Bracket Big Board: Mike Anderson could coax a confession out of A-Rod in 40 minutes or less
The Bracket Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the field of 65 (31 automatic and 34 at-large bids). Essentially, the Bracket Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for amateur bracketologists if they were filling out a Tourney Pick ‘Em ’09 bracket pool entry today. The Bracket Big Board is updated every Monday until the dance card is officially unveiled March 15.
If Missouri head coach Mike Anderson was a prosecutor, witness-stand confessions would come easy (UPDATE: Apparently, the same goes for Peter Gammons). In less than three years in Columbia, his high-pressure system has erased solemn fan feelings experienced under Quin Snyder's tenure.
Coming off an eye-opening win at Texas, the previously unranked dark-horse is finally gaining the respect it deserves. The Tigers are one of seven teams which rank in the top 25 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency.
Anderson's frenetic philosophy, which applies intense full-court pressure to generate turnovers (11th in TO% D), has worn out conference opponents with regularity. Combine that with the goal-attacking tandem of Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll, and Mizzou not only has the ingredients to emerge victorious in the Big 12 tournament, but also its NCAA region. If the Tigers hold court Monday versus hated rival Kansas, they will be one step closer to catching Oklahoma. Just how high did Anderson's club climb on this week's Triple-B?
*For games played through Sunday, February 8
*RPI data provided by Rivals
*Efficiency stats from kenpom.com
*Team in red = Baller of the Week
*Team in blue = Faller of the Weak
*Teams in orange = moving up
*Teams in blue-gray = moving down
On the Bubble: Penn St. (17-7), Kansas St. (16-7), Nebraska (15-7), Michigan (15-9), St. Mary's (19-4), Georgetown (13-9), Tulsa (17-7), Wisconsin (14-9), Mississippi St. (16-7), Baylor (15-8)
Dropped Out: Penn St., St. Mary's, Baylor, Georgetown, Providence, Jacksonville
Conference Breakdown: American East (1), ACC (8), Atlantic Sun (1), Atlantic 10 (2), Big 12 (4), Big East (8), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big Ten (5), Big West (1), Colonial (1), Conference USA (1), Horizon (1), Ivy (1), Metro (1), Mid-American (1), Mid-Eastern (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West (5), Northeast (1), Ohio Valley (1), Pac-10 (6), Patriot (1), SEC (5), Southern (1), SWAC (1), Summit (1), Sun Belt (1), West Coast (1), WAC (1)
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Image couresy of US Presswire
