The Missouri season, it seems, could not end soon enough.

Off-court mishaps resulted in the suspensions of five players, as well as the dismissal of Stefhon Hannah, a point guard who was invaluable in the Tigers' attack.

The 16-16 finish, which included a first-round loss to Nebraska in the Big 12 Tournament, isn't a factor so much as the inability of coach Mike Anderson to establish control of this once-proud program and cut into all the turmoil.

Missouri remains a mess. Not only because of the off-court scuffles, but because Anderson never seemed to get a grasp on proper player rotations, especially after he dismissed Hannah.

It does appear Anderson is trying to gain some order. He did boot Hannah off the team when he knew full well it would probably eliminate the Tigers from the postseason (they opted not to accept a bid into the newly formed CBI Tournament). He also kicked off Kalen Grimes last summer after learning of an altercation his center was involved in.

But those developments short-circuited what focus Anderson, and his players, could place on basketball. By the end, he was trying all kinds of combinations on the court. Some worked, such as the late emergence of junior forward Leo Lyons, but other moves just didn't make sense as the Tigers rarely bothered opponents with the defensive pressure Anderson wants his teams to exhibit.

The future looks bleak as long as the Tigers cannot behave off the court. Their fan base has become disenfranchised. Anderson could still be the right choice to get Missouri going again, but his players must buy into his principles and be willing to make sacrifices off the court.

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