I'm sure Christmas will be a little merrier for you all. It always is when Mizzou wins this game.
The atmosphere was good. This rivalry is on the way back. It's not all the way there. It's not where it was when I was growing up because both teams need to be better for it to get all the way there. But it's going in the right direction. It matters again. There's some hate there.
This was one of the most physical games I've seen up close. My Lord they could have called 80 fouls. I like that the refs let them play for the most part. And I think it helped Missouri. I know there was a huge free throw disparity, but with this team, they're going to be physical as hell and the more the refs allow it, the better off Missouri can be.
Jeremiah Tilmon is clearly not 100%. He was visibly limping at the start of the second half and then looked like he hurt his wrist on the blocked dunk. Nine days off will do him good. Honestly, I'd probably sit him for Chicago State too.
Mitchell Smith has become a valuable contributor. I didn't think I'd ever type those words. He's filling his role. There will be nights he scores more than he did tonight, but this was probably the best game he's played.
Xavier Pinson was phenomenal, at least for 35 minutes. Had some turnovers late when Missouri looked like it was going to try to make things interesting, but his teammates insisting on throwing the ball into the corner in a trap were as much to blame as Pinson for that. He was all over the place. Really strong game.
Dru Smith did what we've been told he would do: Whatever was needed to win the game. When Mizzou took this thing over, late in the first half and early in the second, Smith scored ten straight points. He was 9-10 from the free throw line. He got a lot of loose balls. He just did what his team needed done.
If you'd told me Missouri would win a game against a decent team in which it got a combined four points from Tilmon and Mark Smith I'd have laughed at you.
The way I described this in my column was the Cuonzo Martin-est game of the season. He loves this. It may not be the style of basketball you love watching. Many of you may not find it very fun. But it's the way this team is going to play and the way it is going to have to win. I asked Cuonzo after the game if this is as well as his team has translated the game plan to the game. He said maybe Temple, but this one is right there. That was a knockdown dragout brawl and Missouri won it because Missouri was tougher. They aren't flashy. A lot of people aren't going to love watching it. But if it's effective, it's pretty.
Two weeks ago we had all buried this team. However, there was a lot of season left. Missouri had to win at Temple and it did. It had to win today and it did. It will be 8-4 when it starts SEC play on January 4 (the last non-con game is in the Big 12/SEC challenge in late January and I think they probably have to win that one too). Cuonzo is still saying he thinks this team can be as good as anyone in the SEC. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it can still be an NCAA Tournament team. It gave itself that chance over the last two weeks. Mizzou will need to keep its head above water in the first six games of the league schedule and then make a little hay when the schedule lightens up in February and early March. They've at least done enough to make us pay attention. That's a good thing.
My column, Mitchell's recap, a photo gallery and a Q&A with Eli Drinkwitz are on the front. Mitchell has another story coming tomorrow morning. We will have something new for you guys every day this week, but will also try to spend some time with our families over the next few days. Hope you all can do the same.
The atmosphere was good. This rivalry is on the way back. It's not all the way there. It's not where it was when I was growing up because both teams need to be better for it to get all the way there. But it's going in the right direction. It matters again. There's some hate there.
This was one of the most physical games I've seen up close. My Lord they could have called 80 fouls. I like that the refs let them play for the most part. And I think it helped Missouri. I know there was a huge free throw disparity, but with this team, they're going to be physical as hell and the more the refs allow it, the better off Missouri can be.
Jeremiah Tilmon is clearly not 100%. He was visibly limping at the start of the second half and then looked like he hurt his wrist on the blocked dunk. Nine days off will do him good. Honestly, I'd probably sit him for Chicago State too.
Mitchell Smith has become a valuable contributor. I didn't think I'd ever type those words. He's filling his role. There will be nights he scores more than he did tonight, but this was probably the best game he's played.
Xavier Pinson was phenomenal, at least for 35 minutes. Had some turnovers late when Missouri looked like it was going to try to make things interesting, but his teammates insisting on throwing the ball into the corner in a trap were as much to blame as Pinson for that. He was all over the place. Really strong game.
Dru Smith did what we've been told he would do: Whatever was needed to win the game. When Mizzou took this thing over, late in the first half and early in the second, Smith scored ten straight points. He was 9-10 from the free throw line. He got a lot of loose balls. He just did what his team needed done.
If you'd told me Missouri would win a game against a decent team in which it got a combined four points from Tilmon and Mark Smith I'd have laughed at you.
The way I described this in my column was the Cuonzo Martin-est game of the season. He loves this. It may not be the style of basketball you love watching. Many of you may not find it very fun. But it's the way this team is going to play and the way it is going to have to win. I asked Cuonzo after the game if this is as well as his team has translated the game plan to the game. He said maybe Temple, but this one is right there. That was a knockdown dragout brawl and Missouri won it because Missouri was tougher. They aren't flashy. A lot of people aren't going to love watching it. But if it's effective, it's pretty.
Two weeks ago we had all buried this team. However, there was a lot of season left. Missouri had to win at Temple and it did. It had to win today and it did. It will be 8-4 when it starts SEC play on January 4 (the last non-con game is in the Big 12/SEC challenge in late January and I think they probably have to win that one too). Cuonzo is still saying he thinks this team can be as good as anyone in the SEC. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it can still be an NCAA Tournament team. It gave itself that chance over the last two weeks. Mizzou will need to keep its head above water in the first six games of the league schedule and then make a little hay when the schedule lightens up in February and early March. They've at least done enough to make us pay attention. That's a good thing.
My column, Mitchell's recap, a photo gallery and a Q&A with Eli Drinkwitz are on the front. Mitchell has another story coming tomorrow morning. We will have something new for you guys every day this week, but will also try to spend some time with our families over the next few days. Hope you all can do the same.
