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BASKETBALL The Case for Cuonzo

TigerCruise

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Aug 8, 2018
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I'm going to start this rant by nipping some things in the bud from the get go.

Anyone who claims that Cuonzo or this basketball program are approaching Kim Anderson levels or even remotely compares the two coaches, is a troll and should be ignored. Kim Anderson won 27 games in 3 years, Cuonzo surpassed that in 44 games. Not to mention Kim never won more than 10 games, Cuonzo is almost there for the 3rd season, even in what people are describing as a terrible season.

On the recruiting trail, a look at the players Cuonzo has recruited to play ball at Mizzou and how they faired:

2017:
Porter Jr, 5 star, played less than 60 minutes, injury
Jontay Porter, 5 star, played one season, injury
C.J. Roberts, 4 star, never played, transferred
Jeremiah Tilmon, 4 star, played when not in foul trouble, has played below his ranking, currently injured
Blake Harris, 3 star, played, transferred from Mizzou and from other schools
Kash Robertson, major impact, 1 year of eligibility

So in 2017 you have a top 5 class that either got hurt or transferred. Robertson was a one year player, Tilmon has been a bust in comparison to his ranking. Even with that, Cuonzo takes the team to the tournament, 1 year removed from Mizzou winning 8 games. Overall impact of the class after 2017 has been almost nonexistent. Tilmon is the only player that remains from that class and is now hurt and maybe out for the entirety of league play.

2018:
Torrence Watson, 4 star, still on the team
Parker Braun, 3 star, still on the team
Javon Pickett, 3 star, still on the team
K.J. Santos, 3 star, transferred
Xavier Pinson, 3 star, still on the team
Christian Guess, 3 star, transferred
Mark Smith, transferred to Mizzou
Dru Smith, transferred to Mizzou

Cuonzo's first real class consists of mostly projects and role players. Braun was a walkon at the time. Guess is signed after Lawrence medically retires, lasts a semester. Major misses of this class were Courtney Ramey, Carte'are Gordon, Jericole Hellems,

Courtney Ramey stats: 53 games, 40% FG, 37% 3 pt, 9 ppg, 3 apg, 3.7 rpg
Carte'Are Gordon: On his 4th program?
Jericole Hellems: 53 games, 39% FG, 33% 3pt, 7 ppg, .7 apg, 3 rpg

Compared to Mizzou players:
Torrence Watson: 48 games, 34% FG, 33% 3 pt, 6 ppg, .5 apg, 1.5 rpg
Javon Pickett: 47 games, 39% FG, 33% 3 pt, 8 ppg, 1.5 apg, 3.5 rpg
Xavier Pinson: 47 games, 40% FG, 34% 3 pt, 7 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 rpg
Mark Smith, 35 games, 43% FG, 43% 3 pt, 11 ppg, 1 apg, 5 rpg
Dru Smith, 16 games, 47% FG, 36% 3 pt, 11 ppg, 4 apg, 4 rpg

Statistically, there is no noticeable difference in production between Pickett and Hellems. In fact the case can be made that Pickett has been a better player, statistically. Ramey slightly out performs Pinson, but not much, shooting percentages are close, assists are close, and ppg are close.

I didn't include the Smiths in the comparison has he was a transfer, they are easily the best players of this recruiting class statistically. Would anyone seriously trade Ramey or Hellems for Mark Smith or Dru Smith?

If you swap Ramey/Pinson and Pickett/Hellems is there a difference in Mizzou's production? The stats say no. These guys are also Sophomores, still learning the ropes.

Mizzou is getting 43 ppg from its 2018 recruiting class, its first real class.

2019:
Tray Jackson, 4 star, still on the team
Kobe Brown, 3 star, still on the team
Mario McKinney, 3 star, transferred
Axel Okongo, unranked, still on the team

Cuonzo goes out and attempts to fix the biggest position of need, at the 4 spot. He grabs two athletes in Jackson and Brown. He misses on Liddell. Okongo is taken late in the class after Santos transfers.

Kobe Brown stats: 16 games, 43% FG, 24% 3 pt, 6 ppg, .7 apg, 3 rpg, 1 spg
EJ Liddell stats: 17 games, 50% FG, 17% 3 pt, 6.8 ppg, .6 apg, 3.6 rpg, .5 spg

A complete wash.

Once again, if Mizzou gets Liddell, is this a better team? Statistically they are the same player.

Liddell was the 41st player, Kobe Brown wasn't ranked.

Mizzou also recruited the 81st player in the country in Tray Jackson and the 142nd player in McKinney.

The only thing you get if you swap Brown and Liddell is a higher class ranking, the results on the floor have been identical.

These guys are also all Freshman. Judging them off of this year alone would be a bit premature, especially with someone like Tray Jackson who may have needed a learning year.

What this really tells me, is the 2019 was a down year in the Missouri area for basketball players and Cuonzo actually managed to get several guys out of the area. Brown was a major coup and looks like he will develop into a solid player.


I'm not going to do 2020, *listens to the screeching of banshees*, because the class isn't complete. We have no idea what the 2020 class will look like, with Mario gone there is at least 2 more open scholarships that need to be filled. If Cuonzo gets a top 50 guy, the entire outlook of next year will change in some fans eyes. There will be griping of Fletcher and Love, but since when has Mizzou beat out UNC and Kentucky for players? When has who was coaching at Mizzou decided that?

Looking at the players Cuonzo has, and the players he has "missed" on, there isn't a lot of difference statistically.

It also appears that this is really year two, not year three if you look at the waste that his 1st year's recruiting class. The 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes are full of guys who contribute each night.

So where has Cuonzo missed?

Obviously at the post position. Tilmon has been a huge disappointment, is that on Cuonzo for getting a top 50 player who can't stay on the court? Tilmon is what he is, and is probably not here next year. Okongo, no idea. I honestly don't know, maybe Cuonzo wants his last bench player to be a practice big who can pretend to be some team's 7 footer. But having a lineup of Nikko, Mitchell Smith, and Okongo at your 5 spot is worrisome. Next year we will see how ready Wilmore is, as mentioned in other threads, he is starting to be noticed on the national level and recently was bumped to a 3 star. So maybe Cuonzo found a good under the radar big. He also has time in the 2020 class to find an inside post player.

The biggest issue with this team is inside. Kim Anderson left Cuonzo nothing at 4 or 5. Reed Nikko is a solid backup and I personally think he's underrated, but as was shown against Miss St, against athletic bigs he has no chance. Kevin Puryear was a complete disaster in his last 2 seasons, and Jontay/MPJ combined for one season on the court. Kobe Brown and Tray Jackson appear to be the future at 4. The mystery at 5 will need to be solved soon.


Cliff Notes: Recruiting has been fine. Really in year 2. Cuonzo needs to recruit a 5. Have patience, Cuonzo has shown the ability to win 20 games a year at 3 different programs.
 
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