No. 12 Missouri ready for SEC opener

Missouri coach Frank Haith knows a thing or two about playing in different conferences. When the Tigers open up their first season in the Southeastern Conference against Alabama at Mizzou Arena tonight, Haith will be coaching in his third league in three years.

Two years ago he was preparing his Miami squad to do battle with the likes of Duke and North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Last year he was leading the Tigers through their final year in the Big 12. Now, Haith has the task of coaching in his third conference in three years.

For Haith, this task has become business as usual.

"I'm preparing myself just like I did last year, my first year in the Big 12," Haith said. "We watched a lot of tape on these teams this summer to kind of get a feel for this league and how they play. I think this league is more of an athletic uptempo pressing (league), we'll see (tonight)."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.