In full disclosure, I started working on these at the 8 minute mark. Down 23, I figured the story was written (some of the numbers may change, but lets be honest, the first 32 minutes told the necessary tale). Also, the "T" key has been sticking and I'm not proofreading this...
1. I don't believe in the saying "you can't take anything from this game." There's always something. But there are also levels. This one falls under the "something, probably not a whole lot" category. What we learned is Tennessee is better than us. Much better. If that results in anything more than a shoulder shrug, get the thing sitting on your shoulders checked.
2. Tennessee did what they always do. They kill you inside the paint. They even showed really nice NBA level touch from the midgame. Sufficing to say that 7 minutes left is a fair sample, they're shooting 18-29 from 2 (62%). They shoot 58% from 2 on the year. That's not good...but not exactly a shock. They're also shooting an absurd 17-18 from the line. For good measure, they're 6-17 from 3 (35%; their season average). They're doing absolutely what they do. Mizzou can't defend free throws, except not putting them there.
3. Mizzou is 11-28 from 2 (39%), 8 percent below their tepid season average. They're 7-20 from 3 (35%) which isn't bad, but not good enough to spring an upset. Tigers are 10-16 from the line, which isn't great. Either in average or amount, but that didn't cost us the game in of itself.
4. Rebounds were even (although Mizzou had a lot more misses), assists were even and Tigers were -6 in the turnover margin (14 total). Not a whole lot to be taken away from there.
5. Tennessee is really good. I've seen them play and knew this coming in, but wow. Average (at best) games from their best two players and they rolled. If they stay healthy, I can't see them losing more than 2-3 games the rest of the way. Someone will catch them on an off night, but there's not a team that can match up with them A game vs. A game and come away with a W in league play imo. This isn't a matter of "if this would've gone our way..." Tennessee beat our brakes off, and they played a B+/A- game in doing so. Tip of the cap.
6. Speaking of Tennessee
Williams: Jr. 3*
Schofield: Sr. 3*
Bone: Jr. 3*
Alexander: Sr. 3*
Bowdwn: Jr. 3*
This is how programs centered on player development can look. Mizzou, one of the younger teams in DI play (and certainly one of the youngest in P5 leagues w/o elite freshmen talent) is trying to build to this. Tigers have guys that could fit that mold with Pinson, Pickett, Watson, Tilmon and Smith. Progression is as important as results at this point. Look at Barnes teams and their overall metric rank:
Year 1: 103
Year 2: 57
Year 3: 13
Year 4: 7
Year 2 is when this core was Freshman and Sophomores. They finished 16-16 and 8-10 in league play. All 5 of those guys got 35%+ of minutes. They were playing the long game, and it paid off. Mizzou needs to do this as well and keep these guys in the system and develop...and develop some more. Sprinkle in some top talent sure, but build your core.
7. On the plus side, I really liked what I saw out of Pinson. Blake Harris he is not, and Cuonzo's trust is showing. In roughly the same sample when Harris transferred, Pinson is playing almost 40% of minutes vs. Harris's 13. While the team was thoroughly outclassed, Pinson showed the moment was never too big.
8. The winning streak ended as most do...with a loss. Tigers have a turnaround with 5 games in which their A game may get them a win. Tonight was not that type of game if Tennessee gave their A game. @USCe, Bama, @aTM, LSU and @Arkansas. I don't expect 5 straight wins, but those games *should tell us more about where this thing is heading. Internalize this one and then flush it. Use it as a measuring stick to learn where you need to be. Don't dwell.
9. Mark Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon are integral to our success. I don't think it changes the outcome tonight...may alter the deficit. But the point stands. We go as they go. 11/6/3 assists combined, much after the game was double digits, isn't going to cut it.
1. I don't believe in the saying "you can't take anything from this game." There's always something. But there are also levels. This one falls under the "something, probably not a whole lot" category. What we learned is Tennessee is better than us. Much better. If that results in anything more than a shoulder shrug, get the thing sitting on your shoulders checked.
2. Tennessee did what they always do. They kill you inside the paint. They even showed really nice NBA level touch from the midgame. Sufficing to say that 7 minutes left is a fair sample, they're shooting 18-29 from 2 (62%). They shoot 58% from 2 on the year. That's not good...but not exactly a shock. They're also shooting an absurd 17-18 from the line. For good measure, they're 6-17 from 3 (35%; their season average). They're doing absolutely what they do. Mizzou can't defend free throws, except not putting them there.
3. Mizzou is 11-28 from 2 (39%), 8 percent below their tepid season average. They're 7-20 from 3 (35%) which isn't bad, but not good enough to spring an upset. Tigers are 10-16 from the line, which isn't great. Either in average or amount, but that didn't cost us the game in of itself.
4. Rebounds were even (although Mizzou had a lot more misses), assists were even and Tigers were -6 in the turnover margin (14 total). Not a whole lot to be taken away from there.
5. Tennessee is really good. I've seen them play and knew this coming in, but wow. Average (at best) games from their best two players and they rolled. If they stay healthy, I can't see them losing more than 2-3 games the rest of the way. Someone will catch them on an off night, but there's not a team that can match up with them A game vs. A game and come away with a W in league play imo. This isn't a matter of "if this would've gone our way..." Tennessee beat our brakes off, and they played a B+/A- game in doing so. Tip of the cap.
6. Speaking of Tennessee
Williams: Jr. 3*
Schofield: Sr. 3*
Bone: Jr. 3*
Alexander: Sr. 3*
Bowdwn: Jr. 3*
This is how programs centered on player development can look. Mizzou, one of the younger teams in DI play (and certainly one of the youngest in P5 leagues w/o elite freshmen talent) is trying to build to this. Tigers have guys that could fit that mold with Pinson, Pickett, Watson, Tilmon and Smith. Progression is as important as results at this point. Look at Barnes teams and their overall metric rank:
Year 1: 103
Year 2: 57
Year 3: 13
Year 4: 7
Year 2 is when this core was Freshman and Sophomores. They finished 16-16 and 8-10 in league play. All 5 of those guys got 35%+ of minutes. They were playing the long game, and it paid off. Mizzou needs to do this as well and keep these guys in the system and develop...and develop some more. Sprinkle in some top talent sure, but build your core.
7. On the plus side, I really liked what I saw out of Pinson. Blake Harris he is not, and Cuonzo's trust is showing. In roughly the same sample when Harris transferred, Pinson is playing almost 40% of minutes vs. Harris's 13. While the team was thoroughly outclassed, Pinson showed the moment was never too big.
8. The winning streak ended as most do...with a loss. Tigers have a turnaround with 5 games in which their A game may get them a win. Tonight was not that type of game if Tennessee gave their A game. @USCe, Bama, @aTM, LSU and @Arkansas. I don't expect 5 straight wins, but those games *should tell us more about where this thing is heading. Internalize this one and then flush it. Use it as a measuring stick to learn where you need to be. Don't dwell.
9. Mark Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon are integral to our success. I don't think it changes the outcome tonight...may alter the deficit. But the point stands. We go as they go. 11/6/3 assists combined, much after the game was double digits, isn't going to cut it.
