*I never felt like Mizzou was losing this game. They looked really good for about ten minutes and got up 11. And then, I don't know, some of the air went out. They just didn't have quite the same energy for a while. Rough end to the first half, rough start to the second and all of a sudden it was a battle. Ole Miss deserves some credit for that. Georgia quit when Mizzou made a run. LSU folded late. The Rebels had nothing to play hard for, but they played hard. Missouri just made more plays down the stretch. Like they've done all year. They're now 8-0 in games decided by five points or less and that can't be an accident at this point. It's not a guarantee they won't lose a close game in March, but there's a comfort level with this team in a one or two possession game in the final minutes. They've earned that.
*On Senior Day, don't overlook the contributions of the youngest guy on the roster. Aidan Shaw was great. Six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes. Two huge dunks. Big time energy. I thought he pulled Mizzou out of its funk. Just in time.
*This was Noah Carter's best game. I don't think it was close. He did everything I've criticized him for not doing this year and he made the shot that more or less won the game.
*There was a stretch when Mizzou fell down by four that they had at least three straight possessions where they dumped the ball into Carter or Kobe Brown on the block and just let them go to work. There aren't a lot of games where Mizzou has a mismatch in its favor inside, but they did in this game and when it mattered, they went to it over and over. Brown and Carter combined for 34 points on 12-18 shooting and had seven of Mizzou's 13 trips to the free throw line. There was an emphasis on it from the bench and the players carried it out. Dennis Gates credited Dickey Nutt for handling that situation and exploiting it.
*Kobe deflected questions about next year, saying he wouldn't decide until after the season and hasn't really thought about it. I don't really believe him, but he has to say it. If I had to guess as of today, this was his last home game. He talked about bringing Mizzou basketball back and being proud to graduate from the University of Missouri. He'll be 24 next year. I don't think he'll spend it on a college campus. Gates interrupted one question and said "We'll have a conversation after the season." He'll campaign to get Kobe back. They'll make him a nice offer. I don't know if it will be enough.
*Speaking of Gates, there's not enough credit to give him. He'll get SEC Coach of the Year votes. He'd probably get mine. I think Buzz Williams will likely win it and I won't argue with that either. He's done a hell of a job. Not a better job than Gates, but probably not worse either. But whether he gets a plaque and a $25,000 bonus doesn't matter. He was hired less than 12 months ago and met with doubt, skepticism and outrage. And he erased it all. He'll have to do it again next year and the year after that and so forth because that's the business he's in, but there's a whole lot of reasons for Mizzou fans to feel really good about their program and the man leading it.
*On Thursday @drewking0222 will head to Nashville for the SEC Tournament. He'll be there in person. We'll do live shows after every round Mizzou plays. That can't be more than three because the Tigers are the four seed and don't start until Friday. Missouri has never played in the SEC Tournament on Saturday or Sunday. They'll have a chance. Friday's opponent will be either Tennessee (almost certainly), South Carolina or Georgia. Saturday would likely be Alabama.
*In eight days, Mizzou finds out its NCAA Tournament fate. We know they're in. I tend to believe they're a 6 or 7 seed. But I'm not on the committee. We wait. But man it's fun for it to matter again. We'll have all kinds of hoops coverage for at least two weeks...and hopefully more. Enjoy this one, it's been a hell of a fun season and it's not over yet.
*On Senior Day, don't overlook the contributions of the youngest guy on the roster. Aidan Shaw was great. Six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes. Two huge dunks. Big time energy. I thought he pulled Mizzou out of its funk. Just in time.
*This was Noah Carter's best game. I don't think it was close. He did everything I've criticized him for not doing this year and he made the shot that more or less won the game.
*There was a stretch when Mizzou fell down by four that they had at least three straight possessions where they dumped the ball into Carter or Kobe Brown on the block and just let them go to work. There aren't a lot of games where Mizzou has a mismatch in its favor inside, but they did in this game and when it mattered, they went to it over and over. Brown and Carter combined for 34 points on 12-18 shooting and had seven of Mizzou's 13 trips to the free throw line. There was an emphasis on it from the bench and the players carried it out. Dennis Gates credited Dickey Nutt for handling that situation and exploiting it.
*Kobe deflected questions about next year, saying he wouldn't decide until after the season and hasn't really thought about it. I don't really believe him, but he has to say it. If I had to guess as of today, this was his last home game. He talked about bringing Mizzou basketball back and being proud to graduate from the University of Missouri. He'll be 24 next year. I don't think he'll spend it on a college campus. Gates interrupted one question and said "We'll have a conversation after the season." He'll campaign to get Kobe back. They'll make him a nice offer. I don't know if it will be enough.
*Speaking of Gates, there's not enough credit to give him. He'll get SEC Coach of the Year votes. He'd probably get mine. I think Buzz Williams will likely win it and I won't argue with that either. He's done a hell of a job. Not a better job than Gates, but probably not worse either. But whether he gets a plaque and a $25,000 bonus doesn't matter. He was hired less than 12 months ago and met with doubt, skepticism and outrage. And he erased it all. He'll have to do it again next year and the year after that and so forth because that's the business he's in, but there's a whole lot of reasons for Mizzou fans to feel really good about their program and the man leading it.
*On Thursday @drewking0222 will head to Nashville for the SEC Tournament. He'll be there in person. We'll do live shows after every round Mizzou plays. That can't be more than three because the Tigers are the four seed and don't start until Friday. Missouri has never played in the SEC Tournament on Saturday or Sunday. They'll have a chance. Friday's opponent will be either Tennessee (almost certainly), South Carolina or Georgia. Saturday would likely be Alabama.
*In eight days, Mizzou finds out its NCAA Tournament fate. We know they're in. I tend to believe they're a 6 or 7 seed. But I'm not on the committee. We wait. But man it's fun for it to matter again. We'll have all kinds of hoops coverage for at least two weeks...and hopefully more. Enjoy this one, it's been a hell of a fun season and it's not over yet.
