-It's 100% fair to criticize some of the lineups Gates throws out there. At one point, he had Mabor Majak, Aidan Shaw, Noah Carter, Sean East and Ant Robinson out there together - total head-scratcher. At the same time, it's not like he's got a ton of options to go to anymore with Grill, Tonje and Brown out. Your healthy wings right now include Tamar Bates and Curt Lewis. You can shoehorn Noah Carter or Trent Pierce or Zeus at the three. Or you can go to a three point guard lineup with Ant. But none of those are particularly *great* options. Gates subbed in every single scholarship player he has, plus Majak. The only ones who weren't a net-negative in plus/minus heading into the last five minutes of the half were Lewis (who turned the ball over in his one minute on the court) and Jordan Butler (who ended up being pretty impactful). The team's just limited.
-Given the circumstances, this score feels like it should be so much worse. Zeus has played well - he mentioned before the SC game that they needed to "flip a switch" and he's brought a different level of intensity since then. Nick Honor has had his best start to a game in a really long time. Noah Carter's had some success scoring inside. Offensively, they've done enough to keep themselves in the game.
-They've also been very solid on the defensive end. They've kept Alabama mostly out of rhythm and have protected the rim pretty well. Bama's the No. 1-rated offense on KenPom and Mizzou's looking like it can hold them to under their average. The Tide committed eight turnovers in the half and closed out with a 4:15 stretch without making a field goal. You really couldn't ask for more from the Tigers on that end.
-Mizzou can win this game if it keeps up the energy it had at the end of the half. But how much do you trust the team to do that? Sean East and Tamar Bates could get going a little more, which would make things a lot easier. But the Tigers have gotta keep hitting their shots and keep getting stops. And that feels like a big ask.
-Nate Oats 100% deserved a technical foul for shoving Aidan Shaw. That was one of the more ridiculous things I've seen from a coach.
-Given the circumstances, this score feels like it should be so much worse. Zeus has played well - he mentioned before the SC game that they needed to "flip a switch" and he's brought a different level of intensity since then. Nick Honor has had his best start to a game in a really long time. Noah Carter's had some success scoring inside. Offensively, they've done enough to keep themselves in the game.
-They've also been very solid on the defensive end. They've kept Alabama mostly out of rhythm and have protected the rim pretty well. Bama's the No. 1-rated offense on KenPom and Mizzou's looking like it can hold them to under their average. The Tide committed eight turnovers in the half and closed out with a 4:15 stretch without making a field goal. You really couldn't ask for more from the Tigers on that end.
-Mizzou can win this game if it keeps up the energy it had at the end of the half. But how much do you trust the team to do that? Sean East and Tamar Bates could get going a little more, which would make things a lot easier. But the Tigers have gotta keep hitting their shots and keep getting stops. And that feels like a big ask.
-Nate Oats 100% deserved a technical foul for shoving Aidan Shaw. That was one of the more ridiculous things I've seen from a coach.
