-That was a really impressive start to the half. Mizzou could've thrown in the towel and let South Carolina run away with it, so credit to them for staying in there. The big difference was how fast they played - rather than slowing down and hunting a look deep into the shot clock, the Tigers got stops and pushed the ball in transition and scored before the Gamecocks could get their defense set. They made four of their first five looks. It was the best they'd looked all game.
-Defensively, the team did an excellent job slowing down Meechie Johnson again for the second consecutive game. That's who South Carolina usually runs its offense through - Johnson had 14 earlier this week against Kentucky. The Tigers didn't have an answer for BJ Mack, though. Mack is beefier that all of Mizzou's bigs and could draw a foul at will just by pump faking. That's the type of player Mizzou's really missed since Kobe Brown left.
-There's always *that* moment when you realize it's probably not going to shake out for the Tigers. For me, today's moment game midway through the half. Mizzou was down six but playing great defense - SC went over three minutes without scoring. Noah Carter got the ball under the basket, had BJ Mack on his back, went up for a point blank layup and blew it. Mack got the rebound and the ball went the other way. Mizzou only scored two points during SC's scoreless stretch. And the Gamecocks ended the cold spell with a 3-pointer. The momentum was gone.
-Mizzou's got its two favorable games on the schedule up next, hosting Arkansas at home and Vanderbilt on the road. Ant Robinson should be back for those. Hopefully, Trent Pierce will be too. They're not going to have an easier chance to end the losing streak.
-Defensively, the team did an excellent job slowing down Meechie Johnson again for the second consecutive game. That's who South Carolina usually runs its offense through - Johnson had 14 earlier this week against Kentucky. The Tigers didn't have an answer for BJ Mack, though. Mack is beefier that all of Mizzou's bigs and could draw a foul at will just by pump faking. That's the type of player Mizzou's really missed since Kobe Brown left.
-There's always *that* moment when you realize it's probably not going to shake out for the Tigers. For me, today's moment game midway through the half. Mizzou was down six but playing great defense - SC went over three minutes without scoring. Noah Carter got the ball under the basket, had BJ Mack on his back, went up for a point blank layup and blew it. Mack got the rebound and the ball went the other way. Mizzou only scored two points during SC's scoreless stretch. And the Gamecocks ended the cold spell with a 3-pointer. The momentum was gone.
-Mizzou's got its two favorable games on the schedule up next, hosting Arkansas at home and Vanderbilt on the road. Ant Robinson should be back for those. Hopefully, Trent Pierce will be too. They're not going to have an easier chance to end the losing streak.
