*No it doesn't change everything about the season. Yes, the same discussions are going to be had after the next loss, which could be as soon as Wednesday. But today was a good day and that should be the story. Missouri looked legitimately good today.
*Bama came out in a zone and Missouri just dissected it. Kobe Brown caught the ball at the elbow on virtually every possession and he was lethal. And that drew Bama out of that zone.
*Brown was the best player on the floor all day. Everything good for Missouri runs through him. He's their best offensive player and he's their best passer. 30 points (on 13 shots), 13 boards, 4 assists and he managed the last few minutes with four fouls. Helps that Bama doesn't have a traditional big man that Missouri's coaching staff insists on having him guard.
*Boogie Coleman was more the player he was advertised to be and less the one he has been for the first 13 games. He had 18 points, four threes, eight boards, six assists. He's not a true point and he turns the ball over too much, but Missouri can win some games with the version of him they got today. Same goes for DaJuan Gordon.
*Kaleb Brown only scored two points, but he played a good game. Cuonzo Martin singled him out after the game and praised him for sticking with it through not playing much. He earned more time.
*Trevon Brazile is gonna be good guys. Martin said he's still getting back in shape after missing so much time, but I think he's the best player in this freshman class and it might not be close.
*When good Javon Pickett shows up, Missouri is so much better. It's been true for four years. 15 points on 7-12 shooting and he just always seemed to be in the right place. He played 39 minutes after barely practicing this week. Strong effort from the only senior.
*I almost think Cuonzo would be a better coach if he only had nine or ten guys every game. It limits the tinkering and the substitutions and probably lets guys get into more of a rhythm. He had ten available today, but it doesn't seem like Yaya Keita is going to play much right now, he's agreed with the rest of us that the Jordan Wilmore experiment needs to end and Sean Durugordon played only one minute. Seven guys played 196 of the 200 available minutes. And Missouri played its best game of the year.
*Ultimately basketball isn't that difficult. When shots go in, you've got a chance. They went in for Missouri today. The teams both shot 9-24 from three-point range. Missouri will win a good number of games when it shoots the ball as well as its opponent. Also, the Tigers went to the free throw line 27 times to just 16 for Alabama. Whether that's home cooking or it's the way it should have gone reflective of how both teams played (I really didn't see many bad calls to be honest), it meant a 10-point difference in a six-point game.
*I know many of you have made up your minds that change has to be made and you aren't interested in letting the rest of the season play out, but today illustrated why you have to do so. They beat a legitimately good team. That happens sometimes in college basketball. Arkansas is playing terribly (lost 5 of 6) and Missouri goes there on Wednesday and while I don't expect a win, who knows? There are chances out there for wins in a league that isn't exceptional by any means. We'll see how many Mizzou can manage to pick up.
*Bama came out in a zone and Missouri just dissected it. Kobe Brown caught the ball at the elbow on virtually every possession and he was lethal. And that drew Bama out of that zone.
*Brown was the best player on the floor all day. Everything good for Missouri runs through him. He's their best offensive player and he's their best passer. 30 points (on 13 shots), 13 boards, 4 assists and he managed the last few minutes with four fouls. Helps that Bama doesn't have a traditional big man that Missouri's coaching staff insists on having him guard.
*Boogie Coleman was more the player he was advertised to be and less the one he has been for the first 13 games. He had 18 points, four threes, eight boards, six assists. He's not a true point and he turns the ball over too much, but Missouri can win some games with the version of him they got today. Same goes for DaJuan Gordon.
*Kaleb Brown only scored two points, but he played a good game. Cuonzo Martin singled him out after the game and praised him for sticking with it through not playing much. He earned more time.
*Trevon Brazile is gonna be good guys. Martin said he's still getting back in shape after missing so much time, but I think he's the best player in this freshman class and it might not be close.
*When good Javon Pickett shows up, Missouri is so much better. It's been true for four years. 15 points on 7-12 shooting and he just always seemed to be in the right place. He played 39 minutes after barely practicing this week. Strong effort from the only senior.
*I almost think Cuonzo would be a better coach if he only had nine or ten guys every game. It limits the tinkering and the substitutions and probably lets guys get into more of a rhythm. He had ten available today, but it doesn't seem like Yaya Keita is going to play much right now, he's agreed with the rest of us that the Jordan Wilmore experiment needs to end and Sean Durugordon played only one minute. Seven guys played 196 of the 200 available minutes. And Missouri played its best game of the year.
*Ultimately basketball isn't that difficult. When shots go in, you've got a chance. They went in for Missouri today. The teams both shot 9-24 from three-point range. Missouri will win a good number of games when it shoots the ball as well as its opponent. Also, the Tigers went to the free throw line 27 times to just 16 for Alabama. Whether that's home cooking or it's the way it should have gone reflective of how both teams played (I really didn't see many bad calls to be honest), it meant a 10-point difference in a six-point game.
*I know many of you have made up your minds that change has to be made and you aren't interested in letting the rest of the season play out, but today illustrated why you have to do so. They beat a legitimately good team. That happens sometimes in college basketball. Arkansas is playing terribly (lost 5 of 6) and Missouri goes there on Wednesday and while I don't expect a win, who knows? There are chances out there for wins in a league that isn't exceptional by any means. We'll see how many Mizzou can manage to pick up.
