re: KA style discipline

Agree. If that was the issue, he had to go. Just like Dixon and DGB. Character issues like that will affect the entire team, even the entire university. If they are criminals and thugs, get rid of them.

I thought Jones was gone due to Anderson being out of touch with today's youth?

Honestly, I'm more intrigued with this train wreck each game. It's one slow burning dumpster fire that I can't stop watching.

I also don't believe the school should invest millions of dollars to run a basketball team if their sole goal is to "teach life lessons" to 10 kids. Just seems kinda expensive per student...don't you think?

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I also don't believe the school should invest millions of dollars to run a basketball team if their sole goal is to "teach life lessons" to 10 kids. Just seems kinda expensive per student...don't you think?

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Uhhhhh no. If players aren't disciplined off the court, they won't be disciplined on the court.

"Building character in young men" is code for "They're gonna listen to me and do it as I say."

My son's first question after the game last night was "So do ya think Coach will stick by his morals?"

So what say y'all? Does he stick to the moral high ground or does he crack now after the Clark injury? Tough call quite honestly. If you're truly trying to instill discipline and make a statement, you can't just cave because times got tougher.

ETA - My guess is he caves. We're just too short handed now at this point.

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KA has a huge job in trying to change a culture and build a program. He has my support in doing it. But I'm disturbed that almost a year in, it doesn't appear that he has the majority of the team buying into his vision. I'm not even sure if he has a strong core group buying in yet. So, either that's in his leadership, or the quality of the young men on the team.

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Is this a serious statement? You really are disturbed that kids didn't immediately buy in? I don't care what management position you are in it isn't like taking care of coddled players who all feel it is their destiny to go to the NBA and they know more about the game than any coach. Combine this with ZERO experienced leadership to lead by example and there is no common sense in the world that would lead you to think this was capable of being established in one year.

Here is a bit more for you to be disturbed about...it probably will take more than 2. Until KA has some established upperclassmen who have bought in and know how to teach underclassmen and lead by example, it is going to continue to be a battle. This is why it is going to be a 3 year rebuild minimum, assuming little to no transfers.

If Mizzou gets to .500 next year they most likely play in the NIT.

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Sorry I'm late to the party. No, I do not have children. But I manage people every day, and know a little something about motivation and performance. I'm late getting home tonight because I had to fire an employee today, so I am also well acquainted with enforcing discipline. Sorry if I come across as a little tetchy, it's because I am today. I was not in favor of this hire. I also hoped to be proven wrong. KA has my full support though, because Mizzou has my full support. I realized that this season was going to be bad; we have not lived up to even my low expectations. Those who think I'm leading the bashing don't post here much - I have deliberately stayed away from that talk, at least for the most part. We don't know all the facts, and I'm happy we don't - these are still young people who don't deserve their every foible to be front page news. That said, what I see is a team (if you want to call it that) that has enormous discipline problems. They don't seem to respect KA, or each other, or the university they play for. If they did, their behavior would be different and we wouldn't have so many suspensions. I believe that as a leader, if people aren't meeting expectations the first place you look is at yourself. Are expectations clear? Have I provided the tools necessary for success? If the answers are yes, then you look at the people being led. This is where I'm coming from - after 10 months on the job, I would expect him to have a stronger sense of team developed than what we see. I would expect to see guys that are working hard and getting better. I didn't expect a winning record, but I expect to see guys working together for the betterment of the team. KA has a huge job in trying to change a culture and build a program. He has my support in doing it. But I'm disturbed that almost a year in, it doesn't appear that he has the majority of the team buying into his vision. I'm not even sure if he has a strong core group buying in yet. So, either that's in his leadership, or the quality of the young men on the team. This will take time, but I'm not encouraged by the progress at this point. I really, really want to be wrong.

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Can't argue with this to much. Pretty well said.

Semo, realistically, when expectations are not met, how many times do you really think the leadership (management) actually looks at themselves first? I ask this because after being in the workforce for more than 35 yrs. on the blue collar level, I have noticed the focus is usually on the workers first. I'm sure in some cases, it is focused on the management side first. But I've seen many cases where it's not always the case.

I've been employed by my current company for 16 yrs. With new management came in two years ago, they brought with them new changes in SOP's. They also brought in with them a culture change. It was and still is a bumpy ride. The first thing they did was to implement new rules and tightened up current rules. They also tightened up and changed some of the consequences. They went from progressive disciplinary where it was a verbal then written then suspension to directly to suspension. This was done to bring the workforce into a quicker compliance. Did it work? Yah and no. It was a big culture shock for the hourly people. This is kind of what I see happening with KA and the team. I'm not really saying one or the other is a fault. I'm saying, there is new management (KA) and the workers (players)may be under a culture change and it may take some time for the dust to settle. Also, whether someone thinks the punishment fits the crime or not, it boils down to what KA decides or thinks he needs to do to correct what ever problem or problems may be occurring. After all, he will be the one answering to the AD and he will have to own it. So if he is going to own this, he should be the one making the decisions on what punishment fits the crime.

I am not impressed with the team at this point either. But as I said, seeing culture change and being in the middle of it, sometimes the changes are more than some can bare. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of these players don't return. Chan and some other players seen it coming. They left before KA hit Columbia. So that should tell you something. He may be one of those guys who just runs a tight ship. Not all players will fit in there. But in the end it will work itself out I think.