March 22, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri is ranked 38th in the latest Sears Directors' Cup standings, presented by the nation's athletics directors. The standings are a comprehensive look at the on-field success of athletic programs, and awards points based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports - 10 for men and 10 for women.

Following a 7th-place finish by the women's track team at the NCAA Indoor Championships, MU jumped from 44th to their current spot, with a total of 204.5 points for the season. The current standings don't include points scored from the basketball season, and the Tigers will benefit from both men's and women's teams this year. Missouri was one of only 19 schools to place both men's and women's team into the NCAA Tournament, and one of just six schools (Duke, Stanford, Forida, Iowa and Notre Dame were the others) to have both teams win first round games.

That puts the Tigers in position to surpass the school's best finish ever in the standings, when Missouri placed 50th in 1993-94 (the inaugural year of the standings). Mizzou finished 52nd last season with a total of 320.5 points. The final winter standings will be released April 19th, with the final season standings to follow June 21st.

Missouri is 7th among Big 12 schools in the standings. Nebraska currently ranks 1st in the country, with 535.5 points, followed by Wisconsin (2nd - 506.5.) and defending champion Stanford (3rd - 504). Other Big 12 teams in the standings include: Colorado (6th - 378), Texas (15th - 302.5), Kansas State (22nd - 264.5), Texas A&M (26th - 257.5), Oklahoma (28th - 254.5), MISSOURI (38th - 204.5), Oklahoma State (55th - 156.5), Iowa State (59th - 143.5), Kansas (95th - 76), Baylor (105th - 69.5) & Texas Tech (169th - 20.0).