-Mizzou's zone defense rendered Texas A&M's offense ineffective early. I wrote this in my preview: "The Aggies are a group that looks to drive inside and earn foul shots. Walling up in the paint and making the opponent settle for shots from distance should help the Tigers on the defensive end." TAMU is the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the league so it made a lot of sense to go with a zone look.
-However, it doesn't matter what type of defense you play if you're going to foul the other team as much as Mizzou did. And look, the Aggies are a super physical team. When the Tigers played in College Station last year, they gave up 32 free throws. Texas A&M is a battering ram going inside, Mizzou needed its bigs to do a much better job of holding up in the paint.
-Offensively, woof. Tamar Bates had the hot hand but you knew Buzz Williams wasn't going to let him keep hitting that floater. Aside from Bates and Sean East II, nobody else was even a threat to score. There's been an unusually high number of turnovers. The back-to-back shot clock violations are inexcusable. Williams had his players start loading up on the strong side and Mizzou is still hesitant to move the ball. Noah Carter and Curt Lewis got them some momentum back late, but it was a really, really ugly half.
-What's crazy is the one place Texas A&M hasn't had a huge impact is on the offensive glass. Mizzou's barely given up any second-chance points. That was almost unthinkable coming into the game. Yet, it hasn't really mattered all that much.
-To be down by five at halftime wouldn't be bad if you forget that Mizzou led by nine at one point. This team just refuses to make it easy on itself. They might rally back enough to jump back in front, but the cold spells seem unavoidable and half the team might foul out. It's going to be a real challenge in the second half.
-However, it doesn't matter what type of defense you play if you're going to foul the other team as much as Mizzou did. And look, the Aggies are a super physical team. When the Tigers played in College Station last year, they gave up 32 free throws. Texas A&M is a battering ram going inside, Mizzou needed its bigs to do a much better job of holding up in the paint.
-Offensively, woof. Tamar Bates had the hot hand but you knew Buzz Williams wasn't going to let him keep hitting that floater. Aside from Bates and Sean East II, nobody else was even a threat to score. There's been an unusually high number of turnovers. The back-to-back shot clock violations are inexcusable. Williams had his players start loading up on the strong side and Mizzou is still hesitant to move the ball. Noah Carter and Curt Lewis got them some momentum back late, but it was a really, really ugly half.
-What's crazy is the one place Texas A&M hasn't had a huge impact is on the offensive glass. Mizzou's barely given up any second-chance points. That was almost unthinkable coming into the game. Yet, it hasn't really mattered all that much.
-To be down by five at halftime wouldn't be bad if you forget that Mizzou led by nine at one point. This team just refuses to make it easy on itself. They might rally back enough to jump back in front, but the cold spells seem unavoidable and half the team might foul out. It's going to be a real challenge in the second half.
