That was probably one of the five most boring basketball games I've ever watched.
This game was there for the taking. For a 15 minute stretch spanning both halves, Mississippi State scored 10 points. And Missouri did next to nothing with it. Yeah, the Tigers made a run in the first half to get close (although I'm not sure you can call 14 points over nearly 7 minutes a run exactly) and they did enough to hang around and hang around. But there was never a possession where they had a chance to tie or lead. And there was never a point where you thought that Missouri was actually going to win the game.
It was largely the same game we've seen for most of the year. Missouri played hard, but it didn't play all that well. It was outgunned and effort (which I didn't think existed in mass quantity in the first ten minutes) couldn't overcome it.
KJ Santos was far more active than I've seen him at any point this season. You noticed he was out there. He had 6 rebounds and only one turnover. He didn't make a lot of shots, but he played with energy and that's honestly not something we've seen a ton.
Torrence Watson had a nice night (12 points on 3-7 shooting from three and 3-4 from the line--the first time he'd shot free throws in seven games). I don't know if it leads to anything else, but on a night like this, you look for positives and Watson was a positive.
Kevin Puryear played just six minutes in the second half and he logged just 15 minutes for the game. Xavier Pinson was minus-11 in nine minutes in the first half and he didn't see the floor in the second. Mitchell Smith played four minutes.
Missouri had forced only eight turnovers and two fast break points. They did do a nice job on the offensive glass, getting 16 boards leading to 16 second half points.
I think Mississippi State blocked three more shotws while I was typing this. Once the Bulldogs started making shots, Missouri had no chance.
The Tigers play out the string with South Carolina coming to Mizzou Arena on Saturday. Barring three straight wins to end the regular season, Mizzou (12-15) is virtually assured of finishing the year with a losing record for the fourth time in five seasons.
This game was there for the taking. For a 15 minute stretch spanning both halves, Mississippi State scored 10 points. And Missouri did next to nothing with it. Yeah, the Tigers made a run in the first half to get close (although I'm not sure you can call 14 points over nearly 7 minutes a run exactly) and they did enough to hang around and hang around. But there was never a possession where they had a chance to tie or lead. And there was never a point where you thought that Missouri was actually going to win the game.
It was largely the same game we've seen for most of the year. Missouri played hard, but it didn't play all that well. It was outgunned and effort (which I didn't think existed in mass quantity in the first ten minutes) couldn't overcome it.
KJ Santos was far more active than I've seen him at any point this season. You noticed he was out there. He had 6 rebounds and only one turnover. He didn't make a lot of shots, but he played with energy and that's honestly not something we've seen a ton.
Torrence Watson had a nice night (12 points on 3-7 shooting from three and 3-4 from the line--the first time he'd shot free throws in seven games). I don't know if it leads to anything else, but on a night like this, you look for positives and Watson was a positive.
Kevin Puryear played just six minutes in the second half and he logged just 15 minutes for the game. Xavier Pinson was minus-11 in nine minutes in the first half and he didn't see the floor in the second. Mitchell Smith played four minutes.
Missouri had forced only eight turnovers and two fast break points. They did do a nice job on the offensive glass, getting 16 boards leading to 16 second half points.
I think Mississippi State blocked three more shotws while I was typing this. Once the Bulldogs started making shots, Missouri had no chance.
The Tigers play out the string with South Carolina coming to Mizzou Arena on Saturday. Barring three straight wins to end the regular season, Mizzou (12-15) is virtually assured of finishing the year with a losing record for the fourth time in five seasons.
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