Move along, nothing to see here folks…

With an RPI in the mid-70?s and sitting on 6 wins mid-January (Baylor is the only other Big 12 team with less), the Missouri Tigers desperately needed to right their sinking ship with a home win versus a top-25 ranked opponent. You could even argue that their 6-5 record, though disappointing was also a bit deceiving, having taken Gonzaga to overtime on the road, and losing to both Memphis and Illinois by a combined 3 points. They were actually favored by 4 points hosting the defending national champion Syracuse Orangemen on Big Monday, in what was only their second road game of the season.

For 18 minutes, the Tigers matched the Orangemen basket for basket, and then they quickly went back to playing Tiger Basketball. At least to the 2003-4 version of Quin Snyder ?coached? Tiger Basketball, which includes one-handed rebounds, getting routinely beat to loose balls, and jacking the three-point shot. A normally supportive home crowd booed senior captain Arthur Johnson after his third consecutive missed free throw attempt (he finished 2 of 6 from the line). The crowd booed again when freshman Linas Kleiza (who grabbed 12 of Mizzou?s 33 rebounds in 27 minutes of action) was removed in favor of senior Travon Bryant. And they should have continued to boo after each of the Tigers? 27 three-point attempts, only 5 of which found the bottom of the net during the 82-68 loss. VMI transfer, Jason Conley, two seasons removed from leading the nation in scoring, contributed 0 points in 5 minutes of work.

The Orangemen played seven players to Missouri?s ten, and finished with four players in double figures, including a career high 18 points for stiff, err, center, Craig Forth. Who was giddy after the game finally able to talk about something besides his unfortunate looks.

As I stated yesterday (two posts in two days?!?!?!), the road doesn?t get any easier from here. On Saturday, Quin?s ballers travel to Norman, Oklahoma. Kelvin Sampson and the Sooners own Quin Snyder. Sort of like Illinois does. And Bill Self. Whom Quin will now get 2 cracks to be outwitted by every year that he remains employed in Columbia. Though this could prove to be his last.

I simply can?t remember a pre-season top 5 ranked team, failing to make the NCAA tournament. Hell, at this rate, they may not even be on the NIT selection committee?s radar. This was the season that Mizzou was poised to make their first Final Four appearance. Ever! The team is loaded with talent at every position, though they may be a tad unproven at the point guard position. Which means either the ongoing NCAA investigation of the Ricky Clemons era and continued allegations of impropriety during Quin?s tenure have taken their toll, or the guy simply can?t coach.

In 4+ years, I honestly cannot recall a time when Quin called a timeout to draw up a play that was successfully executed, or when he immediately yanked a player following poor shot selection or half-hearted defensive effort. Lord knows he has numerous opportunities to do both each and every game.

Maybe had Quin been less worried about giving his players sloppy seconds from his wardrobe, or waiting until the tournament each season before attempting to pull a rabbit out of his hat, he?d be on more secure ground. As it stands, his team is no longer capable of doing the one thing that could have salvaged the off-the-court embarrassments and possible sanctions he?s responsible for the program suffering—winning.

I know he?s a Duke guy, but he?s got to go. I want two guys considered as his replacement at the end of this season, and only two guys. Jon Sundvold, former Tiger great and current underappreciated broadcaster, and Mike Jarvis, formerly underappreciated Big East coach. Jon has no head coaching experience, though his brother does whom he could name as an assistant, and Mike might have problems adjusting to life in Columbia and winning over the Show-me-Staters. Take your pick, doesn?t matter, as I believe either guy would preside over a quicker return to mediocrity. As too might Manhattan?s Bobby Gonzalez or current Louisville assistant and former Deering High Tornadoes head high school coach (where he was unceremoniously replaced by Dick Butkus), Reggie Theus. Then Quin can be the lone scapegoat for any number of previously reported, and future NCAA violations, and he can head west and wait for a PAC-10, WCC or WAC head coaching vacancy. With interim commutes to Bristol, where he can improve upon (cash in on) his overrated broadcasting abilities.

Other tidbits you may or probably will not find interesting:

– You can save a lot of time and brain matter by skipping every fourth word of Kelly Dwyer?s over-your-head posts, spending the remainder of your time concentrating on the Liz Phair pics. Like the sports-friendly one below, that is so much more flattering than disturbingly poochy one of Kelly?s. You?re welcome Liz!

– As of this writing, Greg Robinson is inexplicably still on the Kansas City Chiefs? payroll.

– New Nebraska head football coach Bill Callahan whacked seven of his coaches. Um, as in fired. Turner Gill, you went from head coaching to candidate to a demotion from offensive coordinator to receivers coach. Congratulations!

– The Olsen twins would apparently like to meet Prince William. Or this is simply an excuse for a twins? photo.

– And finally, Hillary Duff is no longer dating Aaron Carter and is now dating one of her teenaged co-stars from Cheaper by the Dozen. Or this is simply an excuse for an Amanda Bynes photo, who is aging much more intriguingly?