Tennessee puts up season highs on Mizzou’s defense as Tigers’ offense remains sluggish
While the Missouri Tigers continued their inefficient offense, the visiting Tennessee Volunteers gashed through Mizzou’s usually stout defense.
The Tigers did well forcing 21 Tennessee turnovers — including back-to-back shot clock violations — to the pleasure of the Mizzou Arena crowd on Tuesday. But the Vols were effective on offense when they weren’t turning the ball over, defeating Mizzou 69-59.
The Vols shot 53.5% — the best mark against Mizzou’s defense this season. They also made 11 three-pointers, another season-high allowed by Mizzou (8-6, 0-2 SEC). While the shots were falling for Tennessee (9-5, 1-1) as it pulled away late, the Tigers couldn’t string together a run, losing their second straight conference game.
“They made shots,” Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin said. “They made big threes. We normally do a great job defending the three-point line, it just didn’t happen tonight. They made plays and they won the ball game.”
Martin pointed out how Mizzou’s scouting report centered around the Vols’ shooting, along with their many catch-and-shoot jumpers. That meant the Tigers needed to focus on getting their hands up high to contend shots.
Going into the game Tuesday, defending three-pointers was one of Mizzou’s strengths. The Tigers allowed a 25.9% clip on opponent threes this year; Tennessee shot 31.8% on threes coming into the game. But the Volunteers buried the Tigers. They had six different scorers in double figures.
Mizzou failed to do the “little things,” forward Mitchell Smith said. Their switches were suspect and they failed to contest shots when Tennessee swung the ball. While Mizzou challenged a few shots, Tennessee also attempted some wide-open threes.
“We know who we are,” Smith said. “Guys know defensively who we are. We gotta close out harder, hands up. People gotta be on their lines. Simple stuff we do every day in practice.”
The Tigers’ offense once again slogged, producing .868 points per possession. There were spurts of positives, like Tray Jackson’s 11 points in nine minutes and the team’s 36% three-point shooting. But when the Tigers needed a basket late in the game as Tennessee opened a lead, they had no one to turn to.
Mizzou shot 34.4% on attempts inside the arc. While the Tigers did well driving the ball to the basket against Kentucky, they only scored 16 points in the paint Tuesday.
The game turned when guard Dru Smith fouled out with 5:04 left. Tennessee’s lead ballooned as Vols guard Santiago Vescovi scored eight consecutive points.
While the Tigers attempted to claw back, they turned to guard Xavier Pinson, and while he was able to penetrate the Vols defense, he couldn’t finish close to the basket.
“We just have to get him where he’s not fouling,” Martin said of Dru Smith. “He knows how to push the ball, he knows how to find guys. Probe the defense.”
The Tigers also missed forward Jeremiah Tilmon, who is out indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his left leg. Martin said he found out of Tilmon’s injury on Monday after an MRI.
After two losses to open SEC play, the Tigers march forward to a 7:30 p.m. Saturday tipoff against the Florida Gators at Mizzou Arena. Mitchell Smith said it’s a crucial game after the slow start to the conference season.
“It’s big,” he said. “We got a good team coming in Florida. That’s gonna be a great prospect win coming up for us. Guys really gotta get treatment, we gotta watch films. Guys really gotta settle in.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 10:16 PM.