Finally.
After knocking off Iowa State 76-70 in Ames, the Missouri men’s basketball team celebrated its first road win in Big 12 play and its first overall since defeating Oregon on Dec. 2, a span of 79 days.
A couple weeks ago, I analyzed what’s holding the Tigers back. The obvious answer is rebounding. Without a strong post presence, Missouri isn’t going all the way this year.
But that’s not to say MU can’t make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Mike Anderson’s “Fastest” formula does lend itself well to the quick pace of the postseason. What the Tigers need to do, aside from gaining confidence, is repeat what propelled them ahead of the Cyclones on the road Saturday, and play consistently here on out.
First and foremost, run. Missouri thrives on speed — the more possessions, the better. MU ranks first in the Big 12 with 74 possessions per game, many of which come to fruition following turnovers, including steals which can lead to points in transition. Anderson has 10 players on his roster, and he needs to utilize every one of them to set up his signature defensive press. Should Missouri’s opponent slow the pace down, the withering effect isn’t nearly as present.
Because 10 players are needed for the system to work, the bench must produce on any given night. One of the predominant reasons for MU’s woes on the road is the lack of scoring from its second line. Anderson needs to substitute players in one or two at a time, rather than make wholesale changes. Missouri’s system is often all-or-nothing, but in this case, the Tigers cannot afford to jump out to a lead only to see it slip away and gift-wrap momentum to the opposition.
Aside from tempo, the other key to Missouri’s success is its field goal percentage. MU’s press is predicated on making shots on the offensive end (allowing the defense to set up), and it’s much easier to score within the paint than it is from 17 feet away (looking at you, Justin Safford). I’m not saying every possession should be taken to the hoop, and a versatile game plan always keeps the other team guessing, but when Missouri performs its slash move and penetrates the lane, they score more often, grab more rebounds and draw more fouls.
The team converted 49.1 percent of shots on the road Saturday, four percent higher than its conference average, which includes its exceptional home performances. MU also outrebounded the Cyclones 35-29 and committed fewer fouls, 21-16.
What I don’t understand is why the Tigers become complacent at times. The forwards rarely move through the paint once MU enters its half-court offense, making it more difficult for guards to take the ball inside. Should Kim English be limited to taking outside shots or fade away jumpers and miss, the opposing team’s forwards have gained better positioning for the rebound than Missouri’s, because they were already in the paint.
Missouri runs a motion everything — offense, defense, you name it — and though this may leave the team vulnerable at times, it is possible to minimize mistakes and be quite effective. Like it or not, everyone on the team needs to execute Anderson’s philosophy incessantly. Once the Tigers slow down, they walk themselves into a rut they can only hope to run out of.