MEN
Coach: Mike Anderson, 123-69 in six seasons, 34-28 in two seasons at Missouri.
2007-08: 16-16 overall, 6-10 in Big 12, 10th.
Postseason: None
Starters lost: 1
Key returnees: DeMarre Carroll, 6-8 Sr. F; Leo Lyons, 6-9 Sr. F; Matt Lawrence, 6-6 Sr. G; J.T. Tiller, 6-3 Jr. G.
Key newcomers: Zaire Taylor, 6-4 Jr. G; Kim English, 6-6 Fr. G; Miguel Paul, 6-1 Fr. G; Marcus Denmon, 6-2 Fr. G.

So far
The Tigers are 7-1 going into Saturday's home game with Murray State. The only loss was a four-point decision to a ranked Xavier team in the opening round of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Plusses
Missouri bills its style of play as The Fastest 40 Minutes In College Basketball. In his third season, coach Mike Anderson finally has the speed and roster depth to back up that claim. The Tigers want to press and create turnovers while playing a fast-paced, flowing offensive style. Carroll, Lyons and Lawerence are veterans of the system.

Minuses
Missouri isn't a great free throw shooting team and there is no true point guard to run the offense when the Tigers are forced to play a half-court style.

Overview
Anderson is starting to make recruiting in-roads in the state of Missouri. The program flourished in previous seasons when the Tigers kept the best home-grown players at home. Missouri has a good chance of finishing in the top half of the Big 12 and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.

What the coach says
"I think we're going to have more options because we have the depth to play the way we want to play. I'm really excited about the team. When I get excited that means there's good things on the horizon. Number one, I'm used to winning. And, again, this team is going to be young, but I think we have a nice mixture."

WOMEN
Coach: Cindy Stein, 225-165 in 13 seasons, 160-142 in 10 seasons at Missouri.
2007-08: 10-21 overall, 2-14 in Big 12, 12th.
Postseason: None
Starters lost: 0
Key returnees: Alyssa Hollins, 6-0 Sr. G; Jessra Johnson, 6-1 Jr. F; Shakara Jones, 6-2 So. F; Toy Richbow, 5-6 Jr. G.
Key newcomers: Bekah Mills, 5-9 Fr. G; Kendra Frazier, 6-5 Fr. C; Christine Flores, 6-3 Fr. F;

So far
After a 1-3 start, the Tigers have bounced back to even their record at 4-4.

Plusses
Despite finishing last in the regular season, the Tigers got a boost when they became the first 12th seed to win in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship. That victory provided much needed confidence.

Minuses
Missouri struggled to score last season, shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 61.6 percent from the free throw line. The Tigers were the nation's eighth-youngest team last season and have just one senior (Hollins) on the roster. A class of tall freshmen hopefully can help improve the team's rebounding deficit.

Overview
The Tigers have reached post-season play just two of the last four years. Moving up in the rugged Big 12 will be a challenge, even for a team that returns all five starters.

What the coach says
"The Oklahoma game was big in the fact that we were very disappointed in our season up until that point. We knew that we had some close games that we had lost and we were hanging in there, but no one wants to hang in there. You want to have something. I think the Oklahoma game gave us some confidence. It gave us a reason to say we're going to be a lot better next year. But at the same time we also understood that the Oklahoma game meant we needed to make sure we were doing all those little things in the summer to return better. I think that's what it did more than anything."