Hey guys...just like we drew it up
1. Who did we beat? A team on a 4 game winning streak, including two potential tourney teams in Alabama and...Mizzou. MSU was carrying what, a 6 game streak against us? Is that right? We ended a drought of 14 consecutive to the Mississippi schools, all in one week? Ok, I guess that's a good thing. MSU isn't a great team, but they're playing pretty damn well right now. And they were desperate. Really, desperate. They're now rated 56 in the RPI, so that rounds out nicely to a Quadrant 2 win, so that's good. More importantly, it wasn't a Quadrant 2 loss. It's ok to recognize that avoiding the loss was bigger than the win, on paper. And that's today.
2. Tigers are now riding a 4 game winning streak...the same number that we heard no less than a dozen times that MSU had been carrying, during the telecast. It's low hanging fruit, but it bears mentioning...62.5% of this roster has never been on a Mizzou team that won 4 conference games in a season. The other 3 had never been on a Mizzou team that won a conference game at all. This also represents Mizzou's first 4 game SEC winning streak since entering the league. In what is certainly the best the league has been during that time. There's your perspective after the last 2:00 of regulation.
3. With 1:37 to go in regulation, Mizzou scored their last point in regulation. MSU scored the next 12 points to overcome a 12 point deficit to send it to OT (made even more improbable since Mizzou held the ball for 20+ seconds for the final shot). 12 points in ~1:20 is ugly. The way they did it was ugly. MSU had 1 offensive rebound, created 3 turnovers and went 4-5 from the floor and 3-3 from the line. That's exactly how you draw it up to lose. Jontay had two bad turnovers, and probably shouldn't be 1. inbounding or 2. receiving the inbounds. I'll forgive Kash for his, as it was a HORRID no call, which had it been called, likely ends the game. It was a (likely) 5 point swing with no free throws and a made 3 on the breakout.
4. Regarding #3, it's a concern. We know Mizzou struggles with pressure. This isn't a shocker. Mizzou ranks 316th nationally in turnover rate, and that number actually IMPROVED today. We actually only lost the TO battled 12-11 today, but it damn near cost us the game. It's not just the lack of a PG, it's a team that's not coherent in breaking a jailbreak press. I think it compounded by us getting tight. Luckily, it didn't cost us today as it has at times throughout the season.
5. But also remember, MSU is an ELITE defensive squad. Mizzou hung 79 on them in regulation and 89 total. When they amp up the pressure, they have the technique and ability to really cause issues. They did. It was almost enough. But it wasn't, because...
6. Player of the Game: Kevin Puryear. I don't need to look at the numbers on this one, a rarity. Mizzou scored 10 points in OT. 5 from the line. The other 5 were by Puryear. The tip in should not go unnoticed, as it stemmed the tide of a game that was slipping away. The 3 will get the notice, as it should. His numbers weren't the best on the court today. But this is what you want out of your upperclassmen. He was 1-17 in league play from 3 point range (5.8%). And yet he stepped up and knocked down the biggest individual shot (in terms of outcome determination) that I remember since at least 2014. Maybe 2013. The only other in consideration? Puryear last year in the SEC squad. He has his limitations, but it's got to be an incredible feeling to pour yourself into the program and go nowhere for 2 years, and then do what they're doing now...and what he did today. Props.
7. Numbers: Rarely do overall stats matter as little as they do today, but they're still relevant. Tigers shot 48% from the floor, MSU 45% (Mizzou had 13 more attempts). MSU shot 36% from 3, Mizzou 46%. This was the only reason why this was a game. MSU shoots 28% from range and decided to go off today, especially early. Even shooting open shots, they struggle. Tigers had 15 assists, MSU 12. MSU outrebounded us 35-33, but hurt us on the offensive glass, 13-7. Turnovers and blocks were even. Tigers probably won this game at the line, going 23-28 while MSU was only 12-18.
8. Porter had a rough day. Hit a couple big shots, but didn't register a rebound in 21 minutes. That's not acceptable. Tilmon went for 8 and 3. They combined for 43 minutes and 3 boards. We need more from them.
9. Barnett got more involved inside the arc. Struggled from outside, but went 6-7 from the line. Geist had a nice day with 17 points 2 assists, 3 steals, 6 boards and only 2 turnovers. Those guys were pretty big. Kash also had a nice day, one that's getting less and less unexpected.
After all of that, we sit at 17-8 and 7-5 in conference play. Tigers sit alone in 4th place in league play for the moment, although UK and Bama can pull into a tie later tonight. Tigers have moved up to 25th in the RPI and moved down to 38th in Pomeroy's ratings (defensive numbers took a dive today, much due to MSU's unexpected 3 point barrage).
I'll probably break down tourney numbers later when more games have been played this weekend.
But you can feel one of two ways today:
1. Upset that we blew a 12 point lead to a bubble team at home
2. Happy we shook it off, and an 0-5 run to start OT to pull off a win.
Neither are wrong, but I know what I'm picking. It's been too long of a time since we've had one go our way like today did.
PS: @GabeD has made @Numbahs jealous with his effort on twitter today. Well done.
1. Who did we beat? A team on a 4 game winning streak, including two potential tourney teams in Alabama and...Mizzou. MSU was carrying what, a 6 game streak against us? Is that right? We ended a drought of 14 consecutive to the Mississippi schools, all in one week? Ok, I guess that's a good thing. MSU isn't a great team, but they're playing pretty damn well right now. And they were desperate. Really, desperate. They're now rated 56 in the RPI, so that rounds out nicely to a Quadrant 2 win, so that's good. More importantly, it wasn't a Quadrant 2 loss. It's ok to recognize that avoiding the loss was bigger than the win, on paper. And that's today.
2. Tigers are now riding a 4 game winning streak...the same number that we heard no less than a dozen times that MSU had been carrying, during the telecast. It's low hanging fruit, but it bears mentioning...62.5% of this roster has never been on a Mizzou team that won 4 conference games in a season. The other 3 had never been on a Mizzou team that won a conference game at all. This also represents Mizzou's first 4 game SEC winning streak since entering the league. In what is certainly the best the league has been during that time. There's your perspective after the last 2:00 of regulation.
3. With 1:37 to go in regulation, Mizzou scored their last point in regulation. MSU scored the next 12 points to overcome a 12 point deficit to send it to OT (made even more improbable since Mizzou held the ball for 20+ seconds for the final shot). 12 points in ~1:20 is ugly. The way they did it was ugly. MSU had 1 offensive rebound, created 3 turnovers and went 4-5 from the floor and 3-3 from the line. That's exactly how you draw it up to lose. Jontay had two bad turnovers, and probably shouldn't be 1. inbounding or 2. receiving the inbounds. I'll forgive Kash for his, as it was a HORRID no call, which had it been called, likely ends the game. It was a (likely) 5 point swing with no free throws and a made 3 on the breakout.
4. Regarding #3, it's a concern. We know Mizzou struggles with pressure. This isn't a shocker. Mizzou ranks 316th nationally in turnover rate, and that number actually IMPROVED today. We actually only lost the TO battled 12-11 today, but it damn near cost us the game. It's not just the lack of a PG, it's a team that's not coherent in breaking a jailbreak press. I think it compounded by us getting tight. Luckily, it didn't cost us today as it has at times throughout the season.
5. But also remember, MSU is an ELITE defensive squad. Mizzou hung 79 on them in regulation and 89 total. When they amp up the pressure, they have the technique and ability to really cause issues. They did. It was almost enough. But it wasn't, because...
6. Player of the Game: Kevin Puryear. I don't need to look at the numbers on this one, a rarity. Mizzou scored 10 points in OT. 5 from the line. The other 5 were by Puryear. The tip in should not go unnoticed, as it stemmed the tide of a game that was slipping away. The 3 will get the notice, as it should. His numbers weren't the best on the court today. But this is what you want out of your upperclassmen. He was 1-17 in league play from 3 point range (5.8%). And yet he stepped up and knocked down the biggest individual shot (in terms of outcome determination) that I remember since at least 2014. Maybe 2013. The only other in consideration? Puryear last year in the SEC squad. He has his limitations, but it's got to be an incredible feeling to pour yourself into the program and go nowhere for 2 years, and then do what they're doing now...and what he did today. Props.
7. Numbers: Rarely do overall stats matter as little as they do today, but they're still relevant. Tigers shot 48% from the floor, MSU 45% (Mizzou had 13 more attempts). MSU shot 36% from 3, Mizzou 46%. This was the only reason why this was a game. MSU shoots 28% from range and decided to go off today, especially early. Even shooting open shots, they struggle. Tigers had 15 assists, MSU 12. MSU outrebounded us 35-33, but hurt us on the offensive glass, 13-7. Turnovers and blocks were even. Tigers probably won this game at the line, going 23-28 while MSU was only 12-18.
8. Porter had a rough day. Hit a couple big shots, but didn't register a rebound in 21 minutes. That's not acceptable. Tilmon went for 8 and 3. They combined for 43 minutes and 3 boards. We need more from them.
9. Barnett got more involved inside the arc. Struggled from outside, but went 6-7 from the line. Geist had a nice day with 17 points 2 assists, 3 steals, 6 boards and only 2 turnovers. Those guys were pretty big. Kash also had a nice day, one that's getting less and less unexpected.
After all of that, we sit at 17-8 and 7-5 in conference play. Tigers sit alone in 4th place in league play for the moment, although UK and Bama can pull into a tie later tonight. Tigers have moved up to 25th in the RPI and moved down to 38th in Pomeroy's ratings (defensive numbers took a dive today, much due to MSU's unexpected 3 point barrage).
I'll probably break down tourney numbers later when more games have been played this weekend.
But you can feel one of two ways today:
1. Upset that we blew a 12 point lead to a bubble team at home
2. Happy we shook it off, and an 0-5 run to start OT to pull off a win.
Neither are wrong, but I know what I'm picking. It's been too long of a time since we've had one go our way like today did.
PS: @GabeD has made @Numbahs jealous with his effort on twitter today. Well done.
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