Eye on the Tigers

Episode 23 -- In this episode of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson break down the Tigers' critical win against Vanderbilt in Nashville and preview the regular-season finale against Arkansas.

Episode 22 -- Just how bad was the Missouri men's basketball team's overtime loss to Ole Miss? Well, last-place Ole Miss had lost seven straight entering the game. And had not won a road game all season. And had just parted ways with head coach Andy Kennedy.

Episode 21 -- The Missouri men's basketball team might be the hottest in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers are in the midst of their second five-game winning streak of the season, first-year coach Cuonzo Martin is getting some coach-of-the-year buzz, and ... yes, Michael Porter Jr. might be coming back. No, really. In this edition of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and columnist Ben Frederickson discuss the team's streak along with the benefits (and challenges) of MPJ's potential return.

What happened? What should be done to fix it? In this week's episode of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, games take a back seat. Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and columnist Ben Frederickson discuss how the women's basketball rivalry between Mizzou and South Carolina has taken an ugly turn that must be corrected. The two also share their thoughts on the suspension of Mizzou point guard Terrence Phillips, who is the subject of a Title IX investigation after multiple allegations of physical abuse were made against him. Other topics addressed include: A preview of the Tigers' game against Alabama A prediction of where Parkway North defensive lineman Michael Thompson will commit. The St. Louis local has narrowed his options to Oklahoma and Mizzou.

Before Missouri basketball legend and current university curator Jon Sundvold was on the SEC Network call for Mizzou's meeting with No. 19 Auburn on Wednesday night, he stopped by the Eye on the Tigers podcast to talk Tigers hoops and the SEC at large. Sundvold joins Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson to break down how Mizzou matches up against Auburn, the secret to Auburn's success this season, and the increased competitiveness of the league as a whole. Sundvold shares his pick for the league's best team, and how he thinks the potential return of Michael Porter Jr. could help the Tigers. Matter and Frederickson also discuss the commitment of East Mississippi Community College quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr., who could become Drew Lock's replacement in 2019.

After heart-breaking losses to Florida and Arkansas, the Tigers showed they could finish and knocked off No. 21 Tennessee at Mizzou Arena. The SEC is deep and tough, and experts are projecting as many as eight conference teams in the NCAA tournament. In this week's edition of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson consider the Tigers' current tournament credentials and discuss what Cuonzo Martin's team must still prove in order to qualify for March Madness. Other topics include: - Kevin Puryear escaping his funk - Kassius Robertson's impact - Jontay Porter's NBA draft appeal - Current optimism levels for a Michel Porter Jr. return - Previewing Mizzou's trip to Texas A&M

The Missouri football team received great news this week when junior quarterback Drew Lock announced he will return for his senior season. Lock, who had been considering an early entry into the NFL draft, will be paired with new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Derek Dooley, who departed a job as Dallas Cowboys receivers coach to replace former coordinator Josh Heupel. In this week's edition of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson break down the importance of Lock's return, and discuss the questions that are swirling around head coach Barry Odom's hire of Dooley, who has never called plays or coached quarterbacks during his career. The two also preview the Tigers' upcoming football schedule and offer their thoughts on the transfer of Tigers point guard Blake Harris.

Conference realignment bad blood? Check. Regional rivalry? You bet. Recruiting implications? Perhaps more than any other bowl game. In this episode 16 of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and columnist Ben Frederickson set the stage for Mizzou-Texas in the Texas Bowl. The two discuss the coaches, the match-ups and the importance of the game for each team. They also catch you up to speed on quarterback Drew Lock's pending decision, Barry Odom's hunt for an offensive coordinator and the Tigers' 16-player haul on early signing day. Click here to listen and subscribe to this podcast Click here for the "Eye on the Tigers" archive

Ep. 15 -- Cuonzo vs. Underwood. Mark Smith vs. Mizzou. Jeremiah Tilmon vs. Illinois fans. The game we have been waiting for is finally here. In this week's episode of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and columnist Ben Frederickson preview Saturday's Braggin' Rights game between Mizzou and Illinois, which will be played Saturday night at the Sottrade Center in St. Louis. The two preview the match-up, discuss the start of each program's new coach, and discuss the local story lines that have been piling up for months. They also circle back on the latest round of Michael Porter Jr. drama, because it wouldn't be an 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast without it.

Mizzou football coach Barry Odom has a critical hire on his hands. The Tigers are in need of an offensive coordinator now that Josh Heupel has taken the head job at UCF. Where will Odom, a defensive mastermind, turn for points? In this week's edition of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Post-Dispatch Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson ponder possible candidates for the open offensive coordinator position. Would it make sense to bring back a former Tigers coordinator? What about a former Texas Tech quarterback? Is it best to continue the Baylor-style spread, or move on to another style? And, the big question: How will Heupel's departure affect Drew Lock's NFL draft decision?" Then the topic shifts to basketball, as Matter and Frederickson explain why Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin was so upset after a big win against Miami (Ohio).

The Missouri football team is headed to a bowl game for the first time since 2014. Problem is, it still doesn't know which one. In this week's edition of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Post-Dispatch Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson explore the available options and pick which bowls they think would be the best fit for Barry Odom's team. Other football-related topics include why Mizzou is working on an extension for Odom, and which of Odom's coaches could become targets for other teams' hires. Example: offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. On the basketball front, Matter and Frederickson recap the Tigers' trip to the championship of the Advocare Invitational, where they squandered a 16-point lead to West Virginia and lost heart-breaker. How quickly can Blake Harris become the point guard this team needs him to be? How impressive has Jontay Porter's start been? And what was going on with Michael Porter Jr.'s much-discussed Instagram post?

It's time to tackle the what-ifs. Michael Porter Jr., the most celebrated Mizzou basketball recruit in program history, is expected to miss the rest of the season after his back surgery. What if he tried a different treatment plan? What if he attempted to come back after surgery? What if he returned as a sophomore? In this week's edition of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Post-Dispatch Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson discuss these theories, and attempt to put the team Porter leaves behind in the proper perspective moving forward. Also, the two preview the Mizzou football team's regular-season finale at Arkansas and look forward to the biggest questions for coach Barry Odom in 2018.

The Missouri men's basketball team is 2-0 after convincing wins against Iowa State and Wagner. But those victories have come without two minutes of playing time from star freshman forward Michael Porter Jr., who checked out after a brief appearance in the season-opener, then watched Monday night's game from the locker room. What's the latest on Porter's leg issue? Why wasn't he with his team on the sideline Monday night? How worried should Mizzou fans be about the likely lottery pick's health, and how soon might he play?

In this week's edition of the 'Eye on the Tigers' podcast, Post-Dispatch Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter and sports columnist Ben Frederickson break down a rather massive weekend in Mizzou athletics. They start with Friday's season-opening men's basketball game against Iowa State, and the point-guard news that first-year coach Cuonzo Martin broke earlier this week. What does Kassius Robertson at the point mean for this team? And what should fans expect defensively from this group? Then the attention turns to Barry Odom's football team, which has spent the past three weeks proving it still has a pulse. Tennessee comes to town with its tail tucked between its legs, and a head coach hanging by a thread. Blake Toppmeyer, Tennessee beat writer for the Knoxville News Sentinel, calls in to offer his view of the game.

The first STL Sports on Tap, on Wednesday at the Schlafly Tap Room, drew a crowd of sports enthusiasts to listen to Post-Dispatch sportswriters and columnists tell stories and answer questions.