Still Keegan here, so sorry to disappoint you all that were hoping for Gabe.
-Let's just start with the obvious. This game was huge for Missouri's resume, and in turn, its hopes for an at-large bid. Is this Kentucky team as good as the ones Missouri has played over the last couple of years? No. But they're still a top-20 or even top-15 team by the time the year is over. This group was overmatched talent-wise at basically every position, but they did just enough of the little things — such as Kevin Puryear's — offensive rebounds, that make the difference between winning and losing in these games.
-We've finally gotten to see what this team is capable of when Kassius, Jontay, Barnett, Puryear and Tilmon can all put it together. The foul trouble is still a concern, especially with Tilmon, but I think Cuonzo played it right by getting him out quickly, calming him down and avoiding that quick second foul. I think this team figured out over those last three losses that they aren't good enough to beat much of anyone when they 1) don't play within the flow of the offense and 2) can't keep players on the floor. I've said since MPJ went down that this team still could and should make the NCAA Tournament. Maybe they've started to figure it, too.
-I'm still just in shock about how bad Kentucky's big men were. Wenyen Gabriel came on a little bit late, but Sacha Killeya-Jones and Nick Richards were basically non-existent for most of the game. Kentucky is a team that relies heavily on being bigger and more athletic than everyone else, and even though they outrebounded Missouri — and by a large margin on the offensive end — the length of Porter and Tilmon really seemed to bother them.
-Missouri got about the requisite amount of minutes it needed from Reed Nikko and Cullen VanLeer without having to rely too much on them. Both came in and played solid minutes, especially VanLeer. If he can hit a couple of jump shots a game and contribute on the defensive end, Missouri is getting what they need.
-One of the only real negatives was Missouri's inability to handle pressure again. The lack of a true, veteran point guard reared its ugly head again. Jontay Porter is a special, special player, but if you're hoping he's the solution for your team against a press, you're going to struggle mightily. Missouri built itself enough of a cushion earlier in the half that it ultimately didn't matter, but consistently turning the ball over 20 times per game will bite this team.
-Missouri took care of its home court, got back to .500 in the SEC and got one step closer to that 10th win it will likely need to guarantee an at-large berth. Going 5-3 in the final eight games is realistic, and based off of what I saw today, I think this group will do it.
-Let's just start with the obvious. This game was huge for Missouri's resume, and in turn, its hopes for an at-large bid. Is this Kentucky team as good as the ones Missouri has played over the last couple of years? No. But they're still a top-20 or even top-15 team by the time the year is over. This group was overmatched talent-wise at basically every position, but they did just enough of the little things — such as Kevin Puryear's — offensive rebounds, that make the difference between winning and losing in these games.
-We've finally gotten to see what this team is capable of when Kassius, Jontay, Barnett, Puryear and Tilmon can all put it together. The foul trouble is still a concern, especially with Tilmon, but I think Cuonzo played it right by getting him out quickly, calming him down and avoiding that quick second foul. I think this team figured out over those last three losses that they aren't good enough to beat much of anyone when they 1) don't play within the flow of the offense and 2) can't keep players on the floor. I've said since MPJ went down that this team still could and should make the NCAA Tournament. Maybe they've started to figure it, too.
-I'm still just in shock about how bad Kentucky's big men were. Wenyen Gabriel came on a little bit late, but Sacha Killeya-Jones and Nick Richards were basically non-existent for most of the game. Kentucky is a team that relies heavily on being bigger and more athletic than everyone else, and even though they outrebounded Missouri — and by a large margin on the offensive end — the length of Porter and Tilmon really seemed to bother them.
-Missouri got about the requisite amount of minutes it needed from Reed Nikko and Cullen VanLeer without having to rely too much on them. Both came in and played solid minutes, especially VanLeer. If he can hit a couple of jump shots a game and contribute on the defensive end, Missouri is getting what they need.
-One of the only real negatives was Missouri's inability to handle pressure again. The lack of a true, veteran point guard reared its ugly head again. Jontay Porter is a special, special player, but if you're hoping he's the solution for your team against a press, you're going to struggle mightily. Missouri built itself enough of a cushion earlier in the half that it ultimately didn't matter, but consistently turning the ball over 20 times per game will bite this team.
-Missouri took care of its home court, got back to .500 in the SEC and got one step closer to that 10th win it will likely need to guarantee an at-large berth. Going 5-3 in the final eight games is realistic, and based off of what I saw today, I think this group will do it.
