Missouri's Anderson shoots down Arkansas speculation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Missouri basketball Coach Mike Anderson shook Athletic Director Mike Alden’s hand as he entered the Tigers’ locker room after Thursday night’s opening game of the NCAA Tournament.

Will they soon be shaking on a new deal?

As speculation continues about Arkansas’ interest in the former Razorbacks assistant, Anderson again shot down questions about his future last night.

On Thursday, a writer for Scout.com’s Arkansas affiliate wrote on Twitter that he believed “there is ‘legitimate’ interest on both sides of the equation” while former Razorbacks Coach Nolan Richardson, for whom Anderson spent 17 years as an assistant coach, told the Log Cabin Democrat in Arkansas that UA would be “smart” to talk to Anderson.

“I don’t deal with rumors,” Anderson said after Missouri’s 78-63 loss. “Again, that’s a rumor, and I thought I’d dealt with that already. I’m excited about what’s taking place at Missouri and I plan on being at Missouri. That’s the bottom line. We’ve done some great things and we’ll continue to do some great things. I’ve got a young basketball team.”

Junior forward Laurence Bowers called Anderson’s future “in God’s hands now.”

“We trust Coach Anderson,” Bowers said. “We know he’s going to make the best decision for himself and his family and us.”

Anderson has addressed speculation about Arkansas several times over the past month, even reaching out to the Tribune to emphatically state his desire to remain at Missouri.

“I plan on being at Missouri for a long time, retire here,” he told the Tribune. “I’m happy. I think that’s the most important thing. It’s always about being happy.”