COLUMBIA Kim English and his Missouri teammates are fully aware of what lies ahead Saturday. Past experience has taught them that whenever they step on the court at Allen Fieldhouse, they should expect rim-rattling, court-shaking noise from start to finish, not unlike the kind Missouri benefitted from in a close victory Feb. 4 over the Jayhawks at Mizzou Arena.The difference this time, of course, will be a pro-Kansas crowd that hates the colors black, gold and everything else Missouri. Ive never won there, so I cant say its my favorite (place), said English, who followed by saying he appreciates the atmosphere of Kansas 56-year old home. You feel the hatred walking in there.English continued by relaying a story from last season that hammered that point home.We were in the tunnel, and youve got to walk by their fans, English began. A guy (who) was about 110 years old had an old Kansas shirt on, and he looked at me and Marcus (Denmon) and said Missou-rah, youre gonna burn, just like you burnt down our town! English, a Baltimore native, remembered Denmons comeback with a chuckle.Marcus was like Yo, hes from Baltimore, English said. That said, Englishs story while funny also hammered home another point he wanted to make. He and his senior teammates, who have never won at Allen Fieldhouse, arent going to be intimidated by the place, and they darn sure arent going to embrace the atmosphere. After all, this is a business trip.The third-ranked Missouri Tigers, 25-3 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 play, are still very much in the race for the regular-season conference title. They plan on winning this game, despite the fact Missouri hasnt won in Lawrence since 1999 and this senior class has lost three games there by an average of 20.3 points.Im sure none of my teammates ever will be or ever have been (intimidated), English said. Theyve been the better team there. The fans had nothing to do with them winning in Lawrence.Nevertheless, Missouri coach Frank Haith is taking steps to prepare his players for the avalanche of noise and hate the Allen Fieldhouse faithful figure to rain down upon them Saturday. For starters, in an effort to get his team ready to play in a cramped environment, Haith held Thursdays practice on Missouris smaller practice court instead of the Mizzou Arena floor. He also added a twist.Well pipe in some music and get them ready, Haith said. Its constant noise, very little dead time students stand up the whole game and are very creative.The stakes for Saturdays game could inspire some extra creativity. With a win, fourth-ranked Kansas, 23-5 and 13-2 in the Big 12, can clinch a share of its eighth consecutive league title. Missouri, which trails the Jayhawks by a game after an unexpected home loss on Tuesday to a suddenly-hot but unranked Kansas State team, can put itself in position to win its first Big 12 title with a win.So yes, Haith said, Saturdays game is a great opportunity, and hes pulling out all the stops to prepare his team. Junior guard Michael Dixon even said he thinks Missouri will use cards, like youve famously seen Oregons football team do in the past, to call in plays from the sideline as a way to counteract an environment that English is sure will be off the charts.Its gonna be turned up a notch, no doubt, English said. After we beat them here (Columbia) my freshman year, when we went there, it was super loud the court was shaking. Theyll definitely be excited for us to get in there.

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Missouri bracing itself for crazy atmosphere in Allen Fieldhouse

By TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

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COLUMBIA -- Kim English and his Missouri teammates are fully aware of what lies ahead Saturday.

Past experience has taught them that whenever they step on the court at Allen Fieldhouse, they should expect rim-rattling, court-shaking noise from start to finish, not unlike the kind Missouri benefitted from in a close victory Feb. 4 over the Jayhawks at Mizzou Arena.

The difference this time, of course, will be a pro-Kansas crowd that hates the colors black, gold and everything else Missouri.

“I’ve never won there, so I can’t say it’s my favorite (place),” said English, who followed by saying he appreciates the atmosphere of Kansas’ 56-year old home. “You feel the hatred walking in there.”

English continued by relaying a story from last season that hammered that point home.

“We were in the tunnel, and you’ve got to walk by their fans,” English began. “A guy (who) was about 110 years old had an old Kansas shirt on, and he looked at me and Marcus (Denmon) and said ‘Missou-rah, you’re gonna burn, just like you burnt down our town!’ ”

English, a Baltimore native, remembered Denmon’s comeback with a chuckle.

“Marcus was like ‘Yo, he’s from Baltimore,’ ” English said.

That said, English’s story — while funny — also hammered home another point he wanted to make. He and his senior teammates, who have never won at Allen Fieldhouse, aren’t going to be intimidated by the place, and they darn sure aren’t going to embrace the atmosphere. After all, this is a business trip.

The third-ranked Missouri Tigers, 25-3 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 play, are still very much in the race for the regular-season conference title. They plan on winning this game, despite the fact Missouri hasn’t won in Lawrence since 1999 and this senior class has lost three games there by an average of 20.3 points.

“I’m sure none of my teammates ever will be or ever have been (intimidated),” English said. “They’ve been the better team there. The fans had nothing to do with them winning in Lawrence.”

Nevertheless, Missouri coach Frank Haith is taking steps to prepare his players for the avalanche of noise and hate the Allen Fieldhouse faithful figure to rain down upon them Saturday.

For starters, in an effort to get his team ready to play in a cramped environment, Haith held Thursday’s practice on Missouri’s smaller practice court instead of the Mizzou Arena floor. He also added a twist.

“We’ll pipe in some music and get them ready,” Haith said. “It’s constant noise, very little dead time … students stand up the whole game and are very creative.”

The stakes for Saturday’s game could inspire some extra creativity. With a win, fourth-ranked Kansas, 23-5 and 13-2 in the Big 12, can clinch a share of its eighth consecutive league title. Missouri, which trails the Jayhawks by a game after an unexpected home loss on Tuesday to a suddenly-hot but unranked Kansas State team, can put itself in position to win its first Big 12 title with a win.

So yes, Haith said, Saturday’s game is a great opportunity, and he’s pulling out all the stops to prepare his team. Junior guard Michael Dixon even said he thinks Missouri will use cards, like you’ve famously seen Oregon’s football team do in the past, to call in plays from the sideline as a way to counteract an environment that English is sure will be off the charts.

“It’s gonna be turned up a notch, no doubt,” English said. “After we beat them here (Columbia) my freshman year, when we went there, it was super loud — the court was shaking.

“They’ll definitely be excited for us to get in there.”