How Mizzou’s Dru Smith, Xavier Pinson complemented each other in win over Auburn
With the clock winding down to the final buzzer Saturday, Missouri guard Dru Smith looked up at the Mizzou Arena scoreboard. En route to a career-high 28 points, he knew he’d recorded his fair share.
It wasn’t until the end of a blowout 85-73 victory over No. 11 Auburn that Smith realized the extent of his output. And it wasn’t just Smith: Fellow MU guard Xavier Pinson scored a career-high 28, as well, the two guards leading coach Cuonzo Martin’s Tigers to their best win of the season.
“We just played confidently,” Smith said. “Other than that, I think it’s just all the other guys on the team, helping us get open, setting great screens, rolling hard. It’s the little things a lot of people don’t notice, but things that help out tremendously throughout the game.”
From the onset, this one looked like a big night for the Tigers’ backcourt duo. They combined to outscore Auburn 33-32 in the first half. Three-pointers and twisting layups went in all the same as Mizzou led 45-32 at the break.
But they dominated in different styles, and also showcased how they complement one other.
Pinson’s explosiveness was on full display — especially in transition — as he swerved through Auburn defenders to get to the basket. He played steady and under control Saturday. As part of his 28-point performance, he was 10 for 12 from the field, adding five assists and three rebounds against five turnovers.
“It just gives our game a good contrast,” Smith said of Pinson’s style. “We kind of play off each other well. Obviously, (Pinson) is a lot quicker than I am, getting downhill. Just shifting left to right and all that. It just gives the defense a different look when they’re guarding the both of us.”
Smith’s play is the opposite. The veteran guard utilizes change of pace to perfection. He isn’t usually the most athletic player on the court, but he’s often one of the most crafty.
Smith excels when he gets to the paint — and that’s what he did against Auburn. He contorted his body for unorthodox layups that find the bottom of the net with the help of his many pump-fakes.
“I don’t even know how to explain it,” Pinson said of Smith. “He goes really slow, speeds up out of nowhere and slows down. He’s really good at changing speeds, keeping that defense honest. I feel like teams have trouble figuring it out.”
Pinson and Dru Smith have seen the court often because of injuries to Mark Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon. Pinson has filled Mark Smith’s spot in the starting lineup.
Pinson and Dru Smith actually line up against each other frequently during practice. At the start of the season, the duo didn’t play together much during games because of the Tigers’ rotation at the time. As the season has progressed, however, Martin has come to used the two playmakers side by side.
“Our team confidence is there,” Pinson said. “My confidence has always been there, but it’s not about me. It’s every player on the roster. Every guy has to come into practice first and show that they’re confident, and do what they want to do.”
The only thing that kept Pinson and Dru Smith off the court Saturday was foul trouble. Each finished with four. The game was ugly from that standpoint, but Mizzou prevailed, bouncing back after falling just short at No. 25 LSU Tuesday.
The Tigers will try for their first back-to-back SEC wins of the year against Mississippi Tuesday at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
The focus will be on not only starting strong, but finishing, too.
“Just concentrate,” Martin said. “Concentrate on your target. Know what you’re looking for when you head to the rim and you’re trying to finish. That’s the biggest thing. You really have to concentrate on your target.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 9:39 PM.