Sometime in the next few days, I'll put a bow on the season. But tonight is really just about tonight.
If we want to assign blame in order (and I know that's a thing we like to do), it has to start with Jordan Barnett. I'm not passing judgment on the kid. We all make mistakes. But what an awful mistake at an awful time. I'm sure he's taken it incredibly hard, and that's good. He let his teammates and his coaches down. I don't know if Missouri wins this game with Barnett on the floor...but I think it's possible.
I want to start with some good: Kassius Robertson doesn't take care of the ball well enough, but he tried to keep Missouri in this thing. Man, where would this season have been without him. What a one year find. Some kids, you root for. I root for Kash. He was fun to cover. I wish he could have hit the final shot against Georgia and I wish he could have won a game in the tournament. But he had one hell of a year and when it's all said and done, he's going to be remembered as one of the guys that kick-started the turnaround. Pretty impressive for a guy who's only been here nine months.
The focus is going to be on Michael Porter Jr. because the focus is always going to be on Michael Porter Jr. And he wasn't good. But he was Missouri's second best player. I thought he took some bad shots tonight, especially in the first half. The offense isn't the same as it was before him and the team wasn't either. That was plain to see. It's not his fault really, it's just how it is. Once he said he wanted to play, Cuonzo Martin had to play him obviously. But it didn't go as well as anyone would have hoped.
The real issue in this game was Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon. They combined for four points, eight rebounds, three turnovers and nine fouls. Tilmon played 12 minutes...the same number as Brett Rau. If I'd told you that and nothing else before this game, you'd have picked FSU by double digits. And that's what happened.
Jordan Geist, look, I get it. He's not a start and play 35 minutes a game SEC point guard. He just isn't. But he did it all year because he had to. He hurt his ankle tonight and then two minutes later he hurt his wrist. And he never thought about leaving the floor. Martin called him a guy you'd take into a back alley with you. You need guys like that on your team. If Mizzou can put the right pieces around him, he can be a very valuable guard off the bench next season.
So what does next season look like? That's the question.
Michael didn't rule out a return, saying it was definitely a possibility. And I really think it is. I really don't think he wants this to be his only season at Missouri. But in the end, there are a lot of factors on the other side too. He could come back. It's not impossible. I'd still say it's unlikely, but we'll see.
If Michael comes back, Jontay will. I'm sure of it. Tonight is the reason he should, in my opinion. I think another year could make Jontay a lottery pick and a great NBA player. If he leaves this year, I think it's possible he just becomes a guy who played in the NBA. And that's nothing to sneeze at...but it could be a lot more.
We'll see. I don't know when a decision will come from either one. If they both come back, Missouri's a top ten team in the preseason because Tilmon is back and should be better and I feel pretty good they'll get Courtney Ramey. If Michael leaves but Jontay stays, I think this has every shot to be a tournament team. If they both go, Martin will have a job on his hands.
Cuonzo did a great job this season. He's the right guy in the right place at the right time. The future is bright...but tonight was no fun.
And the best news? Nobody's gonna talk about this game. Thanks Tony Bennett.
I've got a story on the front, Keegan's got one coming and Jordan's got a full photo gallery. We'll have some follow up tomorrow before we head back to Columbia. Thanks for following along all season and, in closing, I'm glad the passion for Missouri basketball is back. It was gone for far too long.
If we want to assign blame in order (and I know that's a thing we like to do), it has to start with Jordan Barnett. I'm not passing judgment on the kid. We all make mistakes. But what an awful mistake at an awful time. I'm sure he's taken it incredibly hard, and that's good. He let his teammates and his coaches down. I don't know if Missouri wins this game with Barnett on the floor...but I think it's possible.
I want to start with some good: Kassius Robertson doesn't take care of the ball well enough, but he tried to keep Missouri in this thing. Man, where would this season have been without him. What a one year find. Some kids, you root for. I root for Kash. He was fun to cover. I wish he could have hit the final shot against Georgia and I wish he could have won a game in the tournament. But he had one hell of a year and when it's all said and done, he's going to be remembered as one of the guys that kick-started the turnaround. Pretty impressive for a guy who's only been here nine months.
The focus is going to be on Michael Porter Jr. because the focus is always going to be on Michael Porter Jr. And he wasn't good. But he was Missouri's second best player. I thought he took some bad shots tonight, especially in the first half. The offense isn't the same as it was before him and the team wasn't either. That was plain to see. It's not his fault really, it's just how it is. Once he said he wanted to play, Cuonzo Martin had to play him obviously. But it didn't go as well as anyone would have hoped.
The real issue in this game was Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon. They combined for four points, eight rebounds, three turnovers and nine fouls. Tilmon played 12 minutes...the same number as Brett Rau. If I'd told you that and nothing else before this game, you'd have picked FSU by double digits. And that's what happened.
Jordan Geist, look, I get it. He's not a start and play 35 minutes a game SEC point guard. He just isn't. But he did it all year because he had to. He hurt his ankle tonight and then two minutes later he hurt his wrist. And he never thought about leaving the floor. Martin called him a guy you'd take into a back alley with you. You need guys like that on your team. If Mizzou can put the right pieces around him, he can be a very valuable guard off the bench next season.
So what does next season look like? That's the question.
Michael didn't rule out a return, saying it was definitely a possibility. And I really think it is. I really don't think he wants this to be his only season at Missouri. But in the end, there are a lot of factors on the other side too. He could come back. It's not impossible. I'd still say it's unlikely, but we'll see.
If Michael comes back, Jontay will. I'm sure of it. Tonight is the reason he should, in my opinion. I think another year could make Jontay a lottery pick and a great NBA player. If he leaves this year, I think it's possible he just becomes a guy who played in the NBA. And that's nothing to sneeze at...but it could be a lot more.
We'll see. I don't know when a decision will come from either one. If they both come back, Missouri's a top ten team in the preseason because Tilmon is back and should be better and I feel pretty good they'll get Courtney Ramey. If Michael leaves but Jontay stays, I think this has every shot to be a tournament team. If they both go, Martin will have a job on his hands.
Cuonzo did a great job this season. He's the right guy in the right place at the right time. The future is bright...but tonight was no fun.
And the best news? Nobody's gonna talk about this game. Thanks Tony Bennett.
I've got a story on the front, Keegan's got one coming and Jordan's got a full photo gallery. We'll have some follow up tomorrow before we head back to Columbia. Thanks for following along all season and, in closing, I'm glad the passion for Missouri basketball is back. It was gone for far too long.
