Mizzou Vs A& M

[joeD]

Pressey, nice pass over your head, blind, underneath your own basket. Oy. Why do I watch?

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, Mizzou got a win that they needed. They most likely would have made the tournament with a loss here, but now I think we can say they're probably a lock, barring a really crazy set of circumstances. Missouri's defense was excellent all night long. I didn't know if they could handle a really slow paced game like this, but they did. It was not an exciting game to watch in my opinion (both teams seemed to use up the entire shot clock just about every time) but that doesn't matter now. They played solid, efficient basketball, even if it wasn't going to catch anyone's eye.

The game against Ole Miss tomorrow should be a good one. Neither game between the two was close in the regular season (both won big at home) but I think this one will be a lot more interesting. Both teams play really well at home and not as much on the road-so a neutral court should in theory even that out. I think Missouri has a really solid chance in that one, but it could definitely go either way. Ole Miss is a good team.

[joeD]

"Bracketologist" Joe Linardi has only two "locks" for the tournament from the SEC, Florida and Mizzou. And he has always had Mizzou in there, for weeks and weeks. Meanwhile, us fans suffer the agonizing ups and downs of this team. You will notice however (despite my first post on this thread), that I have averred that the less Pressey does, the better off the team is (yeah whatever). Tonight was an example. Disjointed as Mizzou is on offense sometimes, there is no denying the sheer physicality and talent that they have. I think that they have to accept that they are all scorers, and trust each other to make a shot. I thought they were more focused on defense tonight also. Still. Still. Hey, look at it this way, look at all the teams who WON'T be in the tournament.

Breathe Joe. deep cleansing breaths. breathe. that's it. relax. it's only basketball.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm really looking forward to seeing which Ole Miss team shows up tonight-the one that can be the best offense in the SEC (and one of the best in the country) or the one that is absolutely decimated by poor outside shooting (and not getting the ball inside.) What will Marshall Henderson play like today? I think that will go quite a way towards determining who wins.

In other news, whoever wins this game is probably going to have a really unexpected semifinal opponent in Vanderbilt. They are routing Kentucky right now, and if that coninues the defending champions might not be in the tournament. That might make the path to the championship game a little easier for whoever gets to the semis between Ole Miss and Missouri-but maybe not, because Vanderbilt looks really, really good right now, and they are basically at home in Nashville. And a win there wouldn't really help Missouri's seed like one over Kentucky might.

[moguy1973]

Mizzou pretty much gave up down the stretch. They didn't want it. At least Bowers didn't want it when he just threw it to ole miss with 26 sec left.

[stlfisher]

that was so bad...just terrible...this team is like Arod in the clutch. Haith has to be beside himself.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, that whole SEC tournament thing was fun. Time to forget this one and move on to the tournament that matters a whole lot more.

[snap]

now that I am finished barfing over the loss last nite, I will say this!!! that loss is on Haith!!! He played to not lose instead of playing to win!!! He pulled the plug on the O......they stopped pushing to ball on breaks, they stopped attacking in the half court.....they have to many athletic players to sit out there and run the clock down for a shot......they have a 50 % chance of a rebound, if not higher, when they take it to the hole...because Oriaki is a beast.....use him, dammit!!! That should have been a 10+ point win and would have been if they would have kept riding the waves!!! ...was really looking forward to watching them again today.....

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, we'll have to wait until Thursday or Friday to see them play again, I'm afraid. This team still can win a couple games in the tournament, so it's at least worth watching. I am hoping not to get an 8 or 9 seed. I'd much prefer an 11, because it's much easier to make a tournament run from there- though I just don't think we'll fall that far.

As upset as I am right now, I'm already excited to see who we're matched up against.

[joeD]

The cure for watching mizzou choke is watching the billikens. Three in a row against any team is hard. Guarantee we're in butler's head now. Vcu will not be the same team we played couple weeks ago.