double in two straight games before playing just 19 minutes and scoring nine points against North Texas. The Tigers will desperately need her to play well in Big 12 play, a conference supposedly stacked with low-post players this season.
- When will Hanneman and Johnson be in the starting lineup again? Coach Cindy Stein insists they will play more as they “earn” their playing time back at practice. The two were not allowed to speak with the media after beating North Texas, despite playing for the first time in nearly three weeks. It would not be surprising to see the two get more significant playing time as the Tigers schedule gets tougher.
