1. 11 days without a Mizzou basketball game in January is too long. The team appeared to be feeling the effects of that early on as well, more on that later. But, grabbing another conference road win was the light at the end of the tunnel. In what is proving to be a pretty unbalanced start to league play, the Tigers move to 2-1 in SEC road games. Probably would've been 3-0 had we had 40 minutes of consistent execution, but water under the bridge at this point. After today's game, Mizzou will return home for a first of two tilt with USC. Then back on the road for two more at UT and Auburn. 5 of 7 away from the confines. Won't play a third home game in league until February. Those are the cards being dealt, so you best play them.
2. aTm. What to say about the aggies. Not a great team. Not terrible, but not great. Probably the worst team left on the schedule pending the Vandy resolution. Still a team that can leave some hail damage if you don't show up as Mississippi St. can attest. A team that wants you to play their game. And that game is slop. Lot of turnovers both directions, slow pace, nothing to feel good about. Basically a political debate in 2020. They ranked as one of the 20 worst teams at hanging on to the ball. They also ranked as one of the 20 best at turning their opponent over. The unusual thing about this squad is that they haven't been a great eFG% defense, which is rare for a team that calls Reed Arena home going back at least a decade. They were vulnerable inside, ranking ~250th in 2pt fg defense. That just so happens to be Mizzou's strength. That required 1. getting the ball to the rim without a turnover or bad shot; and 2. converting. Mizzou began doing that the final ~25 minutes of the contest.
3. So what did Mizzou do that won them the game on offense?
A. Won the turnover battle 17 to 14, which is fairly impressive after 10 turnovers in the first 29 possessions.
B. Converted at the rim: 14 makes in 19 attempts, 21 of 33 on all 2's
C. Held serve at the line; 8 makes a piece (though you'd like to see Mizzou higher)
4. Areas to improve on:
A. Goes without saying anymore, outside shooting: 6-22 (27.3%, on par)
B. Rough start; understandable, but 40 minutes are required
C. Get to the line more. 11 attempts (13 total with missed front ends)
5. What did they do that really won the game? Suffocating defense. Railed on the fact that the defensive results in the 2nd half in Starkville weren't acceptable. I'm guessing the staff made that same point. Message received. I don't have the exact numbers, but I know that aTm went without a 2 point field goal make for over 10 minutes in the contest. TEN MINUTES. Believe aTm scored 10 points over that stretch that saw Mizzou flip the lead from -7 to +18. Today was the second lowest points per possession the tigers have allowed (Bradley; thankfully). Combine with the 17 turnovers and aTm was not winning this game. Even with average offensive execution. That's the blue print. Win on the defensive end, style points on the offensive end.
6. MVP. This one is hard. What's easy is Tilmon was the best player on the court today, and it showed. 14 points (5-6; 4-5 at line), 10 boards, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 2 TO, 1 foul and 33 minutes played. A complete effort on his part. Tilmon wasn't available (or healthy) in either contest we dropped to aTm last year, nor the game we lost to them in 2019. He's a difference maker. He's the easy choice. What makes it hard is the effort and results Pickett and Kobe put in today...not only those things, but the timing. Over a the course of about 15 possessions, Pickett put in 10 points on perfect shooting. That time spanned our 7 point deficit in the first half up until we had jumped up by 8-10 and aTm was clawing back. So too, Mizzou had seen their 18 point lead dwindle to 10 in a relative hurry and Kobe steps up with a tough mid range runner and an and one to put an end to it. Tilmon takes it. But I'm not sold Mizzou wins without the superlatives from the supporting cast.
7. Numbers
2 Point
Mizzou: 21-33 (63.6%)
aTm: 13-32 (40.6%)
3 Point
Mizzou: 6-22 (27.3%)
aTm: 6-20 (30%)
FT
Mizzou: 8-11
aTm: 8-13
OReb%
Mizzou: 29%
aTm: 30.6%
TO%
Mizzou: 14
aTm: 17
Points/Possession
Mizzou: 1.051
aTm: 0.804
8. As I mentioned after Arkansas. The only question you ask in conference road games...did you win? Mizzou did. They've got the capability to do it more. Doing it is the hurdle.
2. aTm. What to say about the aggies. Not a great team. Not terrible, but not great. Probably the worst team left on the schedule pending the Vandy resolution. Still a team that can leave some hail damage if you don't show up as Mississippi St. can attest. A team that wants you to play their game. And that game is slop. Lot of turnovers both directions, slow pace, nothing to feel good about. Basically a political debate in 2020. They ranked as one of the 20 worst teams at hanging on to the ball. They also ranked as one of the 20 best at turning their opponent over. The unusual thing about this squad is that they haven't been a great eFG% defense, which is rare for a team that calls Reed Arena home going back at least a decade. They were vulnerable inside, ranking ~250th in 2pt fg defense. That just so happens to be Mizzou's strength. That required 1. getting the ball to the rim without a turnover or bad shot; and 2. converting. Mizzou began doing that the final ~25 minutes of the contest.
3. So what did Mizzou do that won them the game on offense?
A. Won the turnover battle 17 to 14, which is fairly impressive after 10 turnovers in the first 29 possessions.
B. Converted at the rim: 14 makes in 19 attempts, 21 of 33 on all 2's
C. Held serve at the line; 8 makes a piece (though you'd like to see Mizzou higher)
4. Areas to improve on:
A. Goes without saying anymore, outside shooting: 6-22 (27.3%, on par)
B. Rough start; understandable, but 40 minutes are required
C. Get to the line more. 11 attempts (13 total with missed front ends)
5. What did they do that really won the game? Suffocating defense. Railed on the fact that the defensive results in the 2nd half in Starkville weren't acceptable. I'm guessing the staff made that same point. Message received. I don't have the exact numbers, but I know that aTm went without a 2 point field goal make for over 10 minutes in the contest. TEN MINUTES. Believe aTm scored 10 points over that stretch that saw Mizzou flip the lead from -7 to +18. Today was the second lowest points per possession the tigers have allowed (Bradley; thankfully). Combine with the 17 turnovers and aTm was not winning this game. Even with average offensive execution. That's the blue print. Win on the defensive end, style points on the offensive end.
6. MVP. This one is hard. What's easy is Tilmon was the best player on the court today, and it showed. 14 points (5-6; 4-5 at line), 10 boards, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 2 TO, 1 foul and 33 minutes played. A complete effort on his part. Tilmon wasn't available (or healthy) in either contest we dropped to aTm last year, nor the game we lost to them in 2019. He's a difference maker. He's the easy choice. What makes it hard is the effort and results Pickett and Kobe put in today...not only those things, but the timing. Over a the course of about 15 possessions, Pickett put in 10 points on perfect shooting. That time spanned our 7 point deficit in the first half up until we had jumped up by 8-10 and aTm was clawing back. So too, Mizzou had seen their 18 point lead dwindle to 10 in a relative hurry and Kobe steps up with a tough mid range runner and an and one to put an end to it. Tilmon takes it. But I'm not sold Mizzou wins without the superlatives from the supporting cast.
7. Numbers
2 Point
Mizzou: 21-33 (63.6%)
aTm: 13-32 (40.6%)
3 Point
Mizzou: 6-22 (27.3%)
aTm: 6-20 (30%)
FT
Mizzou: 8-11
aTm: 8-13
OReb%
Mizzou: 29%
aTm: 30.6%
TO%
Mizzou: 14
aTm: 17
Points/Possession
Mizzou: 1.051
aTm: 0.804
8. As I mentioned after Arkansas. The only question you ask in conference road games...did you win? Mizzou did. They've got the capability to do it more. Doing it is the hurdle.
Last edited:
