Okay, so let's start with the obvious: As we all predicted at the beginning of the year, the best freshman on this team would be named Porter and the MVP would be a transfer from Canisius.
Kassius Robertson scored 27 points. In his last five games, he is averaging 21.9 per game. He flat out carried this team in the second half (more on why he had to in a minute).
Jontay Porter had 18 points and 13 rebounds. He was second on the team with four assists. I have not yet mentioned the biggest thing he did in this game. Coming back on the floor with four fouls and 3:11 to play, the freshman not only managed to remain in the game, but came up with two gigantic blocked shots to seal the win. He blocked five on the night. He needs to teach his freshman frontcourt mate how to play with foul trouble and still be productive.
Unsung heroes were Jordan Geist (10 points, six assists) and Kevin Puryear (12 points on 5-6 shooting, now 16-16 from the line in the final five minutes of games).
In Oxford, according to reports and my TV, were Jeremiah Tilmon and Jordan Barnett. Sure Tilmon didn't have a foul in the first half. He was also absolutely no factor in the game. He had two points and nary a rebound. Those are the numbers with which he finished. Jeremiah Tilmon should simply NEVER play 18 minutes of a basketball game without a rebound. At 6-foot-10, he should be able to get two rebounds a game simply by standing and looking in the general direction of the basket.
Barnett is what he is. He's a fifth year senior. What he is will not change. There are games where he is ridiculously good and the reason his team wins. And then there are games where you simply don't even know he's there. Not that he is noticeably terrible, just that he simply is no factor. Tonight was that night. And the fact that Missouri won a conference road game in which it trailed 11-0 and its second leading scorer contributed a grand total of two free throws is nothing short of remarkable.
And so here's where we are: Missouri is 6-5 in the SEC, 16-8 overall. The magic numbers are 10 and 20. If the Tigers can win 10 league games and 20 overall, they will be a tournament lock before the SEC Tournament starts in St. Louis. Missouri has four home games left. In other words, the Tigers have to beat Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Arkansas at home to lock up an NCAA Tournament bid. That is all. They do not have to win a road game (but they have at least two and maybe three winnable ones left and have already won three road games this year).
Hell of a job by Cuonzo Martin. All year, really, but especially in the last ten days.
Kassius Robertson scored 27 points. In his last five games, he is averaging 21.9 per game. He flat out carried this team in the second half (more on why he had to in a minute).
Jontay Porter had 18 points and 13 rebounds. He was second on the team with four assists. I have not yet mentioned the biggest thing he did in this game. Coming back on the floor with four fouls and 3:11 to play, the freshman not only managed to remain in the game, but came up with two gigantic blocked shots to seal the win. He blocked five on the night. He needs to teach his freshman frontcourt mate how to play with foul trouble and still be productive.
Unsung heroes were Jordan Geist (10 points, six assists) and Kevin Puryear (12 points on 5-6 shooting, now 16-16 from the line in the final five minutes of games).
In Oxford, according to reports and my TV, were Jeremiah Tilmon and Jordan Barnett. Sure Tilmon didn't have a foul in the first half. He was also absolutely no factor in the game. He had two points and nary a rebound. Those are the numbers with which he finished. Jeremiah Tilmon should simply NEVER play 18 minutes of a basketball game without a rebound. At 6-foot-10, he should be able to get two rebounds a game simply by standing and looking in the general direction of the basket.
Barnett is what he is. He's a fifth year senior. What he is will not change. There are games where he is ridiculously good and the reason his team wins. And then there are games where you simply don't even know he's there. Not that he is noticeably terrible, just that he simply is no factor. Tonight was that night. And the fact that Missouri won a conference road game in which it trailed 11-0 and its second leading scorer contributed a grand total of two free throws is nothing short of remarkable.
And so here's where we are: Missouri is 6-5 in the SEC, 16-8 overall. The magic numbers are 10 and 20. If the Tigers can win 10 league games and 20 overall, they will be a tournament lock before the SEC Tournament starts in St. Louis. Missouri has four home games left. In other words, the Tigers have to beat Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Arkansas at home to lock up an NCAA Tournament bid. That is all. They do not have to win a road game (but they have at least two and maybe three winnable ones left and have already won three road games this year).
Hell of a job by Cuonzo Martin. All year, really, but especially in the last ten days.
