Former Bears coach Barry Hinson pinned his job on a group of local recruits—Deven Mitchell, Tyler Chaney, the Laurie brothers and others—in recent seasons. That group turned out to be good, but not quite good enough. The Bears went to the NIT.

Missouri State fired Hinson last spring and replaced him with Purdue assistant Cuonzo Martin.

Makes you wonder how things might have turned out differently if Hinson could have landed local talent Anthony Tolliver, who instead became a star at Creighton. And it makes you wonder if keeping the best talent in southwest Missouri means much. One might also wonder how patient fans will be with Martin, who needs to fill $67-million JQH Arena with 11,000 fans and banners with the acceptable letters following N.

Those ...More