I mean, it's really just the same story on a different night. If you're going to rely on the 3-point shot as much as Missouri does, you can't shoot 26% from behind the arc and turn the ball over 17 times. That, and you also can't let a team shoot 63 percent in the second half.
-Jordan Barnett was a non-factor tonight. When you are your team's engine, you can't put up 5 and 3. Even if you have an off shooting night, you have to be able to contribute in other ways. He's gotten far too complacent as a 3-point shooter, and he really doesn't present much of a threat other than that. He's got the athleticism and talent to be a really solid slasher, but for whatever reason, he simply doesn't do it.
-Missouri has to get more out of Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon. Yes, it's an improvement for them to be able to stay in the game, but your third- and fourth-best players have to give you a better performance than 6 points and 4 boards. I understand their hesitance with the foul trouble they've endured, but once you can tell the refs are going to let you be more physical, you have to take advantage of that. Mississippi State's front line isn't nearly good enough for those two guys to barely be a factor on the offensive end. Oh, and with two 6-foot-11 shot-blockers like Tilmon and Porter, there's no way Missouri should give up 46 points in the paint.
-This wasn't a must-win game, but it was damn close. Missouri really needed to win two of three against Miss. State, 'Bama and UK. It's still possible they do, but beating Alabama at home and then coming back to CoMo and beating UK is very unlikely. This was a bad loss for Missouri's resume, and they're now riding a three-game losing streak heading into two of the most important games of he conference season.
-Not having Terrence Phillips really didn't hurt Missouri tonight. Geist didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but is not as if that's something TP would add. Would you like to have more depth at point guard? Yes. But this is simply where Missouri is at right now. If Michael Porter Jr. makes it back on the floor, you really don't need a point guard because he'll dominate the ball, but that's obviously a big if. But I think everyone can agree, I don't see this team making the NCAA Tournament without him.
-Jordan Barnett was a non-factor tonight. When you are your team's engine, you can't put up 5 and 3. Even if you have an off shooting night, you have to be able to contribute in other ways. He's gotten far too complacent as a 3-point shooter, and he really doesn't present much of a threat other than that. He's got the athleticism and talent to be a really solid slasher, but for whatever reason, he simply doesn't do it.
-Missouri has to get more out of Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon. Yes, it's an improvement for them to be able to stay in the game, but your third- and fourth-best players have to give you a better performance than 6 points and 4 boards. I understand their hesitance with the foul trouble they've endured, but once you can tell the refs are going to let you be more physical, you have to take advantage of that. Mississippi State's front line isn't nearly good enough for those two guys to barely be a factor on the offensive end. Oh, and with two 6-foot-11 shot-blockers like Tilmon and Porter, there's no way Missouri should give up 46 points in the paint.
-This wasn't a must-win game, but it was damn close. Missouri really needed to win two of three against Miss. State, 'Bama and UK. It's still possible they do, but beating Alabama at home and then coming back to CoMo and beating UK is very unlikely. This was a bad loss for Missouri's resume, and they're now riding a three-game losing streak heading into two of the most important games of he conference season.
-Not having Terrence Phillips really didn't hurt Missouri tonight. Geist didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but is not as if that's something TP would add. Would you like to have more depth at point guard? Yes. But this is simply where Missouri is at right now. If Michael Porter Jr. makes it back on the floor, you really don't need a point guard because he'll dominate the ball, but that's obviously a big if. But I think everyone can agree, I don't see this team making the NCAA Tournament without him.
