What Mizzou basketball hopes will stick on offense despite Tigers’ loss to Alabama
The Missouri Tigers understood their plan to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide: Attack the basket.
For coach Cuonzo Martin’s Tigers, they delivered. The result was 22 Alabama fouls, leading to a perfect 31 for 31 showing from the free throw line for Mizzou, a school record for consecutive free throws made.
While the Tigers faltered late in an 88-74 loss on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum, the template for Mizzou’s offense was clearly outlined. And for stretches, it worked. Though Mizzou hopes to upgrade certain areas, Martin said.
“I was proud of them,” Martin said. “In losses and when you’re in pain, you have to learn — that’s part of the journey. You have to give credit where it’s due. I told the guys I was happy they did that.”
It was a clear step forward from the blowout loss to Mississippi State, where the flat Tigers were dominated by the Bulldogs. The 74 points on Saturday was MU’s second-highest output of the season against power conference opponents, trailing just the 91 points scored vs. Florida.
When Mizzou’s three-pointers refuse to fall — a point of weakness for the Tigers this season — driving and getting to the basket or free throw line is an efficient alternative. It’s why the Tigers stuck around despite Alabama threatening to pull away.
“We just wanted to throw the first punches,” guard Mark Smith said. “We kept fighting. Just gotta lock in a little more and dig a little deeper.”
Martin pointed out the Tigers earned 70-plus touches in the paint on Saturday. For context, the previous season-high was around 40 paint touches, Martin said.
Mizzou’s next step is to pair the attacking style of play with baskets from the field. Mizzou made just 31.1% of its field goals and 25% on three-pointers. When the free throws dried up in a close game, the Tigers had no fallback plan as they missed shot after shot.
“A lot of stuff we got at the rim,” Martin said. “They made the free throws. That’s not easy, they did it. That’s impressive. But you have to continue to grow. That has to be the next game. You have to be able to score the ball, making free throws, get to the rim and make threes. We have to be able to do it all together.”
There’s also the issue of translating the style to the next game. The driving nature Saturday was one of the few times this season Mizzou got to the basket with any regularity. For the Tigers, Martin said they’ll work to fix the kinks.
“As long as you give yourself a chance, then you have a chance,” Martin said. “Next step is the shot going down.”
Hometown rookie
Mizzou forward Kobe Brown made his collegiate debut in his home state on Saturday. The Huntsville, Alabama, native grew up just over two hours away from Tuscaloosa. It meant friends and family made the trip to watch the 6-foot-7 forward play.
While Brown didn’t start for the first time this season — taken out for Javon Pickett for more “perimeter speed” — the freshman scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in 24 minutes.
“It felt good,” Brown said. “It’s been a minute since I’ve been back. ... I thought we should’ve came out with the win, but things didn’t go our way.”