Frank Haith - Career - Missouri - First Year (2011-2012 Season)

First Year (2011-2012 Season)

In his first year at Missouri Haith inherited a team that a year before went 23-11 (8-8) and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. From that team only nine players returned for Frank Haith's first year, leaving him with a short bench. The bench got even shorter when Sr. Laurence Bowers, the team's second best returning scorer and leading rebounder, went down with a torn ACL before the season began and after the first semester when So. Kadeem Green transferred. The loss of both Bowers and Green left Haith with only two post players and just seven total scholarship players for his first season at Mizzou. To make up for this deficiency Haith and his staff put into place a four guard system to attempt to take advantage of the speed, passing, and outside shooting of his roster. The system resulted in the Tigers setting a school record for the most regular season wins with 27. The Tigers went 13-0 in the non-conference and 14-4 in Big 12 play, and went 3-0 in the conference tournament to win the Big 12 Tournament Title. At 30-4 the Tigers were given a 2-seed in the West bracket of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, where they were upset by the 15-seed Norfolk State 86-84 in their first game. The Tigers finished the season 30-5 (14-4). On March 19, 2012, the United States Basketball Writers Association awarded Haith the Henry Iba Award as national coach of the year. On March 30, 2012, Haith was named the Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year.