Mike Anderson

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Go West Missouri Tigers.  But not at first. The Missouri Tigers have earned a third-straight NCAA Tournament bid under Head Coach Mike Anderson.  Mizzou is in the West regional.  The No. 11 seeded Tigers will play the No. 6 seeded Cincinnati Bearcats out of the Big East Conference.  The Bearcats finished the regular-season 25-8, 11-7 in conference play. The matchup will not be played out West, instead East in Washington, DC Thursday.  The winner will play the winner of UCONN versus Bucknell.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - New Missouri Head Coach Frank Haith's top recruiting target has committed elsewhere. Scout.com is reporting Scott County Central combo-forward Otto Porter has given a verbal commitment to attend Georgetown University.  His decision follows a visit to the school.  Porter can officially sign his letter-of-intent beginning Thursday. The 6'9" high school star led the Braves to a Missouri state championship, defeating Dadeville 69-54.  Porter averaged nearly 30 points on the season.  He's ranked a four-star forward by Scout, Rivals and ESPN.

WASHINGTON, DC - Everyone's talking about Mizzou's style, instead of its recent losing ways. The No. 11-seeded Missouri Tigers (23-10) open the tournament Thursday night against the No. 6-seeded University of Cincinnati Bearcats (25-8).  The Tigers have lost four of the last five games.  Cincinnati lost by 38 points to Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.  Then again, this is a new season. "Totally different level, every play is magnified," said Missouri Tigers guard Marcus Denmon.  "Having experience, being here does help.

It was one of the most unique press conferences you'll ever see.  In addition to the media, the general public was invited to Bud Walton Arena on a rainy Saturday morning to help welcome new basketball head coach Mike Anderson.  And Razorback nation turned out in full force.  As although the event was really nothing more than an opportunity for Anderson and school officials to speak briefly and take questions from reporters, an estimated 5,000 fans...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas Razorbacks junior guard Julysses Nobles has decided not to return to the Arkansas Razorbacks for his senior season. Nobles started 54 of 91 games in his three seasons as a Razorback.  The Jackson, Mississippi native averaged 7.1 points and dished out 2.9 assists per game over his career. "I have enjoyed my times as a Razorback," said Nobles.  "After speaking with Coach Anderson, I feel it is time for me to move on. " Nobles played a significant role as an upperclassmen in the 2011-2012 season.  He scored a career-high 24 points in an upset victory over No. 15 Mississippi State.

VERSAILLES, Mo. -- A Morgan County jury convicted a man from Texas County on Wednesday for the death of his wife three years ago.  Neldon Neal faces up to a seven-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter.  His trial started Monday. This is the second time that a jury convicted Neal.  A jury convicted him in 2008 -- and he received a life prison sentence -- for voluntary manslaughter.  An appeals court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. After Judy Lewis was shot to death near Roby in 2007, Neal eluded authorities for 62 days by hiding in the Mark Twain National Forest.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The "Fastest 40 Minutes" seems slower away from the Mizzou Arena.  The uNIVERSITY OF Missouri suffered its fourth consecutive Big 12 road loss at Oklahoma State ON Wednesday night, 76-70. "We got a chance to see what life continues to be like on the road in the Big 12," said Missouri Head Coach Mike Anderson.  "We didn't play, I think, the brand of basketball we've been playing throughout the year. " Throw out the overtime loss at Texas A&M.  The Tigers fast-paced play at College Station is one of the season's highlights, despite the outcome.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A familiar face to Northwest Arkansas high school basketball is back. Arkansas Head Coach Mike Anderson announced former Oklahoma State guard Fred Gulley has joined the program.  Gulley was a prep standout at Fayetteville High School.  He enrolled for the Spring semester, but has yet to practice with the team. The 6'2" guard aveaged four points and two-and-a-half rebounds in the first eight games of the season for the Cowboys.  Arkansas only had eight scholarship players available in the victory Wednesday night at home against Auburn.  However, Gulley will not be on scholarship.  He will not be available to play until after the Fall semester of next season.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mike Anderson's "Fastest 40 Minutes" made an exciting Southeastern Conference first impression. BJ Young and Julysses Nobles each scored 24 points to lead the Arkansas Razorbacks (12-3, 1-0) to a 98-88 victory over No. 16 Mississippi State (13-3, 0-1) at Bud Walton Arena Saturday night.  Nobles scored 15 of his 24 in the first-half.  Young scored 18 of his 24 in the second-half. Arkansas built a 43-37 halftime lead.  It opened the second-half on a 12-4 run to extend the lead to double-digits.  The lead grew to 66-47 after Young scored ten-straight points.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, - Athletes at the University of Arkansas are meeting expectations in the classroom too. The school announced Wednesday it exceeded the benchmark Academic Progress Rate of 925 in 18 of 19 athletic programs.   APR measures academic eligibility and retention of student-athletes.  The scores are based on the last four academic years. "The vast majority of our programs are already exceeding both the current and the future benchmark target scores," said Long.  "I appreciate the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff in helping us accomplish our goal of developing student-athletes to their fullest potential through intercollegiate athletics.