Different Coach, Same offense

[mizfan]

This offense if you can call it that is no different from Cuonzo. Gates can recruit, is a good leader of young men, and represents the university well off the court. That's about it. He has the same issue as Martin. A stagnant offense consisting of high ball screens, no off the ball movement, and guys chucking it as the shot clock is down to seconds. If Gates wanted to save his job he would go hire a young assistant who is well versed in the European offensive systems that many teams run with continuity, spacing, and creativity to take advantage of your best players. Turn the offense over to this new assistant and coach defense and the program in whole.

But Gates will never relinquish control of his offense and stick to a bunch of "yes" coaches on the bench and claim it's fixable in practice. The shame of all this is the athletic department actually gave money to Gates to raise the program and elevate it to a higher level. But this is going nowhere unless he looks in the mirror and admits he is the first problem on this team. Sadly, like Cuonzo this will end up the same and continue to set this program back years.

[Rojo Johnson]

The reason Mizzou doesn’t space well is because it can’t shoot. So, what’s the point? Why act like a basketball team when your players suck? What the hell happened to Mitchell tonight? Bunch o’sorry asz wanna be basketball players. Can’t shoot 2s, 3s and FTs. Can’t rebound. No one has ever taught them to block out. Won’t play defense. Lazy aszed players won’t shoot FTs. They embarrassed the University tonight. Worst butt kicking in Bragging rights history. Suck it Gates. Your teams can’t play the game you get paid $4 million a year to coach. How’s that make you feel?

[MizzouMarv]

Were you there, Rojo? Hope not. It was BAD! I had some huge Ill-Annoy woman sitting in front of me screaming every time an Orange player did something good. Fortunately, she blocked out half the court, so it saved me from witnessing much of the debacle.

[Rvrartst]

I'm thinking that the biggest problem with this team is that they play each other in practice. They are mediocre defensively at best, so guys can drive the ball and score against the other guys in practice, and in the cupcake games, so they think they can do it against a good team. So they drive the paint like they did tonight...Boateng, Barrett, Mack, even Mitchell, and the defense collapses on them and they're toast. Ant isn't enough of a creator. The others can take it to the rim, but they can't finish against a good defense. And they can't or won't kick it out when the defense collapses, because like was said above, what's the point? Nobody can hit open threes consistently except sometimes Crews. If you don't have three guys that can hit open threes on the floor and penetrators who have the ability to pass out of collapsing defense, this game plan isn't going to work.

Going into the year, it was thought that Crews, Ant, Stone, Pierce, Burns, Northweather, and maybe Porter could all hit threes at at least a 30% clip. Enough to keep defenses honest. Now they are down to Crews and Ant. Stone, Pierce, and Porter were out, Burns only plays in garbage time, Northweather never gets himself open and won't shoot if there is anybody within 15 feet of him. They are good in transition, but can't defend well enough or rebound well enough to get INTO transition. Mitchell is their only scoring threat in the paint. Maybe Stone comes back and Pierce is cleared to play and the threes start dropping, but that still won't solve the defensive and rebounding woes.

Telling stat...MIzzou had comparable offensive rebounds to Illinois, but Illinois tripled Mizzou's points scored off offensive rebounds even before garbage time. How? Illinois made dagger threes after offensive rebounds. Mizzou didn't.

[Mizzoufan443]

This offense if you can call it that is no different from Cuonzo. Gates can recruit, is a good leader of young men, and represents the university well off the court. That's about it. He has the same issue as Martin. A stagnant offense consisting of high ball screens, no off the ball movement, and guys chucking it as the shot clock is down to seconds. If Gates wanted to save his job he would go hire a young assistant who is well versed in the European offensive systems that many teams run with continuity, spacing, and creativity to take advantage of your best players. Turn the offense over to this new assistant and coach defense and the program in whole.

But Gates will never relinquish control of his offense and stick to a bunch of "yes" coaches on the bench and claim it's fixable in practice. The shame of all this is the athletic department actually gave money to Gates to raise the program and elevate it to a higher level. But this is going nowhere unless he looks in the mirror and admits he is the first problem on this team. Sadly, like Cuonzo this will end up the same and continue to set this program back years.

Horrible at rebounding, strong on recruiting, generally not a great X-O guy or good at pre-game preparation. Remember this is the same guy that had a historically futile season (0-18) in SEC play which, regardless of your talent, is flat-out hard to do. Cuonzo had one 40+ loss against Arkansas, but that was right after beating then ranked 15 Alabama. He’s taken us to two tourney appearances, yet in both losses we had the talent advantage (not the coaching advantage). Agree he seems to create a great and supportive environment and his class next year, by all measures, is stellar. Hoping he can learn a few things this year so we can get ready for a next few years of powerhouse status when those recruits come in.

[Rojo Johnson]

Last year, after watching several early games, I told my friends that team was pretty solid. This year, after watching several early games, I said no such thing. These guys are as bad as the 0-18 in conf morons who could have lost to the Lady Tigers. We shouldn’t spend another dime on basketball NIL. The money that was spent by Tiger fans last night should be returned and the first dollars come out of the NIL pot.

[dhsux]

Well I was dead wrong about these guys.

I actually thought with all the returning guys they would be better players. Yet after last night, I'd have to say they have managed to regress this very season.

Conference play is upon them now. I sure as hell hope they all take a long look in the mirror and at the very least show some pride.

[winonsports]

Well, I was dead right about who the hypocrisy of posters who call themselves Mizzou fans.

Someone sitting at home by himself desperately seeking attention could barely wait to start this thread.

But that was usurped by the "fan" who decided to get his licks in at 330 in the morning.

[Armchair QB]

I agree the real issue facing this team offensively is it’s just a really bad shooting team, with not enough ball skills either. I know we’re missing some guys and if they were back HOPEFULLY by conference season we can start to gel.

We’re also a bad defensive team though. We have some REALLY bad defensive players. Phillips for his size and athleticism is just an atrocious defensive player inside. Nobody stays in front of their man on penetration and when helping, we’re ALWAYS slow to recover and get to the 3 point line. If a team can drive, kick, and shoot the 3 as a team with lots of options (Illini fits that perfectly) we have no chance.

Our only hope last night was to have some kind of out of body experience shooting the 3 and it obviously didn’t happen.

If I were Gates, I’d sit Phillips, commit to Burns and see if he’ll be a key contributor next year. He’s 7’5” with some range. We saw what a 7’2” guy with some skill can do to change a game last night. Burns is in a shell, we need to see what he can do full of confidence. If he’s not the answer, hit the portal hard for next year. I know that’s what Phillips was supposed to be, but folks all he can do is jump straight up and dunk. Otherwise he’s useless and a loose canon.