Mizzou basketball’s Jeremiah Tilmon takes ‘next step’ in return from injury
The Missouri Tigers looked like they were about to get blown out. They were down 11 points to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday and unable to generate any consistent offense.
Then Mizzou turned to forward Jeremiah Tilmon. The 6-foot-10 forward spun around for a layup, ending an 8-0 Bulldogs run. Then guard Xavier Pinson fought through contact for an and-1 floater. Then Tilmon was fouled, sinking both free throws.
As Tilmon continued to be a difference-maker, he impressed for the Tigers in their 67-63 loss on Saturday at Mizzou Arena. It was his first extended stretch on the court since he went down with a stress fracture in his foot.
Tilmon played 21 minutes against the Bulldogs, scoring seven points and making an impact defensively. It was the first time Tilmon played that much since Dec. 7, a 22-minute performance at Temple.
“He’s in the trenches and tonight you’re going against physical big guys,” MU coach Cuonzo Martin said. “He settled in. He wasn’t bad. He’s gotta do a better job rebounding.”
For stretches, Tilmon looked like his old self. The Tigers looked to get him the ball in the post. Mississippi State didn’t send double teams every post touch, though Tilmon made the Bulldogs pay when they did. There was one possession where he found a wide-open Pinson for a crosscourt pass, who promptly buried a three.
Tilmon’s back-to-the-basket game was alive Saturday. It wasn’t all perfect, but it mixed Mizzou’s attack from Pinson and Dru Smith, who have led the Tigers in recent weeks.
“Today he took his next step where his next game will be maybe the best game since he’s been back,” Pinson said of Tilmon. “I’m a guy that stays on him. We’ll just get right back into it and make sure he’s healthy. He’s taking care of everything. He’ll be back.”
Where Tilmon was arguably most needed, though, was on defense. When Bulldogs forward Reggie Perry — who dominated the Tigers in their first game — started strong, Mizzou threw Tilmon at him.
Matched up against Mississippi State’s best player, Tilmon held his own. And as a kicker: Tilmon ended with zero fouls.
It worked. Perry had 12 points and six rebounds, not quite up to his lofty standards. The Bulldogs forward was also 4 for 11.game.
“He’s very versatile,” Smith said of Tilmon. “He didn’t really need much help on (Perry). He was able to body him up. They’re kinda the same body type, same build as far as just the way they play and stuff like that. I think he was able to do a good job on him in the second half.”
After Tilmon missed the first game between the teams, he was an extra option for the Tigers as they stuck around Saturday, although the Tigers ultimately staggered late in the game.
While Tilmon executed in his limited role Saturday, fellow recently-returned player Mark Smith didn’t see much action. Mark Smith played just 13 minutes and gathered two assists, though he was kept scoreless.
“Mark just didn’t feel right for me,” Martin said. “It’s one thing to not have your legs. … For me, it’s making sure he’s healthy more than anything.”