‘We didn’t show up:’ Healthy Mizzou basketball eyes revenge against Mississippi State
The Missouri Tigers looked like they were about to make a run in the SEC. They blew out Florida at home 91-75, turning some heads in the process.
The very next game, Mizzou was embarrassed on the road at Mississippi State 72-45, dropping what coach Cuonzo Martin called one of the Tigers’ two worst games of the season.
It’s a painful game to watch and dissect film, MU guard Javon Pickett said. But there is a major change: Mizzou’s not the same team as it was then.
“Our team has completely changed from that game,” Pickett said. “Just the energy, especially on the defensive end, offensive end. I feel like everybody’s playing fairly comfortable right now on both ends of the floor. That’s a good thing for us.”
With the Tigers soaring as winners of three of their past four games, they get a revenge match against the Bulldogs at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Mizzou Arena.
Mississippi State did just about anything it wanted against Mizzou in the first game. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead and led by 20 at halftime. Mizzou had no answers. It was the start of a four-game losing streak for the Tigers as they saw their postseason hopes slip away.
“Biggest key is us showing up,” Martin said. “That’s everybody, including me. We didn’t show up. It’s simply that.”
But the Tigers are healthy now and Martin said both Mark Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon should be good to go on Saturday. And the emergence of key contributors like Reed Nikko and Xavier Pinson have paved a way to efficient play, which Mizzou has shown in recent weeks.
Tilmon’s return also means another body the Tigers can throw at Mississippi State forward Reggie Perry. The Bulldogs’ best player is averaging 17.4 and 9.9 rebounds per game.
When Mississippi State dominated Mizzou, Perry put up 23 points and 10 rebounds, easily getting to his spots on the floor. The Bulldogs also feature big players on their roster, the 6-10 Perry accompanied by 6-11 Abdul Ado.
“You can’t allow a guy that physical, talented to play with comfort,” Martin said of Perry. “Now everything else opens. Of course they have other talented players. But you can’t let him to catch and shoot, drive the ball, rebound, get to the free throw line.”
At this part of the season, Mizzou’s adding depth instead of losing guys. Martin pointed to fresh legs as a big boost as Mark Smith and Tilmon are getting back into the rotation.
While that means changing roles for some players, Martin said there’s not a big worry there. Just because Mark Smith or Tilmon are on the court, it doesn’t mean a Pinson or Dru Smith is taking fewer shots, in other words.
“Those guys just want to play and win,” Martin said of Tilmon and Mark Smith. “They’re not consumed with, ‘I didn’t get the shot. I didn’t get the ball.’ That’s the difference of those two guys, they’d rather win than anything. So it helps.”