Missouri Basketball Rides the A-Team Strategy

Missouri basketball season is here, and it’s time for the A-Team to take this team where they need to go.

It’s not the same NCAA team that was in Columbia last season, not by a long shot. Sure you could attempt to identify the team statistically by the same record through seven games and a nearly identical “points for” margin. Not a lot has changed if you look on paper.

But if you look on the court, it’s all cut from a different mold.

Kim Anderson enters his sophomore season at Missouri with a much better idea of what his focus should be. And thankfully, not as much of it is about the chemistry.

“Last year’s team did not have good chemistry. That’s no breaking news,” Anderson told the Kansas City Star before this season. “They know what happened.”

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But as every Missouri basketball fan knows, Anderson’s fruit won’t be judged by the cobbler made from last year. Passing was terrible, shooting was self-centered, and the caliber of defense that has been a staple of traditional Missouri basketball winners acted like it had checked itself in at the borders.

Has 2015 really yielded the same results? Not according to Xavier coach Chris Mack.

“Those guys really get in the lane,” Mack had said of Mizzou following their game. “I know Phillips wasn’t on the floor as much as he’d have liked, but he’s quick.”

And although the concept of team is clearly a part of what Anderson preaches, there are some standout individuals that have a high level of play, something synonymous with winning teams in the halls of Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena history.

Terrance Phillips is perhaps the most electrifying player the Tigers have had since Jason Sutherland, although certainly not to the level of Sutherland’s defense as of yet. His hustling attitude and hops over the scorers table give him his own trademarks, distancing himself from Sutherland somewhat.

And then there’s something that’s been unseen in Missouri basketball for quite some time, someone that can confidently bring the ball up the court and drive the lane, without too much worry of how he’ll handle the ball. Enter K.J. Walton, who may end up being the most famous Walton that went to Mizzou before everything is said and done.

“I think guys know who to get the ball to, and they’re not afraid to share it,” Anderson said after the most recent win against previously undefeated Northern Illinois.

Sophomore forward Jakeenan Gant also stepped up his level of play in the Northern Illinois game, after having what could only be described as a lackluster start.

“He made plays. He made shots, too, but he made plays and I think that was critical for us. I thought he gave us a huge lift in the second half when we needed it,” Anderson said of Gant’s performance last time out.

But more than anything, the cohesion is showing that the Anderson system, tried and true in division two with a national championship, born of Norm Stewart, is working. A far cry from one preseason prognosticator that had declared the Anderson hire “isn’t working out so well.”

It’s okay, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to watch any Tiger basketball games last year if I were him either.

Forget the past though, Mizzou’s next game is Wednesday night against the Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha. A win would keep the Tigers undefeated so far at home. Game time is set for 7:00pm CDT and will be televised on the SEC Network.