*Let's be real: We weren't gonna learn a lot from this game.
*We did learn Ben Sternberg can drain it from midcourt. I don't know if that's something Dennis Gates is going to draw up on a consistent basis, but it's there if they need it.
*That said, nice to see that Missouri isn't going to give up 80 to every team it plays. Lindenwood only scored 53 and went 5-22 from three-point range. Not that you'd expect them to score a ton and there was definitely an element of unusual hot shooting from the Tigers' first two opponents, but still, good to see.
*Mizzou still shot too many threes itself for my taste, but it is good to see them dominate appropriately down low. The Tigers had 48 points in the paint and made 26 of 36 shots from inside the three-point line.
*Kobe Brown and Noah Carter will be two of Missouri's top three scores and quite likely the top two. Carter is a better jump shooter, though Brown does look to be a bit improved in that regard. That's one of the more complete games Kobe has played. 15 points, 9 rebounds and most notably 6 assists. You'll take that line from him all the time.
*Nick Honor is the point guard. Period. He shoots more than I thought he would, though that might change as we get further down the road and the competition increases. But he's the guy that's going to be running the show in important moments. Part of that is because...
*The two guys that I think are pressing a little bit right now are Sean East and Isiaih Mosley. They're certainly both talented enough, but I think both are probably learning to play a little bit when scoring might not be the first thing they're asked to do. Mosley is a gifted passer and he did have three assists. But he also had four turnovers. East matched him. Those two had eight of Mizzou's 16 turnovers by themselves. That's a number you want to see come down. However, at least Mosley got on the court and seems to be a good teammate and we can move past that discussion.
*Still, 16 turnovers is compared to 22 assists. The Tigers had an assist on 2/3 of their made field goals. This is a really, really good passing team. There are times even when it looks like they're passing a little too much--Carter passed up an open three at the end of the first half. You'd rather have that issue than not passing enough and I don't mean to say it as a criticism. There are a lot of very skilled passers on this team.
*Overall, good to have an easy one. They've had three they had to win and they've won them all. Four more to go, starting with SIU-Edwardsville on Tuesday night. @drewking0222 will have more coverage of this one after post-game interviews.
*We did learn Ben Sternberg can drain it from midcourt. I don't know if that's something Dennis Gates is going to draw up on a consistent basis, but it's there if they need it.
*That said, nice to see that Missouri isn't going to give up 80 to every team it plays. Lindenwood only scored 53 and went 5-22 from three-point range. Not that you'd expect them to score a ton and there was definitely an element of unusual hot shooting from the Tigers' first two opponents, but still, good to see.
*Mizzou still shot too many threes itself for my taste, but it is good to see them dominate appropriately down low. The Tigers had 48 points in the paint and made 26 of 36 shots from inside the three-point line.
*Kobe Brown and Noah Carter will be two of Missouri's top three scores and quite likely the top two. Carter is a better jump shooter, though Brown does look to be a bit improved in that regard. That's one of the more complete games Kobe has played. 15 points, 9 rebounds and most notably 6 assists. You'll take that line from him all the time.
*Nick Honor is the point guard. Period. He shoots more than I thought he would, though that might change as we get further down the road and the competition increases. But he's the guy that's going to be running the show in important moments. Part of that is because...
*The two guys that I think are pressing a little bit right now are Sean East and Isiaih Mosley. They're certainly both talented enough, but I think both are probably learning to play a little bit when scoring might not be the first thing they're asked to do. Mosley is a gifted passer and he did have three assists. But he also had four turnovers. East matched him. Those two had eight of Mizzou's 16 turnovers by themselves. That's a number you want to see come down. However, at least Mosley got on the court and seems to be a good teammate and we can move past that discussion.
*Still, 16 turnovers is compared to 22 assists. The Tigers had an assist on 2/3 of their made field goals. This is a really, really good passing team. There are times even when it looks like they're passing a little too much--Carter passed up an open three at the end of the first half. You'd rather have that issue than not passing enough and I don't mean to say it as a criticism. There are a lot of very skilled passers on this team.
*Overall, good to have an easy one. They've had three they had to win and they've won them all. Four more to go, starting with SIU-Edwardsville on Tuesday night. @drewking0222 will have more coverage of this one after post-game interviews.
