Lyndal Scranton has covered Missouri State since the 1990-91 season for the Springfield News-Leader. That’s the season MSU (then Southwest Missouri State) joined the MVC.
Q: Has Dale Lamberth surpassed Deven Mitchell as MSU’s most valuable player?
A: Certainly it’s between one of those two. They always say what’s happened lately is freshest in your mind so for that reason I’d say Lamberth. He’s leading the Valley in scoring in league-only games. Teams have done a good defensive job on Mitchell of late by putting bigger defenders on him and his stats have suffered.
Q: What is the root of MSU’s problems winning on the road in the Valley?
Probably defense. Unlike most years under Barry Hinson, the Bears don’t have good perimeter defense. Not enough quickness or height in the guard group. To win on the road, especially in Valley play, you have to be able to play defense. At home you can outscore people at times.
Q: Last season for the Hammons Center at MSU - what is your favorite Hammons Center memory
Going back to the Charlie Spoonhour years when the team was in a Mid-Continent Conference and a relatively new member of D-I, two games: NIT victories over Pittsburgh and Marquette in March of 1986. Postseason play in D-I was a new thing for everybody involved then. I was not the beat writer then but was there to do features on those games and Hammons has never been as loud since.
Q: Bears down by three with five seconds to play. Who do you want to shoot the three - Kevin Ault or Johnny Murdock?
Johnny Murdock. One of my favorite Bears of all time. He was fearless. Didn’t have the greatest supporting cast the last couple of years of his career which was a shame.