Kim Anderson never imagined his first season coaching at his alma mater, the University of Missouri, would turn into a nightmare on and off the court.
You could forgive Kim Anderson if he wanted to rethink that whole “coming home” thing.
Anderson, who led Central Missouri to the Division II national championship last season and was 274-94 in 12 seasons with the Mules, is off to a nightmarish start in his tenure at his alma mater, Missouri.
The Tigers had only eight scholarship players in uniform—and only three guards—for an 83-61 loss to Texas A&M in a half-empty Mizzou Arena Saturday.
Prior to the game, Anderson announced freshman guards Montaque Gill-Caesar and Namon Wright were suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Disciplinary issues have been a constant companion of Anderson this season. How bad has it been? Steve Walentik of the Columbia Daily Tribune found it easier to list the players who haven’t faced any disciplinary action this season:
The two freshman joined fellow frosh backcourter Tramaine Isabell on the sidelines. Isabell has been indefinitely suspended since late last month for his behavior.
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“Without elaborating too much, we’re going to have a basketball program that this university can be proud of,” Anderson said. “There are certain things that you must be accountable for and, when you aren’t accountable, then there are consequences. It wouldn’t have mattered if we were 20-3 or 7-16, I would have done the same thing.”
The Tigers are the latter, dropping to 7-16 and 1-9 in Southeastern Conference play following the worst loss at home since an 82-58 drubbing at the hands of Iowa State in January 2006.
“I want to win basketball games, but I said this when I was hired and I said it today: I am a teacher,” Anderson said. “I am a teacher, so I want to help these kids grow up and if this is the way I can help them, whether we win or lose, that’s the way I’m going to do it.”
Deuce Bello started in place of Wright Saturday—less than a month after he returned from a five-game suspension for academic issues.
Wes Clark, Jakeenan Grant and D’Angelo Allen have also missed time due to suspension this season and Torren Jones and Cameron Biedscheid were dismissed from the program before the season started.
Missouri has lost nine straight games overall after opening conference play with a 74-67 overtime win over LSU on Jan. 8.
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