* For most of that half, it felt like Mississippi State was kind of sleepwalking and Missouri was doing a decent job of taking advantage. The Bulldogs have turned it over a bunch and the Tigers hit their first three shots and six of their first eight. But then all of a sudden you look up and Mizzou is down eight. How’d it happen? Mizzou didn’t make a shot in the final 4:09 of the half and couldn’t stay in front of Iverson Molinar. He has nine points, eight of which came in the final five minutes of the half.
* The box score doesn’t look quite as ugly, but Mizzou still can’t get much of anything going in its half court offense. When the Tigers have scored, it’s been because they’ve been able to turn defense into points. Mizzou has forced nine Mississippi State turnovers and turned those into eight points. The problem was the Bulldogs stopped turning the ball over late in the half and Mizzou didn’t have much of an answer.
* Perhaps the most troubling stat from the first half: Mizzou is getting dominated on the boards. The Tigers have been out-rebounded 18-11. Mississippi State hasn’t yet turned any of its five offensive boards into second-chance points, which is perhaps why this game stayed close for most fo the first half, but history suggests Missouri needs to tighten up the margin on the boards. The Tigers are 0-12 this season when they get out-rebounded.
* Javon Pickett has been a positive once again. He just has a knack for getting behind the defense, both on fast breaks and in the half court. It’s pretty wild that he has turned into Missouri’s best offensive player. His streak of games scoring in double figures (when he’s been healthy) is now at 10. In the past few, however, he has really cooled off in the second half. We’ll see if he can keep up the scoring tonight.
* The box score doesn’t look quite as ugly, but Mizzou still can’t get much of anything going in its half court offense. When the Tigers have scored, it’s been because they’ve been able to turn defense into points. Mizzou has forced nine Mississippi State turnovers and turned those into eight points. The problem was the Bulldogs stopped turning the ball over late in the half and Mizzou didn’t have much of an answer.
* Perhaps the most troubling stat from the first half: Mizzou is getting dominated on the boards. The Tigers have been out-rebounded 18-11. Mississippi State hasn’t yet turned any of its five offensive boards into second-chance points, which is perhaps why this game stayed close for most fo the first half, but history suggests Missouri needs to tighten up the margin on the boards. The Tigers are 0-12 this season when they get out-rebounded.
* Javon Pickett has been a positive once again. He just has a knack for getting behind the defense, both on fast breaks and in the half court. It’s pretty wild that he has turned into Missouri’s best offensive player. His streak of games scoring in double figures (when he’s been healthy) is now at 10. In the past few, however, he has really cooled off in the second half. We’ll see if he can keep up the scoring tonight.
