First of all, glad the team got the W. Way harder than it should've been. I will preface this discussion by saying I would love nothing more than for Kim to lead us to the tournament and be a perennial top 25 team under him. I will root for Mizzou every game this year. That being said, I just don't see how this team does well enough for him to last another year. To do so, Kim is going to have to start winning games that are toss-ups or he's expected to lose (like either Xavier or Davidson). Beating every team that he is supposed to beat this year will get Mizzou 14 wins (maybe).
Now, down to the game analysis:
(1) The thing I struggle most with Kim Anderson teams at Missouri is the first 10 minutes of every game. We are now in year three of watching his teams come out flat, unprepared, and down by about 10 points or more. Against a good team like Xavier or Kentucky, I understand that. Against Tulane and Davidson? That is inexcusable. Youth has nothing to do with the first ten minutes of a game on a neutral floor. That is coaching and preparation.
(2) Really nice game by KJ Walton. For those of you wondering why he doesn't play more, it's because he is the worst defender of our guards (yes, worse than Van Leer), and it's not due to athleticism. If you watch him, he just has lapses in focus. Second half he was much better. Also, heard a lot of things about his shooting improving over the summer. Still waiting to see it.
(3) Terrance Phillips was horrible and careless with the basketball today. Geist had a pretty good game defensively and gets the ball where it's supposed to go on offense. Gonna need good games from TP to beat average D1 teams because Mizzou is not good enough without it. Good thing Tulane is not an average D1 team.
(4) Van Leer gets a lot of flack on here, but he's a lot like Witter in football. He knows the plays, knows where he's supposed to be, is fairly steady, and will be playing until more talented players figure it out (KJ defensively, or Barnett when eligible).
(5) Still don't understand why Woods starts over Nikko. He literally gives you nothing. Again, against a team without a lot of girth in the post, I'd like to see a little bit of Smith down there, but there must be something going on with him defensively or offensively for him not to come in.
(6) Puryear is a real nice player when he sticks to his game (driving and within 10-15 feet). Puryear is not real good outside of that.
(7) Hughes scored in the first half when nobody else could. Not his best defensive game and with KJ playing so well, disappeared a little in the second half. Going to be a roller coaster with the young freshman.
(8) Started to see a little of what Jackson brings. Had some nice slashes and offensive rebounds in the first half. Still a little raw at finishing them against the size and length. Also, thought he would be a good matchup defensively for their tall shooting lefty (instead of Puryear), but Kim never made the switch.
(9) Worried about the offense. Tulane is 211 in defensive efficiency per KenPom. Davidson is 155. Struggling to score against those kinds of defenses is extremely worrisome.
(10) Nice to see this team win a close one (bad that it was this close, nice that they could win a competitive game). If Mizzou came out ready to play, this would've been a 20+ point win. I said I wouldn't take much away from this game and stand by that. Win the next couple cupcakes and Western Kentucky is the next one to look for Kim's progress with the program. That is a must win. Also would be nice to win the cupcakes by 20+ instead of coming down to the wire.
Now, down to the game analysis:
(1) The thing I struggle most with Kim Anderson teams at Missouri is the first 10 minutes of every game. We are now in year three of watching his teams come out flat, unprepared, and down by about 10 points or more. Against a good team like Xavier or Kentucky, I understand that. Against Tulane and Davidson? That is inexcusable. Youth has nothing to do with the first ten minutes of a game on a neutral floor. That is coaching and preparation.
(2) Really nice game by KJ Walton. For those of you wondering why he doesn't play more, it's because he is the worst defender of our guards (yes, worse than Van Leer), and it's not due to athleticism. If you watch him, he just has lapses in focus. Second half he was much better. Also, heard a lot of things about his shooting improving over the summer. Still waiting to see it.
(3) Terrance Phillips was horrible and careless with the basketball today. Geist had a pretty good game defensively and gets the ball where it's supposed to go on offense. Gonna need good games from TP to beat average D1 teams because Mizzou is not good enough without it. Good thing Tulane is not an average D1 team.
(4) Van Leer gets a lot of flack on here, but he's a lot like Witter in football. He knows the plays, knows where he's supposed to be, is fairly steady, and will be playing until more talented players figure it out (KJ defensively, or Barnett when eligible).
(5) Still don't understand why Woods starts over Nikko. He literally gives you nothing. Again, against a team without a lot of girth in the post, I'd like to see a little bit of Smith down there, but there must be something going on with him defensively or offensively for him not to come in.
(6) Puryear is a real nice player when he sticks to his game (driving and within 10-15 feet). Puryear is not real good outside of that.
(7) Hughes scored in the first half when nobody else could. Not his best defensive game and with KJ playing so well, disappeared a little in the second half. Going to be a roller coaster with the young freshman.
(8) Started to see a little of what Jackson brings. Had some nice slashes and offensive rebounds in the first half. Still a little raw at finishing them against the size and length. Also, thought he would be a good matchup defensively for their tall shooting lefty (instead of Puryear), but Kim never made the switch.
(9) Worried about the offense. Tulane is 211 in defensive efficiency per KenPom. Davidson is 155. Struggling to score against those kinds of defenses is extremely worrisome.
(10) Nice to see this team win a close one (bad that it was this close, nice that they could win a competitive game). If Mizzou came out ready to play, this would've been a 20+ point win. I said I wouldn't take much away from this game and stand by that. Win the next couple cupcakes and Western Kentucky is the next one to look for Kim's progress with the program. That is a must win. Also would be nice to win the cupcakes by 20+ instead of coming down to the wire.
