It looks like former Mizzou guard Michael Dixon will get his second chance.
As a result, Memphis coach Josh Pastner shoulders the risk.
Dixon,
who withdrew from Mizzou after it became public knowledge that he had
twice been accused of sexual assault, is now enrolled in classes at
Memphis, waiting to find out if an NCAA waiver will allow him to use his
final season of eligibility immediately.
This isn't the
situation most predicted. When the accusations surrounding Dixon went
public, most figured it wouldn't matter that Dixon had never been
charged with any crime. The belief was the double-digit scorer would
resurface at a lower-tier school, one not centered in the spotlight.
Instead,
Dixon potentially upgraded. Memphis is a lock for a Top 25 spot headed
into this season. Dixon joins a guard rotation that includes
double-digit scorers Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford and Geron Johnson.
Pastner
has a history of giving guys second chances. If this one works out,
Dixon will get to write the final chapter of his college career as a Memphis Tiger rather than a Missouri Tiger. If more
trouble finds Dixon, Pastner will have some explaining to do.
BREWERS AWAIT WILLIAMS' DECISION
When Devin Williams went to bed Thursday, his mind was mostly made up.
"I'll
be sure to let you know, but it it looks like I'll be signing," the
18-year-old told FOXSportsMidwest.com shortly after midnight, hours
after the Milwaukee Brewers had drafted him with the 54th pick in the
2013 MLB Draft.
Come Monday morning, that decision has still not
been finalized. An adviser to Williams told FOXSportsMidwest.com on
Sunday that conversations with the Brewers over Williams' signing bonus
are ongoing. Still, all signs point to the Hazelwood West graduate and
Mizzou commit entering Milwaukee's major league system.
Williams
entered the draft ranked as the No. 49 prospect, according to Scout.com.
The right-hander's goal had been to go in the first round. Since he
went in the second, things got a bit muddier.
Should Williams
jump at the chance to enter the major league system, even if it didn't
come as early — and with as big of a signing bonus — as he originally
hoped?
Or, should he let this draft pass him by and take the
college route, honoring the commitment he made to the University of
Missouri in January 2012?
Despite Mizzou's continued recruitment
of Williams, the pitcher has always leaned toward taking the
professional route. The recommended signing bonus for the 54th pick is
$1.017 million. Williams' adviser believes the Brewers will offer more.
It's
a problem common across college baseball this time of year. You want to
recruit good players. But, if you do, there's a chance they'll never
arrive.
THREE TIGERS DRAFTED
Mizzou landed three players — all pitchers — in the MLB Draft this year.
Junior
starter Rob Zastryzny topped the list. The left-hander was selected by
the Chicago Cubs with the 41st pick (second round). This made him the
highest-drafted Tiger since pitchers Kyle Gibson and Aaron Crow went in
the first round in 2009.
Zastryzny went 2-9 last year, a number
that might be a bit misleading due to a lack of run support. The Tigers'
ace had a 3.38 ERA in 13 starts. He threw four complete games, one of
which was a shutout.
With the 1,036th pick in the draft, the
Washington Nationals selected Tigers senior lefty Jake Walsh. His
teammate, junior right-hander Keaton Steele, landed with the Kansas City
Royals with the 1,194th pick.
A NEW LOOK AT MEMORIAL
Mizzou
brass approved a $72 million renovation project for Memorial Stadium
and other athletic facilities not long after the university's move to
the Southeastern Conference became public. Some of those improvements —
creation of more suites, upgrades to indoor training facilities, etc. —
will be invisible to fans. But one big change is now complete.
The
Rock M, a staple at Memorial since students built the letter with
leftover rocks from the construction of the structure in 1927, got a
makeover. The M is still at the north end of the stadium, but closer to
the field than before. The move will allow for expanded seating options
in the area the M used to sit. Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel posted a
picture of the new look on Twitter. What do you think?
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow Ben Frederickson on Twitter (@Ben_Fred), or contact him at frederickson.ben@gmail.com.
