Don’t Ask How, But Mizzou Basketball Is Somehow Getting It Done

Missouri men’s basketball’s 81-70 victory over the Gamecocks of South Carolina encapsulates two things. First, when players play their role, teams win. Unless your team sucks, then you still probably lose. Second, roles become defined over time, and we are seeing those ramifications in this iteration of the college basketball season.

When your three-point shooter, Mark Smith (yes, Mizzou has just one), goes 3-7 from 3 and your big man asserts himself as the best and biggest man on the court, Jeremiah Tilmon with 19 points (on 8-11 FG and 10 boards), you find yourself with a start-to-finish victory no matter when you press pause on the DVR (are they still called DVR’s?).

But it’s the sneaky stats that tell the story, much like that smoke monster in Lost, or those guys who told Kevin Costner to build a baseball field (amazing that Ray Kinsella kept his marriage from falling apart). Mitchell Smith put in his 4 and grabbed his 5. Drew Buggs tossed dimes like a… guy who doesn’t like change. Xavier Pinson, admittedly, didn’t have his best game. Anyway, it’s a sitcom with clearly defined lanes. A hodge-podge of dry humor, witty banter, and slapstick that has resulted in a 9-2 record (3-2 in SEC play).

The Tigers are just one example of continuity playing king. 6th ranked Tennessee is led by senior (citizens) John Fulkerson and Yves Ponns. The buzzsaw Baylor Bears sport juniors like Jared (Not Gerard) Butler and board hoarders like Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (also known as “the pre-k spelling contest”). Meanwhile, longstanding 1-and-dones are finding little success. 4-9 Kentucky has more freshmen than Mentos does Freshmakers. And Coach K doesn’t seem to have the right script for his 41st pilot season of Blue Devil.

In a basketball culture where transfers and trade demands dominate the sport, teams that have chosen to renew are reaping rewards. Part of sports is seeing growth and overcoming challenges. The Missouri Tigers were 30-33 over the prior two seasons with largely the same group, and while if this were a sitcom, it would have probably been cancelled, I’m happy that Covid has not done so with this season because this cast has finally hit its stride.

This blog was written by Matt Drochelman.