Like Father, Like Son
Published Jan. 26, 2007
Men's basketball coach Mike Anderson said he treats each of his players like a son. But one of them, sophomore guard Michael Anderson Jr., actually is his son. The same can be said for associate coach Melvin Watkins and senior guard Marcus Watkins. This puts the Tigers in the unique position of having not one, but two of the coaches' sons playing on the team — something that has never happened before at Missouri or many other schools.
Both coaches said it has always been their sons' decisions as to what school they would attend.
"I would encourage him to do what he felt was right for him," Mike Anderson said.
But for Michael Anderson Jr., a desire to play under his father was never in doubt as he chose to go to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and then transfer to MU.
"I always knew that I wanted to play under him," he said.
Marcus Watkins also didn't question the desire to play for his father, one that led him to choose Texas A&M and then transfer to MU.
"I knew playing with my father would be the best idea," he said.
Mike Anderson said it might have been somewhat awkward if his son had made a different college choice had the two schools met.
"It would have been a funny feeling," he said.
Melvin Watkins said it would have been weird to see his son on the other sideline but that family loyalties could be forgotten for 40 minutes of basketball.
"It's about competition," he said.
As for their mothers' input in deciding whether to play for their fathers, the players' experiences were different. Michael Anderson Jr. said his mother only asked him questions and didn't try to sway his college search. Marcus Watkins said his mother was in favor of him playing for his father because it would keep him close to home.
Mike Anderson said it has always been understood that there would be no bias toward coaches' sons in matters of the team. His players agreed.
"Everybody still gets treated the same," freshman guard Keon Lawrence said. "We're a team."
Marcus Watkins said there were positives and negatives to having his father as the coach. The positives include getting to "go to work" every day with his father. The negative side includes that his father always knows how practice went — good or bad. He said when he needs to vent about team matters, he goes to his mother and siblings.
Mike Anderson said he feels his son has enough integrity that he wouldn't want any special treatment.
"I think my son is well-grounded," he said, adding that his son does whatever it takes for the team to win. "He's just as competitive as I am."
Oddly enough, the men's basketball team at UAB, the Andersons' former school, has the same team dynamic this season. Coach Mike Davis' son, Mike Davis Jr., plays on the team, along with Tyler Marsh, the son of assistant coach Donnie Marsh. The Blazers said they treat it as a non-issue. Davis deflected a question on the subject, deciding instead to address the state of his entire squad. Tyler Marsh was willing to speak on the subject but doesn't think it affects the team.
"I don't let it be an issue," he said. "I think it's kind of fun and exciting."
Tyler Marsh said his father made sure UAB would be a good school for him academically before allowing him to come there to play. Tyler Marsh said he decided to walk-on at UAB and turn down scholarships from other schools to play for his father. But he doesn't get, or want, any special treatment.
Although Tyler Marsh said the family connection at UAB is sometimes discussed, though only between the four, Melvin Watkins and Mike Anderson said they have never discussed it.
Michael Anderson Jr. said he liked his father's coaching style and wanted to play for someone who really knew him.
"I kind of wanted to go with somebody who knew what I could do," he said.
But to Mike Anderson, his son appears to have many of the benefits of going away from his family for school. Michael Anderson Jr. does not live at the family home. In fact, he doesn't even have his own bedroom when he is there.
"We don't see him until he needs something," Mike Anderson said.