What’s next for Mizzou basketball’s Jeremiah Tilmon as he returns from injury
For the first time in a month, the Missouri Tigers passed the ball to a waiting Jeremiah Tilmon in the post on Tuesday. Tilmon was making his return from a stress fracture in his left foot.
But right as Tilmon looked to make a move in the post, Texas A&M immediately sent a double team. It startled Tilmon a tad, but just as he has practiced all season, he kicked the ball out to the perimeter.
His teammates passed it around the three-point arc, eventually finding an open player in the corner. While the Tigers struggled to shoot the ball in a 68-51 loss to the Aggies, it was a welcome sign of the effect Tilmon has, even in limited minutes.
“It’s been a while since I played,” Tilmon said. “I wasn’t expecting no double team, but I saw it. I was just like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna do my thing.’ … I feel like that worked out for us.”
For Mizzou (10-12, 2-7 SEC), Tilmon’s presence and return is a major addition as he sat out the past eight games. The 6-foot-10 forward was set to be one of the Tigers’ main offensive weapons coming into the season.
When Tilmon was diagnosed with the stress fracture in early January, it changed the dynamics of the Mizzou offense. While Reed Nikko, Mitchell Smith and other forwards emerged in his place, they don’t draw the same focus from the defense.
Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin has stressed Tilmon’s impact on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. Even when the junior struggles with foul trouble, he’s a huge influence opponents game plan for.
In his first game back, Martin said they planned to have Tilmon on a minutes restriction, around the 10 minute mark against the Aggies. Tilmon went a little over, finishing with 12 minutes, two points and four rebounds as Nikko fouling out affected the forward rotation.
“Just really getting his legs under him, getting acclimated,” Martin said of Tilmon. “He hasn’t been a part of practice because of his foot. Just understanding the play package, to get him the ball, that sort of thing. But I thought he was good when he was out there. I thought he looked good.”
While Tilmon has been sidelined, he said he was in the weight room often to ensure he didn’t get out of shape. The next step for him the next few games is to get him acclimated to the floor while also getting necessary treatment.
That adjustment includes the Tigers and their offensive game.
“It felt good to have him back,” forward Mitchell Smith said. “He just came in there just to get the feel of the game again. He’s just going to keep progressing and to get back to how he was.”
For the Tigers and a stagnant attack, Tilmon’s return adds a whole new layer to their offense. Even the threat of Tilmon posting up draws double teams, which means an opening elsewhere Mizzou can exploit.
Once the Tigers also return guard Mark Smith, who’s dealing with a lower back injury, it means they’ll be fully healthy. Martin said he hopes to have Smith back for the game against Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Mizzou Arena.
Pair that with Tilmon and Mizzou gets back two of its three leading scorers from injury.
“It was exciting,” Tilmon said of Tuesday. “It was real fun to be out there helping. I just know they were taking me out of the game, saying keep me limited. But I was super easy, trying to be out there. Help the team, but I just gotta know my limits. But it was pretty fun.”