The week that was in Mizzou athletics: Aug. 18-24
Football season is kicking off and it’s easy to miss stories and events. Here is a recap of the Mizzou athletics we didn’t cover last week with links to what we did.
Our site
Kenny and I put out the second episode of The MizzouToday Show, talking about the Tigers planning to play both quarterbacks in the season opener.
Football
I opened the week with another photo gallery looking at the North End Zone construction. You can find that here.
Kenny then wrote about 2026 running back Maxwell Warner sharing a moment with his family. And he wrote about Ridge Janes cracking the Rivals100.
Mizzou AD Laird Veatch met with the media to discuss the ongoing construction on the NEZ. Here is a transcript of what he said and here is a Said and Unsaid of quotes that stood out to me.
Kenny wrote about Mizzou freshman Brendon Haygood writing a letter home. Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz met with media Tuesday to wrap up fall camp. Here is a video and transcript of everything he said. Media got to meet with seven of the Tigers’ nine captains as well. Here are the full videos of all seven.
Then I put together a Said and Unsaid of quotes that stood out from Drinkwitz.
Kenny wrote about 2027 linebacker Joshua Echols eyeing a visit to Mizzou.
Then I wrote about Logan Muckey beating cancer and returning to the football field to earn a role as a captain.
I added a story about Curtis Peagler’s confidence paying off with a starting role, then Kenny put together a recruiting notebook on Wednesday.
I wrote about the Tigers’ announcing they would play both Beau Pribula and Sam Horn in the season opener.
Then I wrote about the Tigers embracing the grind of a tough fall camp, before I added a story about Cayden Green showing his versatility
With the SEC’s announcement of a nine-game conference schedule, I put together some thoughts on what that means for Mizzou. Then I moved into the new millennium with my look at historic Border War matchups as the series moved to 2002.
Kenny put together a 3-2-1 column on Mizzou recruiting for the Friday File. Then I wrote about how the Tiger defenders don’t envy opponents trying to tackle Ahmad Hardy. Kenny recapped the performance of all the former Tigers in the NFL preseason, then I went position-by-position through the Tiger offense to see where Mizzou got better and where it got worse. Then I did the same with the defense.
Kenny added a story about 2027 QB Braylen Warren setting a return trip to Mizzou.
Drinkwitz met with the media again Saturday. Here is video and a transcript of everything he said. Media also spoke with Chris McClellan and Hardy. Here are videos of the two of them.
I put together a Said and Unsaid from Drinkwitz’s press conference on Saturday, then I opened the mailbag to answer questions on a two-QB system, season tickets and SEC expansion.
Kenny wrote about Rivals300 corner Bryson Brown naming Mizzou among schools he might visit. Then I did some analysis of the Mizzou depth chart. Here is the offense. Then here is the defense. And finally here is the special teams.
Finally, Kenny and I started some predictions for the season. Here is my game-by-game prediction, and here is Kenny’s game-by-game prediction.
My notes and insights from fall camp finished up with:
Men’s Basketball
Kenny wrote about Mizzou target Tristan Reed embracing a transfer to Link Academy.
Volleyball
The Tigers went to Omaha for an exhibition matchup.
Mizzou swept the exhibition, 25-15, 25-13, 25-23.
Caylen Alexander led the Tigers with 14 kills to go with 10 digs for a double-double, while Kimani Johnson had eight kills. Regan Haith had five kills and five blocks, while Maya Sands led the Tigers with 11 digs. Marina Crownover led the team with 18 assists.
The Tigers will officially open the season with a 5 p.m. match Friday hosting James Madison. Then Missouri will have to hop on a plane quickly for a noon matchup at Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday.
The Tigers also announced the signing of Serbian setter Nina Mandovic on Thursday.
Mandovic is a 6-foot-2 Serbian National Team member who helped the team earn gold at the U22 European Championships and the U19 World Championship. She earned best setter at the U19 World Championship in 2022.
Soccer
The Tigers opened the week with their first win of the season, beating Youngstown State 5-0 on Wednesday.
Landis Canada opened the scoring with a goal at the 20:20 mark, then Brianna Buels scored off a double assist from Emily Derucki and Bella Carrillo with 25:12 on the clock.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead into halftime, then Hailey Chambliss scored unassisted at the 79:27 mark, then scored again assisted by Derucki and Ava Lamothe less than a minute later at 80:15.
Mia Devrouax scored the Tigers’ final goal off an assist from McKenna Moran at the 82:40 mark.
The Tigers outshot Youngstown State 20-7, with an 8-2 edge in shots on goal.
Kate Phillips made two saves in net for the Tigers.
The Tigers then dropped a 1-0 match with Saint Louis on Sunday.
The Billikins scored the game’s lone goal at the 4:54 mark. SLU outshot the Tigers 12-7 overall and 5-1 on goal.
Phillips made four saves in net for the Tigers.
The Tigers will return to the field at 7:30 p.m. Thursday when they travel to take on Memphis.
Track & Field
Mizzou NCAA javelin champion Valentina Barrios claimed first place in the women’s javelin at the U23 Pan American Games on Monday.
She used a record-breaking throw of 197-feet, 4-inches to claim gold.
It was the second-best throw of her career.
Now, the senior will turn her focus to the 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.
Women’s Basketball
The Tigers unveiled their full non-conference schedule last week.
Missouri will play nine home games, two in-state matchups and will play the Border War once again.
The Tigers will start the season against Central Arkansas at home on Nov. 3, then will go on the road to face Tulane on Nov. 6.
The Tigers will host Arkansas State on Nov. 11, then will play the Border War at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Nov. 15.
Missouri will return home to face Southern Illinois (Nov. 18) and Troy (Nov. 20) then will go to Florida for the WBCA Showcase, where the Tigers will take on Washington State (Nov. 23).
Missouri will stay in Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off, where the Tigers will play Bradley (Nov. 28) and Northwestern (Nov. 29).
Mizzou will return home for the ACC/SEC Challenge to host Cal (Dec 4), then will play host to SIUE (Dec. 7) and Illinois (Dec. 10).
Missouri will go on the road to face Saint Louis on Dec. 14, then return home to finish up with matchups against North Alabama (Dec. 21) and Kansas City (Dec. 28).
Conference play starts on New Year’s Day with Texas coming to town.
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