Week 11 of Mizzou basketball began with one of the toughest tests on the schedule: a matchup against the red-hot Florida Gators in Gainesville. Florida entered the game ranked No. 5 in the nation, led by Walter Clayton Jr., who caused problems for the Tigers all night.
Tamar Bates got Mizzou on the board early, and the Tigers played their best half of basketball all season. To open the game, Mizzou couldn’t seem to miss, with standout senior Caleb Grill providing an offensive spark, knocking down four 3-pointers in the first half. Bates added another 10 points to the stellar offensive effort, and the Tigers entered the locker room with a 16-point lead.
Despite the offensive explosion in the first half, the story changed after halftime. Florida came roaring back, shrinking Mizzou’s 16-point lead to just three with eight minutes remaining. The final eight minutes were a dogfight as three starters — Sean Robinson, Nick Pierce, and Kellen Mitchell — finished the game with four fouls each, and Tony Perkins was ejected following a questionable Flagrant 2 call.
Despite the momentum swinging in Florida’s favor, the Tigers held on for an impressive one-point win behind Grill’s 22 points. In what appeared to be another collapse, reminiscent of the season opener against Memphis, the Tigers showed improvement in handling full-court pressure and secured the hard-fought victory.
What looked good vs. Florida:
- Forced 13 Gator turnovers
- 0 turnovers in the first 16 minutes of the game
- 15 offensive rebounds
What looked bad vs. Florida:
- Free throw shooting (62%)
- Second-half shooting percentages: 33/27/50 (FG/3FG/FT)
- Too many fouls (Florida was in double bonus in both halves)
Coming off a massive win at Florida, Mizzou hosted Arkansas as the Tigers looked to win their fourth straight game. Like in the Florida game, Mizzou jumped out to a fast start with a 20-4 run, including 13 points from Tamar Bates, who was red-hot early.
Caleb Grill continued to be a force for Mizzou’s stellar offense, making an immediate impact with 11 first-half points as the Tigers built a 17-point lead by halftime. Similar to Florida, Arkansas stayed in the game and refused to go away. However, Mizzou hit key shots down the stretch to maintain control.
The trio of Grill, Kellen Mitchell, and Bates led the Tigers to an 18-point victory, combining for 49 points. In the convincing win, Mizzou’s defense stood out again, forcing 13 turnovers and continuing to rank among the best defensive units in the country.
Additionally, the Tigers grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, with second-chance points playing a crucial role in the second half, providing buckets when the offense went cold.
What looked good vs. Arkansas:
- Limited fouls and Arkansas only shot 8 free throws all game
- 3 point shooting (11/23)
- Strong first half gave a them a cushion for the second
What looked bad vs. Arkansas:
- Bad second half shooting
- Half court offense needs major changes
Takeaways from the week:
- Mizzou should be ranked in the next AP Poll
- The halfcourt offense going quiet is going to be a bad problem and will cost them games at some point in the year
- One of the best defensive squads in the country
Current Record: 15-3 (SEC: 4-1)
Next Week:
Tuesday (1/21): Away at Texas (8 pm CST)
Saturday (1/25): Home vs. Ole Miss (5 pm CST)