Some Thoughts On Mizzou After Today's Game

[Al Agnew]

I've been a Mizzou basketball fan for many years, even continued to watch them with varying levels of frustration during the bad old Quinn years. But this year has been just about the most fun of any. A bunch of players that could in some ways be considered over-achievers, but mainly because they were the hardest-working, most unselfish group of athletes I can ever remember seeing. A coach who has great class and integrity and really cares about his players and the school. A system of play that is about as exciting as any you'll ever see, beautifully coached and often executed to perfection. It makes defense truly the cornerstone, and a thing of beauty. Few turnovers themselves. Lots of forced turnovers. Everybody could handle the ball. Everybody got plenty of assists. The bench was terrific at times. You couldn't ask for much more, and I'm glad that, unlike a lot of so-called Mizzou fans, I was interested and excited about this team from the first of the year. They went farther than I expected back then, but I wasn't surprised. And I'm really looking forward to next year, unlike some of the past seasons.

They could have beaten UConn today. They had a great game plan and they left it all out on the floor. The thing that wrecked them was their cold shooting in the second half. They had open looks that ordinarily they'd make. Just two three-pointers going in instead of rattling out, like Safford's last three attempt, and a couple more made free throws, and the game would have been vastly different. And UConn needed a freshman off the bench to come up big (and luck in that one wild shot as the shot clock was running out) to beat Mizzou anyway.

Yep, this team had some weaknesses. Weak rebounding. Inconsistent shooting. Very inconsistent free throw shooting. No shot blockers or intimidators in the middle--once they were broken down on the dribble they were in trouble, unlike UConn today. And inexplicable periods in some games where they just seemed out of synch. But almost always the swarming defense and sheer hard work was able to overcome the weaknesses.

I'm going to miss the seniors...all of them. Matt Lawrence got bad-mouthed as the slow white kid who didn't fit in for three years, and sometimes his trademark threes weren't consistent, but this year he was not a liability on defense and made some key shots, and nobody worked harder to improve than he did. Leo Lyons never quite fulfilled his promise, always being the one with loads of talent but inconsistent and soft play, but he was a huge part of the team. And what can you say about DeMarre Carroll? What a tough, hard-working, versatile player. Coach Anderson's son spent three years on the bench but was always ready when called upon and always encouraging the other players.

But we have one more year of watching J. T. Tiller, and everything you can say about Carroll applies to Tiller, perhaps more so. Zaire Taylor will be great to watch for another year, too. Ramsey will see more playing time. Safford was looking good by the end of the year. And the young guys are going to be good. English, Denman, Bowers, Paul, all have tremendous potential. I haven't paid much attention to who Coach Anderson has recruited, but I've got faith that he'll get the players he knows will fit into his system of play.

Just one more observation about today's game. I think that the key play of the game was a bad call. It came in the middle of the first half. Lyons had the ball and drove against Thabeet, and got called for a charge. Replay showed beyond a doubt that it should have been a blocking foul on Thabeet, he wasn't even close to being set. Had the call gone the other way, not only would it have been Thabeet's second foul, but it would have given Lyons more confidence to continue driving against Thabeet, which would have put a lot more pressure not only on the big man but also on the other UConn defenders. I really think that the complexion of the game could have been changed with that call.

Anyway, congratulations to Mizzou on a great season. Can't wait til next year!

[G-ROD]

As always, very well said. I too, look forward to next year.

[twosets]

Well said Al.

It is hard to win when you are outscored from the line by 20. 10 of those came down the stretch, but still we outscored them by 13 from the field. Key foul calls against JT Tiller and Carol kept them on the bench for half of the second half. We needed those guys to play 32 to 36 minutes, and they only played in the low 20's. JT is a great defender and perhaps he could have shut that guard down down the stretch.

Do I sound bitter? Yes I am.

A shot here or there, a couple of more 3's falling and we are in the final four. Still, what a great team to watch and support.

[twosets]

One more thing, I guess that there is no such thing as traveling.

[Quillback]

I'm not much of a Mizzou fan, but they were the only team left standing this weekend that I could root for, so I was sorry to see them lose, but it was a great game played against a very tough UConn team.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Nice post Al... one kid we have coming in next year is Michael Dixon from Lee's Summit West here in the KC area. He's a lot like Denmon. Great shooter and quick. Like lots of high schoolers, he needs to strengthen up some though. Great year for the team. Got out rebounded by 15 last night but a break here or there and we could have been going to Detroit.

[Al Agnew]

One more thing, I guess that there is no such thing as traveling.

I hear you. That one time the freshman kid drove the lane, he picked up his dribble at the head of the key. I don't care if you're Superman, you can't get to the rim from there without more than one extra step. Replay showed 2.5 to 3 steps, and no traveling call.

I thought that this was one of the poorest officiated games I've seen in the tournament.

[twosets]

How about 3 seconds, I am still sick over this.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Look at the amount of free throws they shot compared to us. We outscored them by 13 from the field. I'm not gonna look it up, but they were like 24 for 32 from the line. We were like 6 for 12. Plus, the -15 rebounding differnce! That hurt us. It's all about the Big East and the ACC... AND... the NCAA! They all want their revenue!

[Dave Cook]

Great post Al.

Another highlight from the game was Matt beating everyone down court on the break for a layup. I can't remember who tossed the pass to him but I'm seem to remember it was a bench player who will be a starter next year.