Warning: I will not be referring to anyone as an "idiot" or a "retard," at least initially. So if that's your thing, apologies in advance. Will be relatively short and sweet.
1. This one sucks. Big time. A team that had NO business matching up with LSU thoroughly outplayed them for 38 minutes. And then the last 2 minutes happened. Tigers were cruising along and then yakked it up. Mizzou deserved a better fate than they received, but that's how it goes some times.
2. Mizzou's outside shooting went away today. I have little doubt in saying that allowed this to be a game in the first place. Mizzou finished 6-24 from deep...many of which were good looks. Mizzou had a slight chance regardless, but laying up a 25% mark from three point range was an added hindrance...as that's easily been our best means of offense this year.
3. On the flip side, Mizzou did a far better job attacking the rim. Mizzou shot 18-33 from inside the arc against a very stout interior defense (ranks 13th nationally in 2pt%). They also did a good job at getting to the line and converting shooting a more than acceptable 78% on 33 attempts. That's quite good. Teams broke even in the rebounding margin which unlike Arkansas is an accomplishment.
4. The problem, again, was untimely turnovers. It sunk us Wednesday and hurt us down he stretch tonight. 17 through 45 minutes isn't an absurd amount, but the timing sucked. And it really seemed to start occuring when Pinson went out. Mizzou was down 2 of their top 3 "steady" ballhandlers at that point with Smith out. And it cost them.
5. The officiating was horrendous. It wasn't just the final few minutes, it was all game long...both sides. The crunch time calls went against the home squad. The most absurd being suggs getting toppled. They also missed a call that is made at every level, in every game when Geist was stripped in the corner in the midst of their 9 point flurry. That call is always made. It wasn't. And it undoubtedly affected the outcome. That sucks.
Really, I was pretty excited to break this one down during the game. What was trending to arguably be Cuonzo's most impressive win at Mizzou turned into disaster. A confluence of many reasons caused it. Not the least of which Mizzou relying heavily on 5 first year players (in the program), a walk-on and getting little out of 2 of 3 upperclassmen and still taking the fight to a very quality opponent. It could've been a building block. It should've been. It wasn't.
There are several ways to look at it. Blame the team/coach. Blame the refs. Be pleased with how well they played for the balance of the game. Hate all of it. Whatever.
I'm hoping they discover what they have and what they don't. Embrace and fix both.
1. This one sucks. Big time. A team that had NO business matching up with LSU thoroughly outplayed them for 38 minutes. And then the last 2 minutes happened. Tigers were cruising along and then yakked it up. Mizzou deserved a better fate than they received, but that's how it goes some times.
2. Mizzou's outside shooting went away today. I have little doubt in saying that allowed this to be a game in the first place. Mizzou finished 6-24 from deep...many of which were good looks. Mizzou had a slight chance regardless, but laying up a 25% mark from three point range was an added hindrance...as that's easily been our best means of offense this year.
3. On the flip side, Mizzou did a far better job attacking the rim. Mizzou shot 18-33 from inside the arc against a very stout interior defense (ranks 13th nationally in 2pt%). They also did a good job at getting to the line and converting shooting a more than acceptable 78% on 33 attempts. That's quite good. Teams broke even in the rebounding margin which unlike Arkansas is an accomplishment.
4. The problem, again, was untimely turnovers. It sunk us Wednesday and hurt us down he stretch tonight. 17 through 45 minutes isn't an absurd amount, but the timing sucked. And it really seemed to start occuring when Pinson went out. Mizzou was down 2 of their top 3 "steady" ballhandlers at that point with Smith out. And it cost them.
5. The officiating was horrendous. It wasn't just the final few minutes, it was all game long...both sides. The crunch time calls went against the home squad. The most absurd being suggs getting toppled. They also missed a call that is made at every level, in every game when Geist was stripped in the corner in the midst of their 9 point flurry. That call is always made. It wasn't. And it undoubtedly affected the outcome. That sucks.
Really, I was pretty excited to break this one down during the game. What was trending to arguably be Cuonzo's most impressive win at Mizzou turned into disaster. A confluence of many reasons caused it. Not the least of which Mizzou relying heavily on 5 first year players (in the program), a walk-on and getting little out of 2 of 3 upperclassmen and still taking the fight to a very quality opponent. It could've been a building block. It should've been. It wasn't.
There are several ways to look at it. Blame the team/coach. Blame the refs. Be pleased with how well they played for the balance of the game. Hate all of it. Whatever.
I'm hoping they discover what they have and what they don't. Embrace and fix both.
