During final stretch of Mizzou’s nonconference games, Martin wants wins, improvement
The nonconference season has been up-and-down for the Missouri Tigers basketball team.
The low point came during an upset loss to Charleston Southern. Poor habits from turnovers, slow starts and missed three-pointers buried the Tigers in one of their worst losses ever.
But Mizzou also pulled together a much-needed victory at Temple, 64-54, last Saturday. It was a positive step after an 0-2 showing at the Hall of Fame Classic. With a long season remaining, the win should also boost the Tigers’ resume as they eye the NCAA Tournament.
“It gets our head up high,” forward Jeremiah Tilmon said of the win. “As long as we go in there and expect to win the game and take the name off our jersey, then I feel like everything’s cool for us.”
Guard Javon Pickett was also crucial, scoring a season-high 16 points in leading the Tigers (5-4). Pickett said he spoke to Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin on his recent struggles, electing to change his mindset. Pickett ended up using a Martin principle.
“I went out there and tried to bring energy, just play as tough as I can on the defensive end,” Pickett said, “then it led to the offensive side.”
With three games left before SEC games — and Braggin’ Rights vs. Illinois around the corner on Dec. 21 — Martin said he’s looking to fix some issues. The Tigers next face Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. Sunday in Mizzou Arena.
Martin pointed to three areas on offense: getting to the free throw line, getting more players involved in the post-up game outside of Tilmon and better three-point shooting.
Defensively, as Martin has stressed this season, he believes the Tigers are good “but have a chance at great numbers.”
“We’re gonna start SEC play up so we got a couple games before we start,” Tilmon said. “We can knock out the rough patches out of the way right now.”
Finishing games
When Mizzou needed a bucket late in the game at Temple, Martin and the Tigers turned to guard Xavier Pinson. He scored two layups that stretched the lead and also found guard Mark Smith wide open for a three-pointer.
Martin said it’s been a mix of Pinson and guard Dru Smith late in the game, deciding who has the ball in their hands off matchups.
Pinson takes the same approach, viewing it as an either-or scenario: Either the defense centers the attention on him or his teammates. The end result leads to an opening he can exploit.
“I don’t know the word for it, but I like having the ball in my hand,” Pinson said.
A familiar face
When the Tigers face the Salukis, they’ll see an old friend in Ronnie Suggs. The 6-foot-6 forward played for Mizzou the past two years before joining Southern Illinois as a graduate transfer.
Tilmon said he already texted him, joking around and cautioning Suggs of any trash talk that might come from Tilmon.
“I called Ronnie,” Martin said with a smile, “and he didn’t give me any insight.”