Coming off a stellar week in which Mizzou proved themselves worthy of earning the No. 22 spot in this week’s AP Poll, the Tigers faced a tough task as they traveled to Austin, Texas, to take on an underrated Longhorns squad.
Coming into the matchup, it was crucial for Texas to control the game, as they rank among the top teams in the country in limiting turnovers. Their 9.6 turnovers per game rank in the top 15 among all Division I teams, while Mizzou has thrived on forcing turnovers throughout the season.
In the first half, the game was a defensive battle, but Jordan Pope led the way for the Longhorns, finishing with eight points as Texas entered the locker room with a 32-25 lead.
Throughout the first half, it was clear the game was being played at the Longhorns' pace. Texas appeared to be in control, and the Tigers struggled to find their rhythm.
All season, the Tigers’ half-court offense has been shaky, and that trend continued throughout the game. In the first half, Mizzou shot below 30% from the field and a dismal 1-for-10 from three-point range.
The second half was no different for Mizzou. The Tigers shot 33% from the field and made just 64% of their free throws. They forced only 10 turnovers, and their inability to run the floor in transition allowed Texas to play the game on its own terms.
Recently, Mizzou’s offense has tended to falter when unable to run the floor in transition, and that trend was on full display tonight. While there were glimpses of offensive struggles in the second half against Florida and Arkansas last week, this game was nearly 40 minutes of offensive difficulties for the Tigers.