*Missouri should see if Mississippi can be moved to the ACC. Not a great year against the Mississippi schools for the Tigers.
*This one first went south in the final four minutes of the first half. After a Jeremiah Tilmon layup to make it a one point game before the final media timeout, here’s what the Tigers did:
Missed FT
Missed 3
Missed 3
2 made FTs
Missed 3
Turnover
They also gave up about 204 offensive rebounds to the Rebels. That stretch turned a game in which Missouri had played very poorly but was only down a point into a game in which Missouri had played very poorly and was down nine points. In the first half, Missouri was 4/9 on layups and dunks and had zero fast break points.
*At that point, over 40 minutes of basketball, Mizzou had been outscored by Ole Miss 75-46.
*I broke my not posting in game threads rule to share this, but it needs to be shared again: At one point, Daymeon Fishback, a man who gets paid to analyze basketball games, said that Missouri was a better defensive team with Parker Braun on the floor than Jeremiah Tilmon. I am speechless. I am without speech. He doubled down on it about six times in the second half. I remained speechless.
*This game was the magnum opus of Tilmon’s importance. He wasn’t dominant scoring. He had 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting. But his presence changed the game. He had 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals and demanded so much attention every single time he touched the ball in the paint. Nobody should ever pretend there is any scenario in which Missouri is better without him on the floor. If you hear someone say that, tell them they are not allowed to discuss basketball with us reasonably intelligent people.
*Oddly, though, you can discuss Missouri being better without Xavier Pinson because we’ve seen it multiple times. He’s just so mercurial. There are times he’s electric and looks like an all-SEC guard and a guy who could potentially work his way into the NBA. Then there are times where Missouri is better with Drew Buggs in the game even though Drew Buggs is no threat to put the ball through the basket. How far Missouri goes in the NCAA Tournament probably has more to do with Pinson than any other player.
*Kobe Brown dragged Mizzou kicking and screaming back in the game. Four straight points, a drawn charge, he was in the mix when Mizzou forced a jump ball, then another basket. From the 15 minute mark to the 11 minute mark of the second half, Brown was phenomenal. He ended up with 12 points and 7 boards.
*Torrence Watson didn’t score a bunch, but man he had a lot of energy in the second half. He was involved in a lot of things happening.
*Mark Smith is streaky, but he’s going to be important for this team down the stretch. Over the last three games he’s now averaging 11.7 and 5 and he’s been a solid contributor. You can also see him talking and trying to be vocal on the floor. I’m not sure this team has a true leader. Maybe Smith steps up in that regard going forward.
*The game was lost with 1:40 to go. Ole Miss had just taken a two point lead on a tough shot by Devontae Shuler. Without a pass, Dru Smith turned and shot an off balance 14 footer. It missed. Ole Miss got a layup. Four point game. You just can’t take that shot. Not that early in the clock.
*The next time down, Pinson dribbled around for 15 seconds and Dru took a three. Two possessions, not a single touch for Tilmon. Or Brown. And no, I don’t think that’s what was called out of the timeout. It was another “Pinson has decided he isn’t gonna drive night.” If I’m gonna blame the coach, I’m gonna blame him for having Pinson on the floor in the last five minutes. But it’s kind of hard not to isn’t it? Theoretically he’s capable of being your best player. You kind of have to play that guy in crunch time. But it’s the reason they lost tonight.
Drew Buggs: +12 in 10 minutes
Xavier Pinson: -15 in 26 minutes
*Bottom line, Missouri will never win a game in which Pinson and Dru Smith combine to go 4-20 from the field and 1-2 from the free throw line. Same as it’s been all year, Mizzou needs two of their three best players to play well to give them a shot. Tilmon was the only one who did tonight. It wasn’t enough.
*Big picture, Missouri’s not gonna finish in the top four of the SEC at this point. I don’t see how it’s possible. Missouri is going to be in the NCAA Tournament. I’d guess they’re going to end up in the 7 seed range, but it’s possible they slide on to the 8/9 line. I understand it isn’t as much as everyone had hoped for just a couple weeks ago, but if you get in and win a game it’s still progress. The theme of the postgame show was this: Some have made up their minds that this is as good as it will ever get under Cuonzo. Maybe you’re right. If we look back in four years and it’s never been better than this, it’s not good enough and he should be fired. But we don’t know that yet. He’s earned the right to show over the next few years that he’s capable of more. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but he’s done enough that we’re going to find out.
*Theoretically Mizzou will host Texas A&M Saturday. Cuonzo said they should know more by tomorrow morning. We’ll let you know when we know.
*This one first went south in the final four minutes of the first half. After a Jeremiah Tilmon layup to make it a one point game before the final media timeout, here’s what the Tigers did:
Missed FT
Missed 3
Missed 3
2 made FTs
Missed 3
Turnover
They also gave up about 204 offensive rebounds to the Rebels. That stretch turned a game in which Missouri had played very poorly but was only down a point into a game in which Missouri had played very poorly and was down nine points. In the first half, Missouri was 4/9 on layups and dunks and had zero fast break points.
*At that point, over 40 minutes of basketball, Mizzou had been outscored by Ole Miss 75-46.
*I broke my not posting in game threads rule to share this, but it needs to be shared again: At one point, Daymeon Fishback, a man who gets paid to analyze basketball games, said that Missouri was a better defensive team with Parker Braun on the floor than Jeremiah Tilmon. I am speechless. I am without speech. He doubled down on it about six times in the second half. I remained speechless.
*This game was the magnum opus of Tilmon’s importance. He wasn’t dominant scoring. He had 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting. But his presence changed the game. He had 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals and demanded so much attention every single time he touched the ball in the paint. Nobody should ever pretend there is any scenario in which Missouri is better without him on the floor. If you hear someone say that, tell them they are not allowed to discuss basketball with us reasonably intelligent people.
*Oddly, though, you can discuss Missouri being better without Xavier Pinson because we’ve seen it multiple times. He’s just so mercurial. There are times he’s electric and looks like an all-SEC guard and a guy who could potentially work his way into the NBA. Then there are times where Missouri is better with Drew Buggs in the game even though Drew Buggs is no threat to put the ball through the basket. How far Missouri goes in the NCAA Tournament probably has more to do with Pinson than any other player.
*Kobe Brown dragged Mizzou kicking and screaming back in the game. Four straight points, a drawn charge, he was in the mix when Mizzou forced a jump ball, then another basket. From the 15 minute mark to the 11 minute mark of the second half, Brown was phenomenal. He ended up with 12 points and 7 boards.
*Torrence Watson didn’t score a bunch, but man he had a lot of energy in the second half. He was involved in a lot of things happening.
*Mark Smith is streaky, but he’s going to be important for this team down the stretch. Over the last three games he’s now averaging 11.7 and 5 and he’s been a solid contributor. You can also see him talking and trying to be vocal on the floor. I’m not sure this team has a true leader. Maybe Smith steps up in that regard going forward.
*The game was lost with 1:40 to go. Ole Miss had just taken a two point lead on a tough shot by Devontae Shuler. Without a pass, Dru Smith turned and shot an off balance 14 footer. It missed. Ole Miss got a layup. Four point game. You just can’t take that shot. Not that early in the clock.
*The next time down, Pinson dribbled around for 15 seconds and Dru took a three. Two possessions, not a single touch for Tilmon. Or Brown. And no, I don’t think that’s what was called out of the timeout. It was another “Pinson has decided he isn’t gonna drive night.” If I’m gonna blame the coach, I’m gonna blame him for having Pinson on the floor in the last five minutes. But it’s kind of hard not to isn’t it? Theoretically he’s capable of being your best player. You kind of have to play that guy in crunch time. But it’s the reason they lost tonight.
Drew Buggs: +12 in 10 minutes
Xavier Pinson: -15 in 26 minutes
*Bottom line, Missouri will never win a game in which Pinson and Dru Smith combine to go 4-20 from the field and 1-2 from the free throw line. Same as it’s been all year, Mizzou needs two of their three best players to play well to give them a shot. Tilmon was the only one who did tonight. It wasn’t enough.
*Big picture, Missouri’s not gonna finish in the top four of the SEC at this point. I don’t see how it’s possible. Missouri is going to be in the NCAA Tournament. I’d guess they’re going to end up in the 7 seed range, but it’s possible they slide on to the 8/9 line. I understand it isn’t as much as everyone had hoped for just a couple weeks ago, but if you get in and win a game it’s still progress. The theme of the postgame show was this: Some have made up their minds that this is as good as it will ever get under Cuonzo. Maybe you’re right. If we look back in four years and it’s never been better than this, it’s not good enough and he should be fired. But we don’t know that yet. He’s earned the right to show over the next few years that he’s capable of more. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but he’s done enough that we’re going to find out.
*Theoretically Mizzou will host Texas A&M Saturday. Cuonzo said they should know more by tomorrow morning. We’ll let you know when we know.
