Filed under: Preview | Tags: Fairfield, Memphis, O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip -Off, Seton Hall, USC, Virginia Tech, Xavier
There have been a number of discussions that I have been a part of as well as ones that I have overheard about the upcoming tournament Mizzou is about to play in. The way it works you are guaranteed 3 games no matter how many you win or lose.
That being said the difference in competition Mizzou will face is vast based on whether the Tigers win or lose their first game. The game against Xavier is obviously a good one for Mizzou to have on the schedule. Tigers beat Xavier they go on to play Virginia Tech (Unless Fairfield knocks off VT), lose to Xavier and Mizzou plays Fairfield. But that’s not where the discussion comes in. The interesting part of the tournament is where losers go. If Mizzou loses game 1 they fall to the losers bracket where the best team they could play barring any massive upsets is Seton Hall. Win game one and VT is followed by USC or Memphis (Mizzou would play the team that has the same result as them in respective game 2’s.)
So the question is, do you want to beat Xavier and take your chances with VT and Memphis or USC, or lose to Xavier and basically guarantee yourself a winning record in the tournament?
I am here to answer the question for you. While I fully understand the logic behind wanting to win as many games as possible while in Puerto Rico. I don’t think feeling good about losing a game so that you can win 2 more is the way to think. Not to mention if Mizzou beats Xavier, they should not have that hard of a time knocking off Virginia Tech so that 2nd win shouldn’t be a monumental climb after game 1.
The more I look into it the more I can see a Mizzou/Memphis final, which I can tell you will not be pretty to watch for the Gold and Black Tigers. The reason why I see this as possibile has nothiung to do with Xavier. To set the record straight I don’t think Mizozu will beat Xavier. But in the event that they do, they would be playing their next game against a slightly worse opponent (based on polls, Xavier is receiving votes while VT is not). Therefore if Mizozu can beat Xavier, in theory they can beat VT too. But don’t get your hopes too high.
So when you sit down mid-afternoon tomorrow to watch Mizzou face off with Xavier, don’t even think about the benefits of losing that game, because if it happens then we can talk about how nice it was to lose later.
-Ken Boehlke
Filed under: Preview | Tags: Add new tag, Athlon Sports, Columbia Tribune, Davidson, DeMarre Carroll, Keith DeWitt, Mike Anderson, Norm Stewart, Praire View A&M, Southern Conference, Stephen Curry, Steve Walentik, Tennessee, UT-Chattanooga, Xavier
On Saturday afternoon the Tigers finally put together an effective full-court defense for the first time since CMA (Coach Mike Anderson) has been at Mizzou. Seeing as this is allegedly his specialty, that is pretty exciting. Yes it was against a weak opponent, but Prairie View A&M played most of the game with a four guard lineup, and it still worked against all those ball-handlers. Against Tennessee last weekend, Chattanooga committed 24 turnovers. Put the pedal to the medal tonight CMA!
Look at that athleticism!
Tonight’s game against UT-Chattanooga should keep the thrills coming. Athlon Sports has Chattanooga winning their division in the Southern Conference (where Stephen Curry the excellent lives and rains 3’s). I’m no SoCon expert, but Davidson will probably win that conference, but who knows, maybe Chattanooga can get a conference tourney uspet and sneak into the NCAA’s. So potentially tonight we are facing a team that could wind up in the NCAA’s. All feeble attempts to hype up this game aside, I am excited.
Athlon Sports lists Chattanooga’s main weakness as ball-handling, and notes that last season they committed 80 more turnovers than they forced. This could mean a great time for Tiger fans tonight with the newfound press taking over. If the ball isn’t rolling all around Norm Stewart Court tonight than the press should probably be scrapped.
It looks like the Chattanooga’s best player is 6-7 forward Nichaeus Doaks, who went for 16 and 9 against Tennessee. This will be nice test for DeMarre Carroll early in the season, especially before next Thursday’s game against Xavier.
- Greg M.
Here is an interesting article dealing with new recruit Keith DeWitt from Steve Walentik at the Tribune.
Filed under: Preview | Tags: DeMarre Carroll, J.T. Tiller, Zaire Taylor, Marcus Denmon, Matt Lawrence, Leo Lyons, Kimmie English, Praire View A&M, SWAC, UCLA, Tim Meadows, Chris Jones, Derek Johnson, Dorian McDaniel, Darnell Hugee
The Tigers season officially begins tomorrow afternoon with the Prairie View A&M Panthers of the SWAC dropping by Mizzou Arena. PVAM (0-2) had the privilege of playing UCLA in their opener and lost by 24 points, which frankly I think is a bit impressive just looking at the number. I didn’t watch the game and don’t how if UCLA called off the dogs or if PVAM hit some 3’s at the end, but losing by 24 to a top 5 team strikes me as not that bad.
Here are what I gather to be the probable starters
Mizzou: G Zaire Taylor, G J.T. Tiller, G-F Matt Lawrence, F DeMarre Carroll, F Leo Lyons
Prairie View A&M: G Tim Meadows (6-3), G Chris Jones (6-0), G Derek Johnson (6-1), G Dorian McDaniel (6-6), F Darnell Hugee (6-7)
PVAM apparently has quite the celebrity lineup what with funnyman Meadows and KC Chiefs linebacker Johnson (albeit the spelling is off) working in the backcourt. All joking aside, if this is clearly a game the Tigers need, should, and in all likelihood, will win. Here are a few things I really want to see in this game –
- Leo be assertive and really attack the rim instead of settle for mid-range shots. He is a great mid-range shooter, but against such an undersized team I want to see him really use his length and size in the post.
- Watch how the press handles a four-guard lineup. I’m assuming that all four guards can handle the ball, and this could make it easier for them to break the press. We will get an early look at how well this version of the Tigers can run the press.
- Watch someone hit a few threes. The obvious strength of this team will be its interior, so if someone can start shooting consistently from beyond the arc, it will be free things up for Leo and DeMarre. Possible candidates: Denmon, English, Lawrence
Here is what Athlon Sports said about PVAM…
“The Panthers aren’t expected to fare much better than the middle of the SWAC pack after losing Aaron Smith and Brian Ezeh, who combined for 24.7 points per game last season. Help could come from Derrick Johnson (11.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Dorian McDaniel (5.5 ppg). Senior forward Jacoie Shivers will need to step up his inside game at both ends of the floor to make Prairie View A&M SWAC title contenders.”
- Greg M.
