1. We're back. Any more it's hard to get excited until the game starts, but we're back. My last distinct memory of the 2020 season was the news of Gobert testing positive for Covid followed shortly by news that Fred Hoiberg was exhibiting covid-like symptoms on the bench during day 1 of the big 10 tourney. Turns out, Hoiberg wasn't positive, but with the NBA shutting down and the media play Fred's situation took on, the season was a goner. Losing the big school league tourneys and of course, the NCAA tournament, was the turd on top of the melted sundae that was our season in 2020. But...we're back.
2. Oral Roberts? Who are they? A team that finished 135th in Pomeroy a year ago and fourth in the Summit League, and entered this season picked 2nd in league and pegged at 204th nationally in adjusted efficiency projections. They lost two pretty good starters and brought two pretty good players back. Make no mistake, this is a team Mizzou should handle if they have designs of maximizing this season, and they did...and then some. But this isn't a bottom tier dreg the likes of which some teams started off with (see Exhibit A: Mississippi Valley State taking an 80 point loss in Fayetteville; might want to reevaluate what you're doing, MVSU. Seriously). They're not Chicago State from a year ago, and they're not even Charleston Southern (hopefully last reference of the 21 campaign). They're a well coached group with the talent to catch a P5 sleeping and leave a notch on the bed post. Not tonight, thankfully.
3. Mizzou struggled mightily in three areas a year ago. eFG% offense, turnover % offense and defensive free throw rate. A year ago, they posted the following marks in those respective categories:
eFG% offense: 47.0 (289th)
TO% offense: 20.9 (302nd)
dFTR: 47.8 (346th)
The foul rate is almost incomprehensible. A big part of that was Mizzou. A sizeable part of that was also SEC teams last year A. forcing the issue because there weren't many incredible shooting teams; and B. an abundance of loose whistles. Regardless, those were the three areas that if Mizzou wants to get where we all want, have to improve. Through one game:
eFG% offense: 60.9%
TO% offense: 22.8%
dFTR: 18.2%
So the shooting was much better, the defensive free throw parade was stemmed, but the turnovers were still there. Not enough to make any grand proclamations about massive improvement in an area, but a good start (in 2 of 3).
Mizzou in 2020 finished 39th nationally in defensive eFG% (46.3). And they were up to their old tricks holding what projects to be a decent offense to 40.2%.
4. For those needing the itch scratched, Mizzou did push tempo tonight. It needs to be said that ORU ranked 68th in 2020 in overall adjusted tempo. So it's could be that it wasn't so much as "pushing" pushing the pace as it was not slowing it down. Regardless, Mizzou got out in transition. That got them some easy buckets. It also yielded some turnovers. It wasn't a torrid pace, but 75 possessions is a pretty solid clip. Will be interesting to watch how this works out as they get deeper in the schedule. The trade off to playing at a brisk pace also means reaching deeper into your bench more frequently.
5. On to the guts of the beast. Pomeroy had this pegged at 80-65. Mizzou bested that at 91-64 (and subsequently has been bumped up 5 spots to 54th). After a fair first half, Mizzou put this one to bed early in the 2nd.
2 Pt Shooting
Mizzou: 24-39
ORU: 16-31
3 Pt Shooting
Mizzou: 10-25
ORU: 7-35
Free Throws
Mizzou: 13-18
ORU: 11-12
Assists
Mizzou: 18
ORU: 10
Turnovers
Mizzou: 17
ORU: 15
Defensive Rebounds
Mizzou: 30
ORU: 19
Offensive Rebounds
Mizzou: 14
ORU: 13
The three point shooting was a breath of fresh air. Shooting 40% is solid. ORU's defense isn't great, but D doesn't matter when you're taking open threes. 8 tigers attempted a three, 6 converted at least once with Pickett and Buggs 0-4 combined. Mark and Pinson combined for 3 that the iron spit out that could've improved the number further. You like to see it.
Mizzou's 2 point shooting largely came at the rim, where they were highly effective. They were also benefitted by numerous trips to the line in the first half, though that well dried up a bit in the 2nd, and you'd like to see that number higher.
The ball handling was a little shaky. 6 of the 17 TO's were travels. Those are mistakes you want corrected. That said, the team passing was much better. The ball didn't stick, reversed quickly, found the right man (in the right place) and generally was much easier on the eyes. Only 3 turnovers came on passes. That will play.
The rebounds may look a little questionable, especially on the offensive end. But consider the amount of missed shots three point attempts leading to long chances. But still. Mizzou did a fine job on the offensive glass generating several long possessions and extra opps.
6. As mentioned earlier, Mizzou's eFG% was 60.9%. It's not other worldly, but for comparison's sake, that's the 7th highest figure Mizzou has posted in the last two seasons.
7. There's not a lot of "good" things you can take away from an early game like this. It's a small sample. It's the first game both teams have played. After this nutty offseason, you don't know who had a more "normal" offseason. You don't know who is ready to play. It's weird. Mizzou did what it needed to do to give you some belief that things may be better this year. You also haven't seen enough to know that's the case.
I wish I had a next up opponent to discuss, it seems like it may be BC. It could be WSU. Liberty comes to Mizzou Arena two weeks from tonight. Even if it's scheduled, it doesn't mean it's getting played. My only thoughts on the scheduling issues...Embrace the suck. It's either this or no basketball. I'll opt for hoops. ~75% of "re" scheduled games went off today. Enjoy the distraction from reality.
Who knows? You might just see something you didn't think would happen
2. Oral Roberts? Who are they? A team that finished 135th in Pomeroy a year ago and fourth in the Summit League, and entered this season picked 2nd in league and pegged at 204th nationally in adjusted efficiency projections. They lost two pretty good starters and brought two pretty good players back. Make no mistake, this is a team Mizzou should handle if they have designs of maximizing this season, and they did...and then some. But this isn't a bottom tier dreg the likes of which some teams started off with (see Exhibit A: Mississippi Valley State taking an 80 point loss in Fayetteville; might want to reevaluate what you're doing, MVSU. Seriously). They're not Chicago State from a year ago, and they're not even Charleston Southern (hopefully last reference of the 21 campaign). They're a well coached group with the talent to catch a P5 sleeping and leave a notch on the bed post. Not tonight, thankfully.
3. Mizzou struggled mightily in three areas a year ago. eFG% offense, turnover % offense and defensive free throw rate. A year ago, they posted the following marks in those respective categories:
eFG% offense: 47.0 (289th)
TO% offense: 20.9 (302nd)
dFTR: 47.8 (346th)
The foul rate is almost incomprehensible. A big part of that was Mizzou. A sizeable part of that was also SEC teams last year A. forcing the issue because there weren't many incredible shooting teams; and B. an abundance of loose whistles. Regardless, those were the three areas that if Mizzou wants to get where we all want, have to improve. Through one game:
eFG% offense: 60.9%
TO% offense: 22.8%
dFTR: 18.2%
So the shooting was much better, the defensive free throw parade was stemmed, but the turnovers were still there. Not enough to make any grand proclamations about massive improvement in an area, but a good start (in 2 of 3).
Mizzou in 2020 finished 39th nationally in defensive eFG% (46.3). And they were up to their old tricks holding what projects to be a decent offense to 40.2%.
4. For those needing the itch scratched, Mizzou did push tempo tonight. It needs to be said that ORU ranked 68th in 2020 in overall adjusted tempo. So it's could be that it wasn't so much as "pushing" pushing the pace as it was not slowing it down. Regardless, Mizzou got out in transition. That got them some easy buckets. It also yielded some turnovers. It wasn't a torrid pace, but 75 possessions is a pretty solid clip. Will be interesting to watch how this works out as they get deeper in the schedule. The trade off to playing at a brisk pace also means reaching deeper into your bench more frequently.
5. On to the guts of the beast. Pomeroy had this pegged at 80-65. Mizzou bested that at 91-64 (and subsequently has been bumped up 5 spots to 54th). After a fair first half, Mizzou put this one to bed early in the 2nd.
2 Pt Shooting
Mizzou: 24-39
ORU: 16-31
3 Pt Shooting
Mizzou: 10-25
ORU: 7-35
Free Throws
Mizzou: 13-18
ORU: 11-12
Assists
Mizzou: 18
ORU: 10
Turnovers
Mizzou: 17
ORU: 15
Defensive Rebounds
Mizzou: 30
ORU: 19
Offensive Rebounds
Mizzou: 14
ORU: 13
The three point shooting was a breath of fresh air. Shooting 40% is solid. ORU's defense isn't great, but D doesn't matter when you're taking open threes. 8 tigers attempted a three, 6 converted at least once with Pickett and Buggs 0-4 combined. Mark and Pinson combined for 3 that the iron spit out that could've improved the number further. You like to see it.
Mizzou's 2 point shooting largely came at the rim, where they were highly effective. They were also benefitted by numerous trips to the line in the first half, though that well dried up a bit in the 2nd, and you'd like to see that number higher.
The ball handling was a little shaky. 6 of the 17 TO's were travels. Those are mistakes you want corrected. That said, the team passing was much better. The ball didn't stick, reversed quickly, found the right man (in the right place) and generally was much easier on the eyes. Only 3 turnovers came on passes. That will play.
The rebounds may look a little questionable, especially on the offensive end. But consider the amount of missed shots three point attempts leading to long chances. But still. Mizzou did a fine job on the offensive glass generating several long possessions and extra opps.
6. As mentioned earlier, Mizzou's eFG% was 60.9%. It's not other worldly, but for comparison's sake, that's the 7th highest figure Mizzou has posted in the last two seasons.
7. There's not a lot of "good" things you can take away from an early game like this. It's a small sample. It's the first game both teams have played. After this nutty offseason, you don't know who had a more "normal" offseason. You don't know who is ready to play. It's weird. Mizzou did what it needed to do to give you some belief that things may be better this year. You also haven't seen enough to know that's the case.
I wish I had a next up opponent to discuss, it seems like it may be BC. It could be WSU. Liberty comes to Mizzou Arena two weeks from tonight. Even if it's scheduled, it doesn't mean it's getting played. My only thoughts on the scheduling issues...Embrace the suck. It's either this or no basketball. I'll opt for hoops. ~75% of "re" scheduled games went off today. Enjoy the distraction from reality.
Who knows? You might just see something you didn't think would happen
