We attended the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Clinic at Columbia College last Thursday and got the chance to watch Mizzou practice.
Disclaimer: I only got to see about 45 minutes of the 1:30 practice due to coaching a football game so I missed the 5 on 5 stuff, but I will share our HC's thoughts also.
As always the Head Coach spoke to begin practice, HCCM talked to the coaches about philosophy briefly and then talked 1/2 to the coaches and 1/2 to the players as they did some stretching and meditating. It was weird at first, but after he was done I definitely had the "I'd run through a wall for this guy" thought. After stretching they went into 2 line layups, he was adamant about finishing with 2 hands at the rim the first time through, then let them have a little fun. The first time Tilmon came through he damn near brought the backboard down. Harris was extremely athletic. Barnett and Puryear both looked more explosive. Jontay didn't look explosive, but I think we all expect that (Highly skilled though.) When MPJ came through he gave a nice back scratching 2 hander towards the middle of the rim and it drew a few claps and giggles as to how easy it was for him. The next time through though it looked like he fell from the rafters... I mean chin above the rim, right handed, cocked wayyyy back, and just hammered it. Lot's of ooohs and ahhhs. Roberts didn't finish like I expected him to, honestly.
They then went to some wing catch and rips to the baseline, ball fake, and the finish through a GA's contact with a pad. (I have some videos of this if someone can explain how to post them). Porter dunked every single time. Hammers. With no momentum. Tilmon the same, just with more power. I began to think it was normal for a second, then they switched ends and Puryear, Nikko, Jontay and Mitch Smith were way more inconsistent finishing. Smith didn't dunk once (He does look heavier).
They went into some swing shooting drills... Robertson has a gorgeous stroke, quick and repeatable, hit like 12 straight that we counted. Harris and Roberts were both inconsistent with the corner 3 and 1 dribble pull ups. Jontay looked great with his feet set. Tilmon's jumper isn't pretty to look at, but his midrange game wasn't terrible. I feel comfortable saying he will have a game out to 15 ft. MPJ was solid from the corner three and just incredible with 1 dribble and a pull up.
Next they ripped from the wing, drove the paint, and kicked to a 15 ft jumper. Harris looked like a true point guard in this, Roberts definitely did not. Harris and Phillips both looked great passing with both hands, Zo was on Roberts about using his left hand when passing left.
I had to leave fairly soon after this. I was obviously mesmerized from the difference in talent we had seen over the last 3 years in comparison with this year. Just wild to think how fast that changed. I would say in order of impressiveness of the new guys: MPJ, Tilmon (didn't expect him to be as athletic/smooth), Robertson, Harris, Jontay, Roberts.
Disclaimer: I only got to see about 45 minutes of the 1:30 practice due to coaching a football game so I missed the 5 on 5 stuff, but I will share our HC's thoughts also.
As always the Head Coach spoke to begin practice, HCCM talked to the coaches about philosophy briefly and then talked 1/2 to the coaches and 1/2 to the players as they did some stretching and meditating. It was weird at first, but after he was done I definitely had the "I'd run through a wall for this guy" thought. After stretching they went into 2 line layups, he was adamant about finishing with 2 hands at the rim the first time through, then let them have a little fun. The first time Tilmon came through he damn near brought the backboard down. Harris was extremely athletic. Barnett and Puryear both looked more explosive. Jontay didn't look explosive, but I think we all expect that (Highly skilled though.) When MPJ came through he gave a nice back scratching 2 hander towards the middle of the rim and it drew a few claps and giggles as to how easy it was for him. The next time through though it looked like he fell from the rafters... I mean chin above the rim, right handed, cocked wayyyy back, and just hammered it. Lot's of ooohs and ahhhs. Roberts didn't finish like I expected him to, honestly.
They then went to some wing catch and rips to the baseline, ball fake, and the finish through a GA's contact with a pad. (I have some videos of this if someone can explain how to post them). Porter dunked every single time. Hammers. With no momentum. Tilmon the same, just with more power. I began to think it was normal for a second, then they switched ends and Puryear, Nikko, Jontay and Mitch Smith were way more inconsistent finishing. Smith didn't dunk once (He does look heavier).
They went into some swing shooting drills... Robertson has a gorgeous stroke, quick and repeatable, hit like 12 straight that we counted. Harris and Roberts were both inconsistent with the corner 3 and 1 dribble pull ups. Jontay looked great with his feet set. Tilmon's jumper isn't pretty to look at, but his midrange game wasn't terrible. I feel comfortable saying he will have a game out to 15 ft. MPJ was solid from the corner three and just incredible with 1 dribble and a pull up.
Next they ripped from the wing, drove the paint, and kicked to a 15 ft jumper. Harris looked like a true point guard in this, Roberts definitely did not. Harris and Phillips both looked great passing with both hands, Zo was on Roberts about using his left hand when passing left.
I had to leave fairly soon after this. I was obviously mesmerized from the difference in talent we had seen over the last 3 years in comparison with this year. Just wild to think how fast that changed. I would say in order of impressiveness of the new guys: MPJ, Tilmon (didn't expect him to be as athletic/smooth), Robertson, Harris, Jontay, Roberts.
