Mizzou notebook: Men’s basketball announces series with Iowa State

Missouri restarted one of its longest men’s basketball rivalries Thursday, announcing a home-and-home series with Iowa State.

Mizzou will host the Cyclones in the 2017 season-opener Nov. 10, 2017, and will play the return game Nov. 9, 2018, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

“We’re always looking to play good programs and, selfishly, I like playing Big 12 schools,” third-year Tigers coach Kim Anderson said. “I think it’s good for our fans. I know what great fans they have at Ames. I’m not really crazy about that, but I just think our fans really relate to that.”

Mizzou and Iowa State have met 233 times, beginning with the Tigers’ 53-14 win Jan. 9, 1909, against the Cyclones in Columbia. The Tigers have only played Kansas (267) and Kansas State (235) more times. Before leaving the Big 12 five years ago, Mizzou had won nine straight games against the Iowa State and leads the series 149-84.

The Cyclones have improved dramatically in recent years under Fred Hoiberg and his successor, Steve Prohm.

“It’s a good RPI team, to be candid with you, for our schedule,” said Anderson, who averaged 16.7 points and went 6-1 against Iowa State as a player. “We got together with Coach Prohm and decided, ‘Hey, let’s tip it off next year,’ and first game of the year we’re going to tip it off here at Mizzou Arena.

New SEC scheduling mandates for men’s basketball require teams to have an average three-year, non-conference RPI of 175 or better this season. That figure drops to 150 for 2017-18 and 125 for 2018-19.

Mizzou football hosts Tennessee that same weekend in 2017, marking a significant fan opportunity with the men’s basketball opener and a marquee SEC football matchup on back-to-back days.

“This is certainly an exciting series for Mizzou fans and alumni, considering the tradition and history between our two schools,” Mizzou athletic director　Jim Sterk said. “It is unique to host a program like Iowa State’s to start a new season. All of us here with Mizzou Athletics look forward to seeing everyone at this big-time matchup in Mizzou Arena next year.”　

Point guards battling flu

Anderson said the flu bug sweeping through the team has taken down points guards Terrence Phillips and Jordan Geist.

Phillips remains absent from practice, but he’s expected to play Sunday against Alabama A&M.

Geist, who was expected to return Thursday to practice, played against Central Missouri last Friday in exhibition action with his damaged right pinky taped to his index finger “and it didn’t seem to affect him a whole lot,” Anderson said.　

Anderson discusses recruiting

As excited as Anderson was Wednesday to sign Richland (Texas) High combo guard C.J. Roberts. He sensed equal excitement from Roberts.

“He signed (Wednesday) morning at 7:01, which is one minute after you could sign,” Anderson said.

Roberts, a Rivals four-star point guard, is ranked as the No. 96 player in the country and averaged 22.5 points per game as a junior last season.

“To me, he’s a shot-clock guy; he’s a guy that can make a play with the ball when the shot clock’s running down,” Anderson said. “He’s a good shooter, and I just think he’s a complete player.”

Anderson, who acknowledged having one remaining scholarship for 2017, doesn’t expect to sign any additional players during the early signing period.

“We’re looking primarily to sign a big guy, but we’re really recruiting at every position still, anticipating what will happen in the spring,” he said. “Hopefully, everybody will stay intact, but I think you’ve always got to prepare for that.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Mizzou notebook: Men’s basketball announces series with Iowa State."