For a minute there, I thought Mizzou was going to make this a game. The Tigers fell behind by 17 early, and I was ready to start writing my story, even though there was 30 minutes left to play. (While not an every-game issue, slow starts still remain problematic for Mizzou.) The Tigers then answered with an 11-0 run to cut the lead to six. But then Trent Frazier, the Illinois version of Perry Ellis, caught fire and it’s a 14-point game and it kind of feels like the Tigers would need a miracle to come back.
Kofi Cockburn has gotten his. He has 10 points and eight rebounds. But that really hasn’t been the problem for Missouri. Illinois has killed the Tigers from behind the three-point line. The Illini jumped out to their early lead thanks to starting 4-4 from three-point range. Frazier then hit two straight to make them 7-14 from deep on the half. That’s what made this such a tough matchup for Missouri. The Tigers had to bring some help on Cockburn, but when you do that, you leave shooters open. And this Illinois team can shoot. Missouri’s only real hope was that the Illini had an off night from the perimeter and could win a rock fight. That hasn’t been the case so far.
I have to give it to Kobe Brown. As usual, he’s been a bright spot. I wasn’t sure how he would be in a featured role this year. He’s been damn good. And tonight he’s battling his tail off, guarding Kofi on one end of the floor and carrying Mizzou on the other. He has 10 points, five rebounds and an assist. Possessions where he touches the ball generally end a lot better than ones in which he doesn’t. But Brown needs some help. Too many Mizzou possessions have ended in tough mid-range jumpers. The Tigers are 10-29 from the field, 2-8 from three and have five assists to seven turnovers. That’s not going to get it done against a team that averages 80 a game.
Kofi Cockburn has gotten his. He has 10 points and eight rebounds. But that really hasn’t been the problem for Missouri. Illinois has killed the Tigers from behind the three-point line. The Illini jumped out to their early lead thanks to starting 4-4 from three-point range. Frazier then hit two straight to make them 7-14 from deep on the half. That’s what made this such a tough matchup for Missouri. The Tigers had to bring some help on Cockburn, but when you do that, you leave shooters open. And this Illinois team can shoot. Missouri’s only real hope was that the Illini had an off night from the perimeter and could win a rock fight. That hasn’t been the case so far.
I have to give it to Kobe Brown. As usual, he’s been a bright spot. I wasn’t sure how he would be in a featured role this year. He’s been damn good. And tonight he’s battling his tail off, guarding Kofi on one end of the floor and carrying Mizzou on the other. He has 10 points, five rebounds and an assist. Possessions where he touches the ball generally end a lot better than ones in which he doesn’t. But Brown needs some help. Too many Mizzou possessions have ended in tough mid-range jumpers. The Tigers are 10-29 from the field, 2-8 from three and have five assists to seven turnovers. That’s not going to get it done against a team that averages 80 a game.
