Missouri Tigers

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel sounds more confident than ever about the availability of Aldon Smith for Saturday's game against the Oklahoma Sooners. The preseason all-Big 12 Conference defensive end has missed the past three games recovering from a fractured fibula injury in his right leg. "He's excited," said Pinkel.  "It depends on how he practices Tuesday and Wednesday if he plays. " Smith was named the Big 12's Defensive Freshman of the Year a season ago.  Smith has been cleared medically by team doctors.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri Tigers are positioning themselves for March.  Mizzou (23-2, 10-2) jumped a spot to No. 3 in The Associated Press' men's basketball rankings for this week.  Kentucky and Syracuse remain ahead of the Tigers.   Missouri finished another undefeated week, beating Texas and No. 6 Baylor.  The Tigers play at home on Wednesday night against Oklahoma State and on the road Saturday against Texas A&M.                                 Record  ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou had a memorable week of basketball. The Missouri Tigers (21-2, 8-2) remain ranked No. 4 in this week's Associated Press poll.  The Tigers finished the week with wins at Texas against then No. 8 Kansas at the Mizzou Arena.  The Jayhawks actually moved up a spot to No. 7 despite the loss.  No. 6 Baylor is the other Big 12 Conference school in the top 25 poll. Missouri will go on the road Monday night to play the Oklahoma Sooners.  Tip-off is at 6:00 a.m. on ESPN-U.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou's Frank Haith adds new a assistant to his staff he calls the "total package. " The University of Missouri announced Friday the hire of Ryan Miller to the basketball staff.  The assistant spent the past five years at the University of New Mexico.  The Lobos had its most successful five-year run during those years. "I'm excited to have this kind of opportunity to work for a university like Missouri," said Miller. "I'm looking forward to continuing to help build Mizzou's program on and off the court, and be part of the transition into the SEC. " Miller played collegiately at Division II's Northern State University in South Dakota.  He played professionally in the CBA and internationally.  Miller began his coaching career as an assistant at Memphis University under John Calipari in 2006.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The 2012 Missouri Tigers football team must deal with a distraction off-the-field days before the season begins. Missouri freshman quarterback Maty Mauk was arrested for suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident.  Police say the incident on Mauk's scooter happened Thursday morning. Mauk is the third-string quarterback on the depth chart.  Mizzou opens the season Saturday in Columbia against Southeastern Louisiana.    

DETROIT, Mich. - Kim English is officially a Detroit Piston. The Pistons signed the second-round pick from Mizzou Thursday.  The Baltimore-native was the 44th overall selection.  He is now participating in the NBA's Summer League.  The forward averaged nearly 15 points per game in his senior season.  English was a third-team all-Big 12 selection. Detroit failed to make the playoffs during the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season.  The Pistons finished 25-41.  

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - MIZ-ZOU! was chanted loud and clear in the rotunda of the Missouri Capitol.  University of Missouri Tigers head men's basketball coach Mike Anderson rallied lawmakers with a speech about his job on Thursday. Anderson spoke to legislators about how he prepares his student-athletes for life after college. He also signed a few autographs. Missouri (20-6, 6-5) plays Iowa State on Saturday in Ames. Talk Tigers with us on Facebook @KYTV TigerTalk or on Twitter @KY3TigerTalk.

NEW YORK -- Missouri Tigers linebacker Zaviar Gooden will stay in Southeastern Conference country. The Tennessee Titans chose the outside linebacker with the final pick (97th) of the third-round in the NFL Draft.  Gooden shined at the combine, running a 4.47 in the 40-yard draft.  That was the fastest time of any linebacker.  The Texas native was a three-year starter at Mizzou.  He joins defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson as the Tigers drafted in the first three rounds.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers have something to build on in 2011. The Tigers (10-3) dropped four spots in the Associated Press and Coaches' polls to finish the year ranked 18th.  Mizzou lost to Iowa in the Insight Bowl 27-24. Missouri is one of five Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25 in both polls. Talk Tigers with us on Facebook @KYTV TigerTalk or on Twitter @KY3TigerTalk.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri Tigers senior guard Marcus Denmon has been named a finalist for the John Wooden Award. Denmon leads Mizzou in scoring, averaging nearly 18 points per game.  He is also grabs five-and-a-half rebounds per game and dishes out nearly three assists per game.  Denmon has been a catalyst for No. 5 Mizzou's best start since the 1981-1982 season. The Kansas City native is one of three Big 12 Conference players on the list of 25 college basketball stars.