This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices, and was last updated by 
JNixon 14 years, 8 months ago.
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- Posted on: Tue, 10/04/2011 - 1:40pm #33285
providencefriars1ParticipantWow shocking news, I feel bad for Bowers and for Missouri. This is their last year of contention for a while and this really puts a dent in their plans. They are still a tourney team with Pressey, English, Ratliffe, and Denmon.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri senior forward Laurence Bowers has torn an ACL in one of his knees and won’t play this season.
Missouri coach Frank Haith said Bowers was injured Monday. Bowers had made 27 starts as a junior last season, averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. Bowers has a redshirt season available and would be eligible to return next year.
The 6-foot-8 Bowers, who is from Memphis, Tenn., finished second in the Big 12 last season with 62 blocked shots and was 14th in the league in rebounding.
The injury is a big loss for the Tigers’ offense. Bowers was one of two relevant frontcourt players returning, with Louisville transfer George Goode deciding not to come to Columbia after all and eventually landing at Fairleigh Dickinson. Ricardo Ratliffe is the only non-Bowers player that logged considerable time at the forward spot last season.
That means Missouri’s guard-heavy lineup will have to adjust on both ends of the floor. On attack, the Tigers will probably have to play a hybrid four-guard lineup, with small forward Kim English sliding to the "power forward" spot in name only.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 10/04/2011 - 1:56pm #602692
JNixonParticipantHUGE loss. Especially since Bowers had some things to prove in terms of his NBA future (namely his skill level).
I do think they can get some roster flexibility if Steven Moore proves he’s worth time. He might be able to start at C and play somewhere between 10-15 mpg so that Ricardo Ratcliffe can play PF. That is more ideal than having Kim English matching up with PF’s. English isn’t even physical or very strong on the wing, so he’d be bad in those matchups even though he will have to operate in that situation as is. Whatever amount of minutes Moore can steal (BoBo Morgan style, best case), the better it is for the team. Even though he’s sure to be very foul prone, as history has shown.
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