I didn't see @GabeD post, but may have missed it. Certainly won't be as entertaining as our long lost friend @StuBlack , but here's a dry breakdown anyway...
1. I was talking with a friend about today's game and isolated three areas where Mizzou needed to excel (or survive) to win. Let's see how they did:
A. Turnovers -- Coming in, St. Johns ranked 16th in the country in offensive turnover rate (very good) and 7th in the country in defensive turnover rate (exceptional). This was an area of concern, as Mizzou ranked 247th (horrendous) and 178th (not good) respectively. When the dust settled, Mizzou had 16 and SJU had 11. While not exceptional, that ratio will play when it's such a relative strength and weakness. Grade: B-
B. Fouls/Free Throws -- Coming in, Mizzou ranked 21st on offensive free throw attempted to fg attempted ratio (1:1 --> shooting a free throw for every field goal attempted) and defensively, we ranked 57th (opponent's ratio). SJU ranked 162nd and 281st respectively. This was an area Mizzou had to excel in, as it was their strength and SJU's weakness. Mizzou shot 26-32, SJU shot 17-18. While SJU was incredibly efficient, any time you shoot more than your opponent attempts (and we're talking about 8!), that's a good job. And yeah, some of them came in cleanup time, but that's part of the point! Grade: A-
C. Own the backboards: Mizzou ranked 65th in offensive rebound percentage, 81st in preventing opponent's offensive boards. SJU ranked 162nd and 281st respectively. Both terrible numbers, mismatch for Mizzou. Mizzou ripped down 41 boards, 14 on the offensive end. SJU had 27 total and 11 offensive. May seem close on paper, but less so when you consider SJU attempted 10 more field goals. That's a win. Grade: B+
Ball game
2. Mizzou ended up shooting over 50% from 3 and 80% from the line, unfortunately only shot 41% from 2. They didn't exploit the interior mismatch. SJU shot 44% from 3, and 94% from the line, but also only hit 41% from 2. Surprisingly, Mizzou outshot the guard oriented team from deep. In some respects, beating them at their own game while making more free throws and pushing inside the arc.
3. As I mentioned yesterday, when the competition ramps up, we need our seniors to step up. Well, the competition was better today:
Barnett: 19 points, 9 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4-7, 2-4 from 3, 9-10 from FT
Robertson: 17 points, 2 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 6-11, 5-7 from 3!
Step up they did.
4. St. Johns is a good team. Not great, but good. Pomeroy has them slotted as #50 right now. They'll have a meat grinder in the Big East. A year ago they were 14-19. In some respects they're like us. Thought to be a big turnaround team. I don't know that they're a tournament team, but they'll be a top 75 rpi team, if not top 50 when all is said and done. Those wins on neutral courts look real nice come March.
5. Tigers get WVU Sunday night at 8:30. Huggins group will be Mizzou's toughest test in the non-conference. Despite their whooping by aTm in Germany, I like this group to be a top 15 team at the end of the season. Their ball pressure will be a big test. Win or lose, this is a good game for Mizzou in many respects.
1. I was talking with a friend about today's game and isolated three areas where Mizzou needed to excel (or survive) to win. Let's see how they did:
A. Turnovers -- Coming in, St. Johns ranked 16th in the country in offensive turnover rate (very good) and 7th in the country in defensive turnover rate (exceptional). This was an area of concern, as Mizzou ranked 247th (horrendous) and 178th (not good) respectively. When the dust settled, Mizzou had 16 and SJU had 11. While not exceptional, that ratio will play when it's such a relative strength and weakness. Grade: B-
B. Fouls/Free Throws -- Coming in, Mizzou ranked 21st on offensive free throw attempted to fg attempted ratio (1:1 --> shooting a free throw for every field goal attempted) and defensively, we ranked 57th (opponent's ratio). SJU ranked 162nd and 281st respectively. This was an area Mizzou had to excel in, as it was their strength and SJU's weakness. Mizzou shot 26-32, SJU shot 17-18. While SJU was incredibly efficient, any time you shoot more than your opponent attempts (and we're talking about 8!), that's a good job. And yeah, some of them came in cleanup time, but that's part of the point! Grade: A-
C. Own the backboards: Mizzou ranked 65th in offensive rebound percentage, 81st in preventing opponent's offensive boards. SJU ranked 162nd and 281st respectively. Both terrible numbers, mismatch for Mizzou. Mizzou ripped down 41 boards, 14 on the offensive end. SJU had 27 total and 11 offensive. May seem close on paper, but less so when you consider SJU attempted 10 more field goals. That's a win. Grade: B+
Ball game
2. Mizzou ended up shooting over 50% from 3 and 80% from the line, unfortunately only shot 41% from 2. They didn't exploit the interior mismatch. SJU shot 44% from 3, and 94% from the line, but also only hit 41% from 2. Surprisingly, Mizzou outshot the guard oriented team from deep. In some respects, beating them at their own game while making more free throws and pushing inside the arc.
3. As I mentioned yesterday, when the competition ramps up, we need our seniors to step up. Well, the competition was better today:
Barnett: 19 points, 9 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4-7, 2-4 from 3, 9-10 from FT
Robertson: 17 points, 2 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 6-11, 5-7 from 3!
Step up they did.
4. St. Johns is a good team. Not great, but good. Pomeroy has them slotted as #50 right now. They'll have a meat grinder in the Big East. A year ago they were 14-19. In some respects they're like us. Thought to be a big turnaround team. I don't know that they're a tournament team, but they'll be a top 75 rpi team, if not top 50 when all is said and done. Those wins on neutral courts look real nice come March.
5. Tigers get WVU Sunday night at 8:30. Huggins group will be Mizzou's toughest test in the non-conference. Despite their whooping by aTm in Germany, I like this group to be a top 15 team at the end of the season. Their ball pressure will be a big test. Win or lose, this is a good game for Mizzou in many respects.
