-Man, it was a bad time for Sean East to have one of his worst games of the season. Gates said that he was sick before the Alabama game - they played him 30 minutes anyway. Gates also said he didn't miss one rep in practice this week but maybe he's still recovering. Regardless, he didn't look like himself. I haven't seen East be that timid all year long. Tamar Bates continued to look awesome but he didn't get enough help. Mizzou could've made it a 1-point game if Sean didn't pass up *that* layup (you know the one I'm talking about). Instead, he turned it over on the possession and Florida went on a run that extended the lead to 8. It's pretty close to impossible for Mizzou to win if both East and Bates aren't playing up to their standard.
-Florida adjusted to the traps that the Tigers were sending at them (especially when Connor Vanover, who's got cinderblocks for feet, was the one trapping). And so Mizzou went to a zone look, but it also started giving up a lot more easy looks in transition (especially when Vanover, who is perpetually in slow motion, is the one who's supposed to get back to protect the rim). I said at halftime, the team had to keep battling. It didn't happen.
-I continue to be really puzzled by Gates' rotations. We've asked him about it before, he's told us his thinking about some of the decisions but I still just don't get it. Jordan Butler was Mizzou's best big in the first half. He didn't get back in the game until the 10-minute mark of the second half. I wish I could give you a reasonable explanation why, I really do.
-What would this game have looked like without Tamar Bates? @GabeD said at some point during the first half "He should just take every shot from now on." And he wasn't wrong. The team without Bates was shooting below 33% from the field. I know Gates preaches "shots over turnovers" but they were really testing the limits of that theory tonight.
-It's somehow still early in SEC play. There are a lot of games still left on the schedule. But it's hard to see this team avoiding the opening round of the conference tournament. They just don't have any juice.
-Florida adjusted to the traps that the Tigers were sending at them (especially when Connor Vanover, who's got cinderblocks for feet, was the one trapping). And so Mizzou went to a zone look, but it also started giving up a lot more easy looks in transition (especially when Vanover, who is perpetually in slow motion, is the one who's supposed to get back to protect the rim). I said at halftime, the team had to keep battling. It didn't happen.
-I continue to be really puzzled by Gates' rotations. We've asked him about it before, he's told us his thinking about some of the decisions but I still just don't get it. Jordan Butler was Mizzou's best big in the first half. He didn't get back in the game until the 10-minute mark of the second half. I wish I could give you a reasonable explanation why, I really do.
-What would this game have looked like without Tamar Bates? @GabeD said at some point during the first half "He should just take every shot from now on." And he wasn't wrong. The team without Bates was shooting below 33% from the field. I know Gates preaches "shots over turnovers" but they were really testing the limits of that theory tonight.
-It's somehow still early in SEC play. There are a lot of games still left on the schedule. But it's hard to see this team avoiding the opening round of the conference tournament. They just don't have any juice.
