COLUMBIA, Mo. — You could tell something was up 20 minutes before the first 20 minutes.
Directing traffic Saturday outside Mizzou Arena, perturbed police blew whistles like refs calling techs. Cars packed the parking lots, yet even more lined the roads leading toward the gym. Hordes of hundreds of fans huddled together to cross the streets — some peppy elementary kids, some hungover college kids, some weathered alums suddenly feeling like kids again.
All the tickets for Mizzou’s basketball matchup were sold.
For an 11 am game.
Against Vanderbilt.
When school isn’t in session.
New coach Dennis Gates has made Mizzou matter again — his team is ranked No. 20 and there is an energy percolating in the fan base, all the way from here to St. Louis, which hasn’t been felt since Michael Porter Jr.‘s first game (which, alas, ended up feeling essentially like his last game).
Was Saturday a great win?
No.
Does Mizzou have some glaring issues?
Sure.
Did the Tigers still pull off a win and send those fans to Harpo’s happy?
Yes, indeed.
Mizzou held off the Commodores, 85-82, and this was actually an important win. Here’s why. These Tigers showed they can close out a tight conference game. They’ve unlocked that achievement. It’s in their back pockets now, confidence and reassurance they can call upon under pressure this winter.
Their first conference game was a statement win, in which they blew out Kentucky. In their second conference game, they blew it, failing down the stretch in a 74-68 loss at Arkansas.
Asked about the importance of closing out a game, Gates said Saturday: “It was absent in Fayetteville. … Arkansas didn’t allow a lead to sort of push them back. They still played aggressively and on their toes.”
On Saturday, the Tigers didn’t relinquish the lead in the final seven minutes — though never led by more than six. Gates pointed out that many of his guys have played “over 100 games,” which is true, sure. But that was for different teams before transferring to Mizzou. They hadn’t done it together as a group — as this group.
Now they have.
Gates’ 13-2 Tigers team is just so much fun to watch. Three games into the conference schedule, he’s ahead of schedule. The Tigers press. The Tigers pressure. And then, with possession, the Tigers push — the ball, the tempo, the other team to the brink.
But I’m quite worried that their rebounding abilities will lose them a winnable conference game. The Tigers aren’t tall. And they’re not deep with forwards, either. They are, statistically, one of the worst rebounding teams in the United States. Sometimes, it’s just a height disadvantage. Occasionally, it’s an effort thing. But the boys get owned on the boards.
Gates sees it. And he knows Steve Stipanovich is not walking through that door. Doug Smith is not walking through that door. Gates even said after Saturday’s win that “ultimately, you have to be able to hold (inferior rebounding) as your only negative.” By that he means, the Tigers can’t fail in other key stat categories, since they’re already going to likely be down in rebounding.
And to his credit, one of the most-important stats continues to be a Mizzou calling card.
That’s assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Tigers are brilliant ball handlers. The energetic Sean East II and his eclectic multi-colored shoes can unzip a defense. Against Vanderbilt, East tallied seven assists, while committing just one turnover. And veteran guard Nick Honor — check this out — hasn’t turned a ball over since the Braggin’ Rights Game. And that night, he only did so once. Mizzou entered the day as the nation’s ninth-best team in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.59). And in the win, Mizzou had 16 assists and just six turnovers.
OK, so just how good is Mizzou?
After all, the Tigers’ big wins came against Illinois and Kentucky — in the days after, Illinois lost by 13 to Northwestern (though it beat Wisconsin on Saturday) and Kentucky got blasted Saturday by No. 7 Alabama, 78-52. The accomplishment is still the accomplishment — Mizzou won back-to-back games against ranked opponents — but those two teams are shakier than once thought.
But Mizzou will be a contender in the Southeastern Conference. No, not to win the Southeastern Conference. But with the Tigers’ ability to amplify what they do well — speed and steals and efficient ball distributions — they should be a factor all season. Here’s thinking the Tigers nab their first conference road win on Wednesday at Texas A&M.
Saturday’s win wasn’t a spectacle or spectacular, but it was a win as expected. Mizzou is worth watching — and the fans in Columbia sure know it.
