Where Are The Mizzou B-Ball Fans?

[Al Agnew]

You may already know that I love basketball. Love to play it and love to watch college ball. Although I didn't attend Mizzou, I've been a fan for many years.

This year is intriguing, but so far, even with their gaudy ranking and undefeated season up until last night, I've been a little disappointed. They haven't gelled defensively or offensively. The newcomers haven't shown me much on defense yet, and the Pressey kid has been very inconsistent--although that's to be expected from freshman. Their press isn't working very well and when the other team breaks it they seem to score with ease.

I can't get last night out of my head. Why did they lose? Georgetown shot lights out most of the night, and had them by 18 at one point late in the first half, yet Mizzou clawed their way back in it and should have won it. One more made free throw at the end, either from Dixon or Bowers, would have won it. One less stupid mistake, especially English "saving" the ball there at the last by flinging it back in bounds under the opposing basket instead of throwing it as far down the court as he could.

Of course, the referee really swallowed his whistle on that play. English has perfect position for the rebound, nobody around him as he goes up for it, and then the G-town player comes in over his back, lands on top of him and forces him out of bounds. How can that not be called a foul? It wasn't even in traffic.

And we won't mention the botched call on the three pointer at the end of the first half, which was clearly shot after the shot clock had expired. Why is that not a reviewable play?

Oh well, a non-conference loss early in the season isn't the end of the world.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Mizzou did win last night. At the end of regulation, G'town had 3 points more than they should have had. Plus there were some fouls called against the Tigers that should not have been called.

[AZ_Trout]

I think they are all at Georgetown

[am4mu]

Way to early for me to get revved up. But I do agree this team is frustrating. Yes the press has been geting beat and if it gets beat deep that usually results in an easy score. This defense is very time consuming to get worked out to where it needs to be. Some of these kids are very young and will need time to learn the system and be effective. Shot selection puzzles me at times to. That should not take a long time to learn. The ranking was probably based on reputation. Not that these kids could not be that good by March. The real fun will start when the regualar season starts and they have to deal with very good Kansas and Kansas State teams. In my opinion it could be a very interseting year.

Doug Kiefer

[Chief Grey Bear]

Oop's, I didn't mean regulation but the shot clock had run out.

But even at that, they came back from being down 18 against a team that couldn't miss. They just had everything against them in this game and they darn near came out on top. Them boy's played some ball no matter what. Except in OT. Now that sucked. But again, it shouldn't have went to OT!

[am4mu]

You are absolutely right Chief! That game should never have gone to overtime. Even with the officiating(which players can not control) you can not miss three free throws(which players can control) in the last two minutes, especially when the other team is not missing anything under 30 feet. That game will be a great learning tool for that team and will make them that much better later on in the season. Doug Kiefer

[G-ROD]

What a frustrating loss. I sure hope they learned from it..Still look out of control too much.

[stlfisher]

Frustrating yes, but I think they will learn from it. Georgetown won't shoot that lights out for the rest of the year and they are a good team. Mizzou, despite really poor mistakes, still had the lead and a chance to win. Mizzou hasn't played that great yet so this should wake them up. The loss will force them to work that much harder. Come tourney time they will be in good shape and no one will want to play Mizzou...their style just wears down other teams.