COLUMBIA - There's a new energy at Missouri basketball practices.
Having won two of their last three after a 13-game losing streak, the Tigers (7-17, 2-10 Southeastern Conference) agreed Monday their practices have been more fun since the losing streak ended.
Head coach Kim Anderson singing new tunes might be the biggest proof of that.
"Last week, he came up to me and he was singing some Drake song," forward Jordan Barnett said. "I think it was 'Energy.' I was just like, 'What are you doing?' I've never heard him quote Drake before."
It's been a rough season for the Tigers, so it might not be a surprise to see Anderson and the Tigers use this bit of momentum to break loose a little more. Prior to Missouri's 83-78 win against Texas A&M on Feb. 4, the Tigers had tied a program record with 13 straight losses and set a program record with 14 straight conference losses. A 32-game road losing streak dating back to 2014 still lingers.
Yet even during the losing streak, the Tigers' spirits didn't waver.
"When you go through stretches like that, you'll probably have in-house issues with players not getting along," guard Terrence Phillips said. "That was never the case."
Anderson said through most of the losing streak how close he thought the Tigers were to getting over the hump. He and assistant coach Brad Loos each said the Tigers would typically practice well, but it wouldn't translate to the floor on game day.
That all came together in Missouri's 72-52 win against Vanderbilt last Saturday.
"A great performance by our guys, unbelievable," Anderson said after the win. "I certainly thought that we could compete with them and if we played well we'd have a chance to win, and we did. We played well."
Now the Tigers seek a three-game home conference winning streak - which would the first of the Anderson era - at 7:30 p.m. today against Alabama (14-10, 7-5 SEC). The Crimson Tide beat the Tigers 68-56 on Jan. 18 in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama had four players score in double figures with Avery Johnson Jr. and Riley Norris with 13 each, Dazon Ingram with 12 and Braxton Key with 11. The Crimson Tide have gone 3-4 since their win against the Tigers, but did get a 90-86 victory at No. 19 South Carolina.
Barnett only had seven points against the Crimson Tide. Since then he's averaged 14.3 points per game, the last three coming off the bench, and put together back-to-back 23 point games. He added a career-high five 3-point baskets against the Commordoes and nine rebounds, five of them offensive.
Anderson said he wanted Barnett to become more aggressive with his shot selection since the transfer became eligible Dec. 17 against Eastern Illinois.
"We know what he's capable of," Phillips said. "With his athletic ability, the way he shoots the ball, plays defense, it was really time for that to come out."
Still, Anderson admitted it might take Barnett time to find his rhythm after not having played the previous calendar year. He thinks Barnett has finally reached that point.
"I just think he's more comfortable," Anderson said of Barnett. "I quit running plays for him. We bring him off the bench now, and he just hoops. He's just a hooper. He just goes out and plays.
"I think they've fed off him a little bit. When he plays well, that gives us another scoring option, a guy who can jump up and shoot the ball from the perimeter."