Sports Headlines for Friday December 16th

• Missouri Tigers basketball team is red hot under first year head coach Frank Haith
  Off to a perfect start and top ten ranking something special could be brewing in Columbia.

• North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5) at Missouri Tigers (7-5)
  The MU football team is less than two weeks from playing North Carolina in the Independence Bowl.

• St. Louis Rams (2-9)  vs Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
  The Rams host a desperate Bengals team needing victories to keep playoff hope alive
  A Bengals perspective

Door open for Michael Porter to become a Redhawk

Nothing like starting the week with potentially great new for Southeast Missouri State.

Former Sikeston high school basketball star Michael Porter has been released from his scholarship at Missouri State and is free to transfer.

Wouldn't it be great to see him playing for the Redhawks? It sure would help bring fans into the Show-Me-Center for games.

Porter signed with Missouri State out of high school but suffered through an injury plagued freshman season. He was limited to only six games scoring just 23 points ans pulling down 13 rebounds. He dealt with a hamstring issue, emergency appendectomy surgery in November and hip surgery following a car accident in June.

By Rick Kindhart
Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Missouri State Univeristy

SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin announced Monday that forward Michael Porter requested and was granted a release from his scholarship.

The redshirt freshman from Sikeston, Mo., cited personal reasons for ending his association with the Bears. His announcement comes just over two months after a serious, single-car accident hospitalized him on June 9, putting his playing future in jeopardy.

"Tomorrow is never promised," Porter said. "The past few months have helped me prioritize things in my life. Whether or not I am able to play basketball again, I want to stay close to home. I love the Missouri State program, but I have a son now, and being a father figure is more important than ever."

Martin said he respects Porter's decision and appreciates his hard work while with the program.

"We wish Mike the best and respect where his priorities are," Martin said. "He has been through a lot this year, and we are grateful for his contributions."

Porter's roller coaster ride of a freshman season also included an emergency appendectomy and a torn hamstring that forced him to miss all but six games, ultimately earning him a medical redshirt. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in a reserve role that saw him average just over 11 minutes per contest. He scored a team-high 16 points in the team's 75-62 road win at Arkansas Little Rock on December 2, and notched five rebounds against Air Force at JQH Arena on December 5.

Despite the trials and tribulations that led him to making what he calls ''the most difficult decision'' of his life, Porter says he would not change a thing about his involvement with the Missouri State program.

"Coach Martin is the best coach I have ever had," Porter said. "I owe so much to him and the staff, to my teammates, and to the great fans at Missouri State. I will always be a Bear. With or without me, Missouri State is going to have a great season, and I wish nothing but the best for the team."

Porter said he plans on continuing his education at Southeast Missouri State this fall. Southeast is located about 35 miles north of Sikeston in Cape Girardeau. He also said he plans to take his physical recovery from the accident very slow and rates the chances of ever playing basketball again at 50-50.

"I love the game, and it would be hard to walk away," Porter explained. "That's why I am taking everything very slow."

The Bears are in the process of finalizing their 2010-11 non-conference schedule, which should be available in the next couple of weeks. Martin begins his third season at the helm of the Bears who finished last season with a 24-12 overall record after winning the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

Missouri State Will Play For National Title

Scratching your head after reading the headline? The Missouri State Bears are set to play Tuesday night March 30th in the Championship game of the 2nd Annual CIT (CollegeInsider.com Tournament).

The Bears (23-12) host Pacific (23-11)...Tipp off is 7:05 pm from the JQH Arena in Springfield, MO. You can see the game live on Fox College Sports. If you have Direct TV and live in the Cape Girardeau area I believe the FCS channels are 617 & 623. On Charter Cable you'll find FCS programming on channel 401.

I bet the overwhelming majority of average sports fans ( and I'll go as far as adding hardcore sports fans) have never heard of the CIT. Don't take anything away from Missouri State, they may not be "dancing" with the big boys but they are playing good basketball and just days from playing for a "National Championship". It will mark the programs first national tournament championship game since 1974 when they lost 67-52 to Morgan State in the NCAA Division II finals.

Need a reason to watch...Former Sikeston star Michael Porter is a freshman for the Bears (but sidelined with a hamstring injury) and Saluki Hall Of Famer Kent Williams is an assistant coach.

Michael Porter Recovering From Emergency Appendectomy

By Rick Kindhart (Missouri State University)

Missouri State freshman forward Michael Porter (Sikeston, Mo.) is recovering at home tonight after undergoing emergency surgery this afternoon to remove his appendix. He may miss as many as four weeks while recovering from the procedure.

He scored a team-high 12 points with five rebounds in the Bears' exhibition opener against UMSL and scored five points with seven rebounds in last night's game against Henderson State.