* For a little while there, it looked like we had an offensive explosion on our hands (at least by Mizzou standards). Missouri started the game 9-15 from the field and scored 18 points in less than eight minutes. They then finished the half shooting 5-23 and scored 14 points the rest of the way.
* The difference so far has been three-point shooting. Mizzou is 2-16 behind the arc. Utah is 6-13. Three-point defense has not been a strength for Missouri of late. But the three-point shooting continues to be this team’s biggest problem. At a certain point, the coaching staff simply needs to tell this team to stop shooting so many three-pointers. I’m not saying never shoot from deep. You have to try to make defenses pay occasionally for packing it in. But 16 threes in a half was way too many for a team that has proven that it simply cannot shoot.
* Despite those negative comments, however, Missouri is right there against a high-major opponent. And it’s doing so without much of anything from Kobe Brown. Brown has just four points in nine minutes and sat the final eight after picking up his second foul. Mizzou has made up for it with a group effort. Seven different players have scored, led by Amari Davis with 11 points. I don’t think that’s sustainable for Missouri. Brown likely needs to carry the offensive load down the stretch if the Tigers are going to have a chance.
* One final note: We continue to see a bit more from the freshmen. Anton Brookshire and Trevon Brazile both made their first career starts. Brazile had a couple rough defensive plays when he simply got pushed around, but he also provided a couple nice blocks. Sean Durugordon only played three minutes, but I liked what I saw from him. I would like to see him a little bit more down the stretch. No Jordan Wilmore so far.
* The difference so far has been three-point shooting. Mizzou is 2-16 behind the arc. Utah is 6-13. Three-point defense has not been a strength for Missouri of late. But the three-point shooting continues to be this team’s biggest problem. At a certain point, the coaching staff simply needs to tell this team to stop shooting so many three-pointers. I’m not saying never shoot from deep. You have to try to make defenses pay occasionally for packing it in. But 16 threes in a half was way too many for a team that has proven that it simply cannot shoot.
* Despite those negative comments, however, Missouri is right there against a high-major opponent. And it’s doing so without much of anything from Kobe Brown. Brown has just four points in nine minutes and sat the final eight after picking up his second foul. Mizzou has made up for it with a group effort. Seven different players have scored, led by Amari Davis with 11 points. I don’t think that’s sustainable for Missouri. Brown likely needs to carry the offensive load down the stretch if the Tigers are going to have a chance.
* One final note: We continue to see a bit more from the freshmen. Anton Brookshire and Trevon Brazile both made their first career starts. Brazile had a couple rough defensive plays when he simply got pushed around, but he also provided a couple nice blocks. Sean Durugordon only played three minutes, but I liked what I saw from him. I would like to see him a little bit more down the stretch. No Jordan Wilmore so far.
