Scouting Missouri

[IL Wildcat]

Scouting Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Founded: 1839
Enrollment: 31,121
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (Purdue, 2000)
Record at Missouri: 72-62 (.537) / 5th year
Career Record: 258-183 (.585) / 14th year
Martin is out for UK game due to Covid protocols

Likely Acting Coach for UK Game: Cornell Mann

2021-22 Season Schedule (Record 6-6)
Nov 9 Central Michigan W, 78-68
Nov 15 UMKC L, 80-66
Nov 18 Northern Illinois W, 54-37
Nov 21 VS SMU W, 80-75 OT
Nov 22 VS Florida St. L, 81-58
Nov 26 Wichita St. L, 61-55
Nov 29 Paul Quinn W, 91-59
Dec 2 AT Liberty L, 66-45
Dec 7 Eastern Illinois W, 72-44
Dec 11 AT Kansas L, 102-65
Dec 18 Utah W, 83-75
Dec 22 VS Illinois L, 88-63

Game Info:
Missouri at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Date/Time: Wed. Dec 29, 7 p.m. EST
Radio/TV: UK Sports Network/ SEC Network

Probable Starters
#24 Kobe Brown Forward 6'8" 250lb Jr, 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, .241 3pt%
#23 Trevon Brazile Forward 6'9" 215lb Fr, 6.3pts, 2.8reb, .250 3pt%
#12 DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr, 8.3pts, 4.8reb, .263 3pt%
#01 Amari Davis Guard 6'2" 175lb Jr, 2-10 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%
#04 Javon Pickett Guard 6'5" 210lb Sr, 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%

Key Reserves
#05 Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%
#21 Ronnie DeGray III Forward 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, .241 3pt%
#00 Anton Brookshire Guard 6'1" 175lb Fr, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%
#32 Jordan Wilmore Forward 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb
#11 Yaya Keita Forward 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb

Team Stats
Points Per Game 67.5
Points allowed 69.7
Scoring Margin -2.2
Field Goal Pct .411
FG% allowed .454
3PT FG Pct .247
3PT% allowed .388
FT Pct .714
Rebounds Per Game 37.2
Rebounds allowed 32.8
Rebounds Margin +4.4
Assists Per Game 11.0
Turnovers Per Game 14.1
Turnovers forced 14.5
Turnover Margin 0.4
Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.8
Steals Per Game 7.4
Blocks Per Game 4.0

KenPom Stats
Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 #192
Defensive Efficiency: 99.0 #130
Best Stats
Offensive Reb%: 34.2% (#35)
Offensive Block%: 6.8% (#49)
Defensive Reb%: 26.2% (#97)
Worst Stats
3pt%: 24.3% (#355) (that’s almost dead last)
3pt% Def: 38.7% (#331)
Non-Steal TO%: 11.9% (#332)
Effective FG%: 44.6% (#315)
Effective FG% D: 54.1% (#316)

Analysis: Missouri comes into Rupp Arena on Wednesday without its head coach and sporting a 6-6 record on the season that includes a bunch of ugly losses and a few decent wins. The headline of the game at this point is that Cuonzo Martin announced via Twitter Sunday that he has Covid-19 and will not be making the trip to Lexington but the team will be making the trip without him- none of the players have tested positive. Big Blue Nation has its fingers crossed that nobody else for the Tigers will turn up positive (not only for their sake, but mainly for the game’s sake). UK’s last 2 games have been canceled or postponed due to covid protocols. The SEC enacted a rule recently that so long as a team has 7 healthy players and at least one coach, they will play the game. Missouri meets those criteria as of now, so on with the game!

The first thing that jumps out at me with Missouri is their 3pt shooting percentage, both offensive and defensive. As you can see above, they are one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D1, ranking #355 out of the 358 teams on KenPom. A quick look at their players’ percentages will reveal that no starter shoots better than 26% on the season. Almost as amazing is this- despite its terrible shooting, Missouri has still attempted 243 threes on the season. For comparison, UK has only attempted 207 threes on the season. Missouri is also allowing teams to shoot the three at 38.8% on the season, which is #331 in the nation. So, it’s little wonder they’ve struggled this season, just from those 2 stats alone.

If you’re looking for a silver lining here for Missouri, it’s rebounding. They have done an excellent job rebounding the basketball this season, led by their do-everything forward Kobe Brown, the 6'8" 250lb Junior who averages 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, and has 11 blocks on the season as well. He literally leads the team in EVERY primary statistical category. I shudder to think what Missouri would do without this guy. Unfortunately for Missouri, he draws Oscar Tsiebwe in this game. Their best bet will likely be to take the ball right at Oscar and try to draw quick fouls on him.

Regarding other personnel, Martin basically has an 8-man rotation and he’s been searching for a combination that will work, unsuccessfully for the most part. 9 different players have started a game for Mizzou this season. To be honest, I’m not very sure who will start against UK because of all the line-up changes. I settled on the line-up above based on recent starts and performances. Truthfully, after Kobe Brown, it’s a crapshoot. They have some talent, but they have 6 guys who are similar sizes and do similar things, and none of them have shown they can shoot with any consistency. So, it’s DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr averaging 8.3pts, 4.8reb, and .263 3pt%, Anton Brookshire 6'1" 175lb Fr averaging, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%, Javon Pickett 6'5" 210lb Sr averaging 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%, Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, averaging 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%, and Amari Davis a 6'2" 175lb Jr averaging 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%. The other starting forward is Trevon Brazile, a 6'9" 215lb Fr averaging 6.3pts, 2.8reb, and has 11 blocks on the season, which is tied with Kobe Brown. Forwards from the bench are Ronnie DeGray III 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, Jordan Wilmore 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb, and Yaya Keita 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb.

So, this is a typical Cuonzo Martin team- defense-first oriented and offensively challenged. They want to slow the pace, pack back into a zone or a man-to-man intended to keep people out of the lane, and hope the opponent is missing perimeter shots. They don’t go for steals. They don’t trap or press much. They play a prevent style of defense. Offensively, they are pretty traditional with Brown leading the charge. They want to go inside first but, as the numbers bear out, they will shoot threes if they get a crack. But Brown is the key for them. If he can score consistently, they have a chance. If he can’t, it’s up to their perimeter shooting, which has not come through very often. That Utah win was their best on the season and Brown scored 27 in that game. Utah had no answer for him. Kansas did have an answer for him and beat the Tigers by 37. Brown scored 5 in that game and had 4 fouls. Illinois had an answer for him but Brown had a better game, scoring 13, but Illinois still beat them by 25.

I think Kentucky is hitting on all cylinders right now and Missouri is coming without a head coach and the game is at Rupp. It’s the first conference game for UK and should be well attended with people off work for the holidays. If the Tigers sag off our shooters in this one, it could be lights out by halftime. KenPom predicts UK 79 Mizzou 60​

My Prediction: Kentucky 82 Missouri 58

 

[Elliott Tim]

Scouting Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Founded: 1839
Enrollment: 31,121
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (Purdue, 2000)
Record at Missouri: 72-62 (.537) / 5th year
Career Record: 258-183 (.585) / 14th year
Martin is out for UK game due to Covid protocols

Likely Acting Coach for UK Game: Cornell Mann

2021-22 Season Schedule (Record 6-6)
Nov 9 Central Michigan W, 78-68
Nov 15 UMKC L, 80-66
Nov 18 Northern Illinois W, 54-37
Nov 21 VS SMU W, 80-75 OT
Nov 22 VS Florida St. L, 81-58
Nov 26 Wichita St. L, 61-55
Nov 29 Paul Quinn W, 91-59
Dec 2 AT Liberty L, 66-45
Dec 7 Eastern Illinois W, 72-44
Dec 11 AT Kansas L, 102-65
Dec 18 Utah W, 83-75
Dec 22 VS Illinois L, 88-63

Game Info:
Missouri at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Date/Time: Wed. Dec 29, 7 p.m. EST
Radio/TV: UK Sports Network/ SEC Network

Probable Starters
#24 Kobe Brown Forward 6'8" 250lb Jr, 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, .241 3pt%
#23 Trevon Brazile Forward 6'9" 215lb Fr, 6.3pts, 2.8reb, .250 3pt%
#12 DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr, 8.3pts, 4.8reb, .263 3pt%
#01 Amari Davis Guard 6'2" 175lb Jr, 2-10 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%
#04 Javon Pickett Guard 6'5" 210lb Sr, 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%

Key Reserves
#05 Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%
#21 Ronnie DeGray III Forward 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, .241 3pt%
#00 Anton Brookshire Guard 6'1" 175lb Fr, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%
#32 Jordan Wilmore Forward 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb
#11 Yaya Keita Forward 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb

Team Stats
Points Per Game 67.5
Points allowed 69.7
Scoring Margin -2.2
Field Goal Pct .411
FG% allowed .454
3PT FG Pct .247
3PT% allowed .388
FT Pct .714
Rebounds Per Game 37.2
Rebounds allowed 32.8
Rebounds Margin +4.4
Assists Per Game 11.0
Turnovers Per Game 14.1
Turnovers forced 14.5
Turnover Margin 0.4
Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.8
Steals Per Game 7.4
Blocks Per Game 4.0

KenPom Stats
Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 #192
Defensive Efficiency: 99.0 #130
Best Stats
Offensive Reb%: 34.2% (#35)
Offensive Block%: 6.8% (#49)
Defensive Reb%: 26.2% (#97)
Worst Stats
3pt%: 24.3% (#355) (that’s almost dead last)
3pt% Def: 38.7% (#331)
Non-Steal TO%: 11.9% (#332)
Effective FG%: 44.6% (#315)
Effective FG% D: 54.1% (#316)

Analysis: Missouri comes into Rupp Arena on Wednesday without its head coach and sporting a 6-6 record on the season that includes a bunch of ugly losses and a few decent wins. The headline of the game at this point is that Cuonzo Martin announced via Twitter Sunday that he has Covid-19 and will not be making the trip to Lexington but the team will be making the trip without him- none of the players have tested positive. Big Blue Nation has its fingers crossed that nobody else for the Tigers will turn up positive (not only for their sake, but mainly for the game’s sake). UK’s last games have been canceled or postpones due to covid protocols. The SEC enacted a rule recently that so long as a team has 7 healthy players and at least one coach, they will play the game. Missouri meets those criteria as of now, so on with the game!

The first thing that jumps out at me with Missouri is their 3pt shooting percentage, both offensive and defensive. As you can see above, they are one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D1, ranking #355 out of the 358 teams on KenPom. A quick look at their players’ percentages will reveal that no starter shoots better than 26% on the season. Almost is amazing is this- despite its terrible shooting, Missouri has still attempted 243 threes on the season. For comparison, UK has only attempted 207 threes on the season. Missouri is also allowing teams to shoot the three at 38.8% on the season, which is #331 in the nation. So, it’s little wonder they’ve struggled this season, just from those 2 stats alone.

If you’re looking for a silver lining here for Missouri, it’s rebounding. They have done an excellent job rebounding the basketball this season, led by their do-everything forward Kobe Brown, the 6'8" 250lb Junior who averages 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, and has 11 steals on the season as well. He literally leads the team in EVERY primary statistical category. I shudder to think what Missouri would do without this guy. Unfortunately for Missouri, he draws Oscar Tsiebwe in this game. Their best bet will likely be to take the ball right at Oscar and try to draw quick fouls on him.

Regarding other personnel, Martin basically has an 8-man rotation and he’s been searching for a combination that will work, unsuccessfully for the most part. 9 different players have started a game for Mizzou this season. To be honest, I’m not very sure who will start against UK because of all the line-up changes. I settled on the line-up above based on recent starts and performances. Truthfully, after Kobe Brown, it’s a crapshoot. They have some talent, but they have 6 guys who are similar sizes and do similar things, and none of them have shown they can shoot with any consistency. So, it’s DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr averaging 8.3pts, 4.8reb, and .263 3pt%, Anton Brookshire 6'1" 175lb Fr averaging, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%, Javon Pickett 6'5" 210lb Sr averaging 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%, Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, averaging 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%, and Amari Davis a 6'2" 175lb Jr averaging 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%. The other starting forward is Trevon Brazile, a 6'9" 215lb Fr averaging 6.3pts, 2.8reb, and has 11 blocks on the season, which is tied with Kobe Brown. Forwards from the bench are Ronnie DeGray III 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, Jordan Wilmore 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb, and Yaya Keita 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb.

So, this is a typical Cuonzo Martin team- defense-first oriented and offensively challenged. They want to slow the pace, pack back into a zone or a man-to-man intended to keep people out of the lane, and hope the opponent is missing perimeter shots. They don’t go for steals. They don’t trap or press much. They play a prevent style of defense. Offensively, they are pretty traditional with Brown leading the charge. They want to go inside first but, as the numbers bear out, they will shoot threes if they get a crack. But Brown is the key for them. If he can score consistently, they have a chance. If he can’t, it’s up to their perimeter shooting, which has not come through very often. That Utah win was their best on the season and Brown scored 27 in that game. Utah had no answer for him. Kansas did have an answer for him and beat the Tigers by 37. Brown scored 5 in that game and had 4 fouls. Illinois had an answer for him but Brown had a better game, scoring 13, but Illinois still beat them by 25.

I think Kentucky is hitting on all cylinders right now and Missouri is coming without a head coach and the game is at Rupp. It’s the first conference game for UK and should be well attended with people off work for the holidays. If the Tigers sag off our shooters in this one, it could be lights out by halftime. KenPom predicts UK 79 Mizzou 60​

My Prediction: Kentucky 82 Missouri 58

Happy New year .

 

[bbncal02]

Woof. I knew they were bad. But yikes. Some of those stats are tuuuurrible.

How does Cuanzo still have a job?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Missouri has some bad losses to some not so good teams. I am sure they will hit some garbage 3s early on that they never hit and play inspired because Gonzo is not on the sideline, but I agree we should win this one by 20+. If we play really well could win by 30 or so again.

I am assuming since we have not heard anything to the contrary that all UK players survived going home for Xmas and no CV19 cases?

 

[bbncal02]

Missouri has some bad losses to some not so good teams. I am sure they will hit some garbage 3s early on that they never hit and play inspired because Gonzo is not on the sideline, but I agree we should win this one by 20+. If we play really well could win by 30 or so again.

I am assuming since we have not heard anything to the contrary that all UK players survived going home for Xmas and no CV19 cases?

Shhh. Don’t jinx it with that last paragraph.

Mizzou will ugly it up. I doubt we win by 30. But anything north of 15+ and I’ll be cool.

And realistically any double digit win will be good.

But as long as we don’t come out looking like ND crap we should win this one easy.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Shhh. Don’t jinx it with that last paragraph.

Mizzou will ugly it up. I doubt we win by 30. But anything north of 15+ and I’ll be cool.

And realistically any double digit win will be good.

But as long as we don’t come out looking like ND crap we should win this one easy.

30 is probably overly ambition a prediction, but I feel 20-25 should happen. KU did it, FSU did it, Illinois did it, Liberty almost did it (LOL). It also depends how much our players are looking forward to the LSU game.

Edit: I know we have High Point in between Missouri & LSU but still...our guys know we are not losing at home to Missouri or High Point.

 

[gharding07]

To put it nicely, they are awful.

 

[runt#69]

Our guys just need to do what they know they can do, and do it against this team.

(Do I get the Captain Obvious post of the week for this one??) 😅

But seriously...

I haven't seen Mizzou play, but by the looks of it on paper, they play into our strengths. If we get that tempo up, we will win this game by a wide margin.

Let's just see some more improvements overall, keep turnovers at a minimum, hit those aggressive smart 3's, and ... do what we know we can do. It's really that simple this game. Maybe we will begin to start showing spurts of consistency ?!?!? lol

Thanks for the primer, as always!

Go Big Blue!

 

[Ocornett]

Scouting Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Founded: 1839
Enrollment: 31,121
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (Purdue, 2000)
Record at Missouri: 72-62 (.537) / 5th year
Career Record: 258-183 (.585) / 14th year
Martin is out for UK game due to Covid protocols

Likely Acting Coach for UK Game: Cornell Mann

2021-22 Season Schedule (Record 6-6)
Nov 9 Central Michigan W, 78-68
Nov 15 UMKC L, 80-66
Nov 18 Northern Illinois W, 54-37
Nov 21 VS SMU W, 80-75 OT
Nov 22 VS Florida St. L, 81-58
Nov 26 Wichita St. L, 61-55
Nov 29 Paul Quinn W, 91-59
Dec 2 AT Liberty L, 66-45
Dec 7 Eastern Illinois W, 72-44
Dec 11 AT Kansas L, 102-65
Dec 18 Utah W, 83-75
Dec 22 VS Illinois L, 88-63

Game Info:
Missouri at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Date/Time: Wed. Dec 29, 7 p.m. EST
Radio/TV: UK Sports Network/ SEC Network

Probable Starters
#24 Kobe Brown Forward 6'8" 250lb Jr, 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, .241 3pt%
#23 Trevon Brazile Forward 6'9" 215lb Fr, 6.3pts, 2.8reb, .250 3pt%
#12 DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr, 8.3pts, 4.8reb, .263 3pt%
#01 Amari Davis Guard 6'2" 175lb Jr, 2-10 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%
#04 Javon Pickett Guard 6'5" 210lb Sr, 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%

Key Reserves
#05 Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%
#21 Ronnie DeGray III Forward 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, .241 3pt%
#00 Anton Brookshire Guard 6'1" 175lb Fr, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%
#32 Jordan Wilmore Forward 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb
#11 Yaya Keita Forward 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb

Team Stats
Points Per Game 67.5
Points allowed 69.7
Scoring Margin -2.2
Field Goal Pct .411
FG% allowed .454
3PT FG Pct .247
3PT% allowed .388
FT Pct .714
Rebounds Per Game 37.2
Rebounds allowed 32.8
Rebounds Margin +4.4
Assists Per Game 11.0
Turnovers Per Game 14.1
Turnovers forced 14.5
Turnover Margin 0.4
Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.8
Steals Per Game 7.4
Blocks Per Game 4.0

KenPom Stats
Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 #192
Defensive Efficiency: 99.0 #130
Best Stats
Offensive Reb%: 34.2% (#35)
Offensive Block%: 6.8% (#49)
Defensive Reb%: 26.2% (#97)
Worst Stats
3pt%: 24.3% (#355) (that’s almost dead last)
3pt% Def: 38.7% (#331)
Non-Steal TO%: 11.9% (#332)
Effective FG%: 44.6% (#315)
Effective FG% D: 54.1% (#316)

Analysis: Missouri comes into Rupp Arena on Wednesday without its head coach and sporting a 6-6 record on the season that includes a bunch of ugly losses and a few decent wins. The headline of the game at this point is that Cuonzo Martin announced via Twitter Sunday that he has Covid-19 and will not be making the trip to Lexington but the team will be making the trip without him- none of the players have tested positive. Big Blue Nation has its fingers crossed that nobody else for the Tigers will turn up positive (not only for their sake, but mainly for the game’s sake). UK’s last games have been canceled or postpones due to covid protocols. The SEC enacted a rule recently that so long as a team has 7 healthy players and at least one coach, they will play the game. Missouri meets those criteria as of now, so on with the game!

The first thing that jumps out at me with Missouri is their 3pt shooting percentage, both offensive and defensive. As you can see above, they are one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D1, ranking #355 out of the 358 teams on KenPom. A quick look at their players’ percentages will reveal that no starter shoots better than 26% on the season. Almost is amazing is this- despite its terrible shooting, Missouri has still attempted 243 threes on the season. For comparison, UK has only attempted 207 threes on the season. Missouri is also allowing teams to shoot the three at 38.8% on the season, which is #331 in the nation. So, it’s little wonder they’ve struggled this season, just from those 2 stats alone.

If you’re looking for a silver lining here for Missouri, it’s rebounding. They have done an excellent job rebounding the basketball this season, led by their do-everything forward Kobe Brown, the 6'8" 250lb Junior who averages 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, and has 11 steals on the season as well. He literally leads the team in EVERY primary statistical category. I shudder to think what Missouri would do without this guy. Unfortunately for Missouri, he draws Oscar Tsiebwe in this game. Their best bet will likely be to take the ball right at Oscar and try to draw quick fouls on him.

Regarding other personnel, Martin basically has an 8-man rotation and he’s been searching for a combination that will work, unsuccessfully for the most part. 9 different players have started a game for Mizzou this season. To be honest, I’m not very sure who will start against UK because of all the line-up changes. I settled on the line-up above based on recent starts and performances. Truthfully, after Kobe Brown, it’s a crapshoot. They have some talent, but they have 6 guys who are similar sizes and do similar things, and none of them have shown they can shoot with any consistency. So, it’s DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr averaging 8.3pts, 4.8reb, and .263 3pt%, Anton Brookshire 6'1" 175lb Fr averaging, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%, Javon Pickett 6'5" 210lb Sr averaging 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%, Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, averaging 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%, and Amari Davis a 6'2" 175lb Jr averaging 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%. The other starting forward is Trevon Brazile, a 6'9" 215lb Fr averaging 6.3pts, 2.8reb, and has 11 blocks on the season, which is tied with Kobe Brown. Forwards from the bench are Ronnie DeGray III 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, Jordan Wilmore 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb, and Yaya Keita 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb.

So, this is a typical Cuonzo Martin team- defense-first oriented and offensively challenged. They want to slow the pace, pack back into a zone or a man-to-man intended to keep people out of the lane, and hope the opponent is missing perimeter shots. They don’t go for steals. They don’t trap or press much. They play a prevent style of defense. Offensively, they are pretty traditional with Brown leading the charge. They want to go inside first but, as the numbers bear out, they will shoot threes if they get a crack. But Brown is the key for them. If he can score consistently, they have a chance. If he can’t, it’s up to their perimeter shooting, which has not come through very often. That Utah win was their best on the season and Brown scored 27 in that game. Utah had no answer for him. Kansas did have an answer for him and beat the Tigers by 37. Brown scored 5 in that game and had 4 fouls. Illinois had an answer for him but Brown had a better game, scoring 13, but Illinois still beat them by 25.

I think Kentucky is hitting on all cylinders right now and Missouri is coming without a head coach and the game is at Rupp. It’s the first conference game for UK and should be well attended with people off work for the holidays. If the Tigers sag off our shooters in this one, it could be lights out by halftime. KenPom predicts UK 79 Mizzou 60​

My Prediction: Kentucky 82 Missouri 58

I use to be a scout back in the day. I led a wagon train from Booneville to Jackson City and we didn’t see 1 Indian. I’m like WTF.

 

[Ocornett]

Who is Scout?

 

[CowboyGumBoots]

Woof. I knew they were bad. But yikes. Some of those stats are tuuuurrible.

How does Cuanzo still have a job?

Always has been a media darling. He done a whole bunch of nothing his entire career

 

[bbncal02]

Always has been a media darling. He done a whole bunch of nothing his entire career

yeah, this may be his last year at Mizzou if those numbers keep up. That’s awful even for a “football school”.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Woof. I knew they were bad. But yikes. Some of those stats are tuuuurrible.

How does Cuanzo still have a job?

That's a good question. I think Cuonzo is well liked around the athletic department and he runs a clean program. Missouri has had some cheaters come through before Martin, so that probably helps. He did have a good season to start there, finishing 20-13 and making the NCAA-T. I think they were about ready to cut him loose after 2 losing seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20, but then Covid hit. I think most places were hesitant to fire anyone. Then last season they did just enough to make the NCAA-T again.

Ironically, it may have been that win over Kentucky last February that bought him both an NCAA-T bid and another season. Still, if this season doesn't take a turn in a better direction, this may be it. Personally, though I wouldn't mind to see Martin stay a while longer, I'd rather he not keep his job by beating UK again. 😉

 

[IL Wildcat]

Our guys just need to do what they know they can do, and do it against this team.

(Do I get the Captain Obvious post of the week for this one??) 😅

But seriously...

I haven't seen Mizzou play, but by the looks of it on paper, they play into our strengths. If we get that tempo up, we will win this game by a wide margin.

Let's just see some more improvements overall, keep turnovers at a minimum, hit those aggressive smart 3's, and ... do what we know we can do. It's really that simple this game. Maybe we will begin to start showing spurts of consistency ?!?!? lol

Thanks for the primer, as always!

Go Big Blue!

Ha! Spurts of consistency... they will have to play their A-game just to keep this one respectable. Their biggest strength is Kobe Brown. He must be dominant for them to have success. I don't think he will be able to do enough. Bottom line: if UK plays as they have the last 2 games, it's a comfortable win.

 

[westerncat]

Thanks for the report ILL Wildcat. I am hoping we shoot lights out & Oscar grabs at least 25 rebounds.

 

[UKortho]

Scouting Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Founded: 1839
Enrollment: 31,121
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (Purdue, 2000)
Record at Missouri: 72-62 (.537) / 5th year
Career Record: 258-183 (.585) / 14th year
Martin is out for UK game due to Covid protocols

Likely Acting Coach for UK Game: Cornell Mann

2021-22 Season Schedule (Record 6-6)
Nov 9 Central Michigan W, 78-68
Nov 15 UMKC L, 80-66
Nov 18 Northern Illinois W, 54-37
Nov 21 VS SMU W, 80-75 OT
Nov 22 VS Florida St. L, 81-58
Nov 26 Wichita St. L, 61-55
Nov 29 Paul Quinn W, 91-59
Dec 2 AT Liberty L, 66-45
Dec 7 Eastern Illinois W, 72-44
Dec 11 AT Kansas L, 102-65
Dec 18 Utah W, 83-75
Dec 22 VS Illinois L, 88-63

Game Info:
Missouri at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Date/Time: Wed. Dec 29, 7 p.m. EST
Radio/TV: UK Sports Network/ SEC Network

Probable Starters
#24 Kobe Brown Forward 6'8" 250lb Jr, 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, .241 3pt%
#23 Trevon Brazile Forward 6'9" 215lb Fr, 6.3pts, 2.8reb, .250 3pt%
#12 DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr, 8.3pts, 4.8reb, .263 3pt%
#01 Amari Davis Guard 6'2" 175lb Jr, 2-10 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%
#04 Javon Pickett Guard 6'5" 210lb Sr, 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%

Key Reserves
#05 Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%
#21 Ronnie DeGray III Forward 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, .241 3pt%
#00 Anton Brookshire Guard 6'1" 175lb Fr, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%
#32 Jordan Wilmore Forward 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb
#11 Yaya Keita Forward 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb

Team Stats
Points Per Game 67.5
Points allowed 69.7
Scoring Margin -2.2
Field Goal Pct .411
FG% allowed .454
3PT FG Pct .247
3PT% allowed .388
FT Pct .714
Rebounds Per Game 37.2
Rebounds allowed 32.8
Rebounds Margin +4.4
Assists Per Game 11.0
Turnovers Per Game 14.1
Turnovers forced 14.5
Turnover Margin 0.4
Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.8
Steals Per Game 7.4
Blocks Per Game 4.0

KenPom Stats
Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 #192
Defensive Efficiency: 99.0 #130
Best Stats
Offensive Reb%: 34.2% (#35)
Offensive Block%: 6.8% (#49)
Defensive Reb%: 26.2% (#97)
Worst Stats
3pt%: 24.3% (#355) (that’s almost dead last)
3pt% Def: 38.7% (#331)
Non-Steal TO%: 11.9% (#332)
Effective FG%: 44.6% (#315)
Effective FG% D: 54.1% (#316)

Analysis: Missouri comes into Rupp Arena on Wednesday without its head coach and sporting a 6-6 record on the season that includes a bunch of ugly losses and a few decent wins. The headline of the game at this point is that Cuonzo Martin announced via Twitter Sunday that he has Covid-19 and will not be making the trip to Lexington but the team will be making the trip without him- none of the players have tested positive. Big Blue Nation has its fingers crossed that nobody else for the Tigers will turn up positive (not only for their sake, but mainly for the game’s sake). UK’s last 2 games have been canceled or postponed due to covid protocols. The SEC enacted a rule recently that so long as a team has 7 healthy players and at least one coach, they will play the game. Missouri meets those criteria as of now, so on with the game!

The first thing that jumps out at me with Missouri is their 3pt shooting percentage, both offensive and defensive. As you can see above, they are one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D1, ranking #355 out of the 358 teams on KenPom. A quick look at their players’ percentages will reveal that no starter shoots better than 26% on the season. Almost as amazing is this- despite its terrible shooting, Missouri has still attempted 243 threes on the season. For comparison, UK has only attempted 207 threes on the season. Missouri is also allowing teams to shoot the three at 38.8% on the season, which is #331 in the nation. So, it’s little wonder they’ve struggled this season, just from those 2 stats alone.

If you’re looking for a silver lining here for Missouri, it’s rebounding. They have done an excellent job rebounding the basketball this season, led by their do-everything forward Kobe Brown, the 6'8" 250lb Junior who averages 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, and has 11 blocks on the season as well. He literally leads the team in EVERY primary statistical category. I shudder to think what Missouri would do without this guy. Unfortunately for Missouri, he draws Oscar Tsiebwe in this game. Their best bet will likely be to take the ball right at Oscar and try to draw quick fouls on him.

Regarding other personnel, Martin basically has an 8-man rotation and he’s been searching for a combination that will work, unsuccessfully for the most part. 9 different players have started a game for Mizzou this season. To be honest, I’m not very sure who will start against UK because of all the line-up changes. I settled on the line-up above based on recent starts and performances. Truthfully, after Kobe Brown, it’s a crapshoot. They have some talent, but they have 6 guys who are similar sizes and do similar things, and none of them have shown they can shoot with any consistency. So, it’s DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr averaging 8.3pts, 4.8reb, and .263 3pt%, Anton Brookshire 6'1" 175lb Fr averaging, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%, Javon Pickett 6'5" 210lb Sr averaging 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%, Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, averaging 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%, and Amari Davis a 6'2" 175lb Jr averaging 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%. The other starting forward is Trevon Brazile, a 6'9" 215lb Fr averaging 6.3pts, 2.8reb, and has 11 blocks on the season, which is tied with Kobe Brown. Forwards from the bench are Ronnie DeGray III 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, Jordan Wilmore 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb, and Yaya Keita 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb.

So, this is a typical Cuonzo Martin team- defense-first oriented and offensively challenged. They want to slow the pace, pack back into a zone or a man-to-man intended to keep people out of the lane, and hope the opponent is missing perimeter shots. They don’t go for steals. They don’t trap or press much. They play a prevent style of defense. Offensively, they are pretty traditional with Brown leading the charge. They want to go inside first but, as the numbers bear out, they will shoot threes if they get a crack. But Brown is the key for them. If he can score consistently, they have a chance. If he can’t, it’s up to their perimeter shooting, which has not come through very often. That Utah win was their best on the season and Brown scored 27 in that game. Utah had no answer for him. Kansas did have an answer for him and beat the Tigers by 37. Brown scored 5 in that game and had 4 fouls. Illinois had an answer for him but Brown had a better game, scoring 13, but Illinois still beat them by 25.

I think Kentucky is hitting on all cylinders right now and Missouri is coming without a head coach and the game is at Rupp. It’s the first conference game for UK and should be well attended with people off work for the holidays. If the Tigers sag off our shooters in this one, it could be lights out by halftime. KenPom predicts UK 79 Mizzou 60​

My Prediction: Kentucky 82 Missouri 58

Damn. Nice post!

 

[IL Wildcat]

Thanks for the report ILL Wildcat. I am hoping we shoot lights out & Oscar grabs at least 25 rebounds.

That would be very nice! 👌😉

 

[TheDude73]

Cuonzo has been the most odd story in coaching in all of basketball. He literally has done nothing but for a while seemed to have no problems appearing "sought after" and job hopping every 2-3 years. I think his modus operandi has always been to do just enough to get a school into the NCAA-T, and then get out right around the time the job gets hard, his coaching starts to look suspect, or he feels like he might get the ax. Wouldn't be surprised to see him bolt Missouri after this season (or even mid-season - I think he did that once at another school?).

 

[kybassfan]

An excellent write up. Not much to say except I agree, we are heavy favorites.

When I read it, I happened to have my mathematician hat on. I have the smallest nit to pick. An example nit.

FG% allowed .454

I expect you are just doing a cut and paste for that. However is should read FG% allowed 45.4% or simply 45.4 with the % implied by the preface description. It’s a common oversight in the sporting world. As you’ve expressed it, the value is technically a decimal ratio as opposed to a percentage. In fact in this case, less than one percent. I’m sorry, next time I’ll try to remember to leave that hat off.

 

[Padsfs07]

Brazile missed their first set of games. So they are a little more complete with him back.

Some of their losses aren't bad - Illinois, Kansas, Florida State, Wichita State....while some are very bad - Kansas City, Liberty - and only one good win - Utah.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Damn after reading that, maybe the 19 point spread makes sense.

I'm also very curious to see if one of the absolute worst 3pt shooting teams somehow finds their shot on us.

 

[IL Wildcat]

An excellent write up. Not much to say except I agree, we are heavy favorites.

When I read it, I happened to have my mathematician hat on. I have the smallest nit to pick. An example nit.

FG% allowed .454

I expect you are just doing a cut and paste for that. However is should read FG% allowed 45.4% or simply 45.4 with the % implied by the preface description. It’s a common oversight in the sporting world. As you’ve expressed it, the value is technically a decimal ratio as opposed to a percentage. In fact in this case, less than one percent. I’m sorry, next time I’ll try to remember to leave that hat off.

No worries kybassfan. You're right. It should be written as 45.4%. You're also right that I'm copy/pasting on those numbers, so it just becomes a time saver to leave it as it is. I like that hat, by the way. I have a similar one. Haha! Happy New Year!

 

[IL Wildcat]

Cuonzo has been the most odd story in coaching in all of basketball. He literally has done nothing but for a while seemed to have no problems appearing "sought after" and job hopping every 2-3 years. I think his modus operandi has always been to do just enough to get a school into the NCAA-T, and then get out right around the time the job gets hard, his coaching starts to look suspect, or he feels like he might get the ax. Wouldn't be surprised to see him bolt Missouri after this season (or even mid-season - I think he did that once at another school?).

I agree with you. He has one strength, in my opinion- he can coach defense. His guys always give good effort on the defensive end. He struggles as an offensive coach and also with recruiting. So, what I've seen is that the talent level he inherits from his predecessor is usually his highest level of talent. So, when he comes in, he gets the returning players to play defense. The previous coach taught them offense, so with his emphasis on defense that first couple years are usually pretty good. Then, when the previous regime's players are gone, the offense drops off. Recruits see he prefers to grind and play half-court and the best ones go elsewhere. That's where he is right now, in my opinion. The jig is up, so to speak.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Damn after reading that, maybe the 19 point spread makes sense.

I'm also very curious to see if one of the absolute worst 3pt shooting teams somehow finds their shot on us.

Haha! It wouldn't surprise me one bit if we see guys make some shots they rarely make. Some guys come to Rupp and wilt, but others come in and suddenly they think they're Steph Curry. One thing is sure, these guys aren't shy about taking those shots. If they're falling, the game could be closer than expected. If they shoot like they normally shoot, the game could be over by the half.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Haha! It wouldn't surprise me one bit if we see guys make some shots they rarely make. Some guys come to Rupp and wilt, but others come in and suddenly they think they're Steph Curry. One thing is sure, these guys aren't shy about taking those shots. If they're falling, the game could be closer than expected. If they shoot like they normally shoot, the game could be over by the half.

I think the program really needs to look at why opponents seem to come into Rupp and shoot above their averages so often. There was talk a while back that the UK team practices off-site and the opponent gets to practice in Rupp. I know that's not easy to change because Rupp isn't JUST a basketball arena.. but damn, that sounds to me like we're making things harder for ourselves. If this is true, then it's no wonder why opposing teams can shoot well at Rupp, while we have seen some shooting struggles on our end over the years.

Can you confirm any of this?

 

[Comebakatz3]

I think the program really needs to look at why opponents seem to come into Rupp and shoot above their averages so often. There was talk a while back that the UK team practices off-site and the opponent gets to practice in Rupp. I know that's not easy to change because Rupp isn't JUST a basketball arena.. but damn, that sounds to me like we're making things harder for ourselves. If this is true, then it's no wonder why opposing teams can shoot well at Rupp, while we have seen some shooting struggles on our end over the years.

Can you confirm any of this?

This shouldn't make any difference. I imagine an opponent might get two hours of shooting and/or a walk-through at Rupp, but that is it. Probably one the night before the game and one the day of. While UK largely practices in the Joe Craft Center on campus, they would still get significantly more practice/playing time in Rupp than an opponent ever would. UK gets plenty of time in there and it shouldn't make a difference.

 

[kelzer]

An excellent write up. Not much to say except I agree, we are heavy favorites.

When I read it, I happened to have my mathematician hat on. I have the smallest nit to pick. An example nit.

FG% allowed .454

I expect you are just doing a cut and paste for that. However is should read FG% allowed 45.4% or simply 45.4 with the % implied by the preface description. It’s a common oversight in the sporting world. As you’ve expressed it, the value is technically a decimal ratio as opposed to a percentage. In fact in this case, less than one percent. I’m sorry, next time I’ll try to remember to leave that hat off.

Mulder : Nobody likes a math geek Scully

 

[kybassfan]

Mulder : Nobody likes a math geek Scully

That’s ok. I have no interest in being Mr popular. I just support my basketball program.

 

[kelzer]

That’s ok. I have no interest in being Mr popular. I just support my basketball program.

I meant no offense. The X-Files line I quoted was a humorous one. Mulder loved Scully, he was just giving her a hard time, as I was you. If anything, I'm probably more anal about stuff like this than you are.

 

[kybassfan]

I meant no offense. The X-Files line I quoted was a humorous one. Mulder loved Scully, he was just giving her a hard time, as I was you. If anything, I'm probably more anal about stuff like this than you are.

Naw, man I loved Xfiles. I believe.

 

[podgejeff_]

It is an absolute lock this team will come out shooting like crazy from behind the arc. Probably some sequence of three 3-pointers in four possessions by their 4th or 5th best player that nobody's ever heard of.

 

[IL Wildcat]

It is an absolute lock this team will come out shooting like crazy from behind the arc. Probably some sequence of three 3-pointers in four possessions by their 4th or 5th best player that nobody's ever heard of.

Man I sure hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened.

 

[Crums Bald Spot]

Scouting Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Founded: 1839
Enrollment: 31,121
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (Purdue, 2000)
Record at Missouri: 72-62 (.537) / 5th year
Career Record: 258-183 (.585) / 14th year
Martin is out for UK game due to Covid protocols

Likely Acting Coach for UK Game: Cornell Mann

2021-22 Season Schedule (Record 6-6)
Nov 9 Central Michigan W, 78-68
Nov 15 UMKC L, 80-66
Nov 18 Northern Illinois W, 54-37
Nov 21 VS SMU W, 80-75 OT
Nov 22 VS Florida St. L, 81-58
Nov 26 Wichita St. L, 61-55
Nov 29 Paul Quinn W, 91-59
Dec 2 AT Liberty L, 66-45
Dec 7 Eastern Illinois W, 72-44
Dec 11 AT Kansas L, 102-65
Dec 18 Utah W, 83-75
Dec 22 VS Illinois L, 88-63

Game Info:
Missouri at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Date/Time: Wed. Dec 29, 7 p.m. EST
Radio/TV: UK Sports Network/ SEC Network

Probable Starters
#24 Kobe Brown Forward 6'8" 250lb Jr, 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, .241 3pt%
#23 Trevon Brazile Forward 6'9" 215lb Fr, 6.3pts, 2.8reb, .250 3pt%
#12 DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr, 8.3pts, 4.8reb, .263 3pt%
#01 Amari Davis Guard 6'2" 175lb Jr, 2-10 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%
#04 Javon Pickett Guard 6'5" 210lb Sr, 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%

Key Reserves
#05 Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%
#21 Ronnie DeGray III Forward 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, .241 3pt%
#00 Anton Brookshire Guard 6'1" 175lb Fr, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%
#32 Jordan Wilmore Forward 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb
#11 Yaya Keita Forward 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb

Team Stats
Points Per Game 67.5
Points allowed 69.7
Scoring Margin -2.2
Field Goal Pct .411
FG% allowed .454
3PT FG Pct .247
3PT% allowed .388
FT Pct .714
Rebounds Per Game 37.2
Rebounds allowed 32.8
Rebounds Margin +4.4
Assists Per Game 11.0
Turnovers Per Game 14.1
Turnovers forced 14.5
Turnover Margin 0.4
Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.8
Steals Per Game 7.4
Blocks Per Game 4.0

KenPom Stats
Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 #192
Defensive Efficiency: 99.0 #130
Best Stats
Offensive Reb%: 34.2% (#35)
Offensive Block%: 6.8% (#49)
Defensive Reb%: 26.2% (#97)
Worst Stats
3pt%: 24.3% (#355) (that’s almost dead last)
3pt% Def: 38.7% (#331)
Non-Steal TO%: 11.9% (#332)
Effective FG%: 44.6% (#315)
Effective FG% D: 54.1% (#316)

Analysis: Missouri comes into Rupp Arena on Wednesday without its head coach and sporting a 6-6 record on the season that includes a bunch of ugly losses and a few decent wins. The headline of the game at this point is that Cuonzo Martin announced via Twitter Sunday that he has Covid-19 and will not be making the trip to Lexington but the team will be making the trip without him- none of the players have tested positive. Big Blue Nation has its fingers crossed that nobody else for the Tigers will turn up positive (not only for their sake, but mainly for the game’s sake). UK’s last 2 games have been canceled or postponed due to covid protocols. The SEC enacted a rule recently that so long as a team has 7 healthy players and at least one coach, they will play the game. Missouri meets those criteria as of now, so on with the game!

The first thing that jumps out at me with Missouri is their 3pt shooting percentage, both offensive and defensive. As you can see above, they are one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D1, ranking #355 out of the 358 teams on KenPom. A quick look at their players’ percentages will reveal that no starter shoots better than 26% on the season. Almost as amazing is this- despite its terrible shooting, Missouri has still attempted 243 threes on the season. For comparison, UK has only attempted 207 threes on the season. Missouri is also allowing teams to shoot the three at 38.8% on the season, which is #331 in the nation. So, it’s little wonder they’ve struggled this season, just from those 2 stats alone.

If you’re looking for a silver lining here for Missouri, it’s rebounding. They have done an excellent job rebounding the basketball this season, led by their do-everything forward Kobe Brown, the 6'8" 250lb Junior who averages 14.8pts, 8.9reb, 2.3ast, 1.75stl, and has 11 blocks on the season as well. He literally leads the team in EVERY primary statistical category. I shudder to think what Missouri would do without this guy. Unfortunately for Missouri, he draws Oscar Tsiebwe in this game. Their best bet will likely be to take the ball right at Oscar and try to draw quick fouls on him.

Regarding other personnel, Martin basically has an 8-man rotation and he’s been searching for a combination that will work, unsuccessfully for the most part. 9 different players have started a game for Mizzou this season. To be honest, I’m not very sure who will start against UK because of all the line-up changes. I settled on the line-up above based on recent starts and performances. Truthfully, after Kobe Brown, it’s a crapshoot. They have some talent, but they have 6 guys who are similar sizes and do similar things, and none of them have shown they can shoot with any consistency. So, it’s DaJuan Gordon 6'3" 190lb Jr averaging 8.3pts, 4.8reb, and .263 3pt%, Anton Brookshire 6'1" 175lb Fr averaging, 2.1pts, 0.9reb, .182 3pt%, Javon Pickett 6'5" 210lb Sr averaging 9.0pts, 2.8reb, .233 3pt%, Jarron Coleman Guard 6'5" 210lb RSJr, averaging 8.4pts, 2.8reb, .273 3pt%, and Amari Davis a 6'2" 175lb Jr averaging 10.4pts, 3.0reb, .250 3pt%. The other starting forward is Trevon Brazile, a 6'9" 215lb Fr averaging 6.3pts, 2.8reb, and has 11 blocks on the season, which is tied with Kobe Brown. Forwards from the bench are Ronnie DeGray III 6'6" 225lb So, 8.3pts, 5.7reb, Jordan Wilmore 7'3" 300lb So, 2.6pts, 2.0reb, and Yaya Keita 6'8" 240 lbs Fr, 1.3pts, 1.8reb.

So, this is a typical Cuonzo Martin team- defense-first oriented and offensively challenged. They want to slow the pace, pack back into a zone or a man-to-man intended to keep people out of the lane, and hope the opponent is missing perimeter shots. They don’t go for steals. They don’t trap or press much. They play a prevent style of defense. Offensively, they are pretty traditional with Brown leading the charge. They want to go inside first but, as the numbers bear out, they will shoot threes if they get a crack. But Brown is the key for them. If he can score consistently, they have a chance. If he can’t, it’s up to their perimeter shooting, which has not come through very often. That Utah win was their best on the season and Brown scored 27 in that game. Utah had no answer for him. Kansas did have an answer for him and beat the Tigers by 37. Brown scored 5 in that game and had 4 fouls. Illinois had an answer for him but Brown had a better game, scoring 13, but Illinois still beat them by 25.

I think Kentucky is hitting on all cylinders right now and Missouri is coming without a head coach and the game is at Rupp. It’s the first conference game for UK and should be well attended with people off work for the holidays. If the Tigers sag off our shooters in this one, it could be lights out by halftime. KenPom predicts UK 79 Mizzou 60​

My Prediction: Kentucky 82 Missouri 58

Cliff notes version. They suck.

 

[tmuck]

Mizzou and Georgia are fighting it out for worst team in the league. But if we revert back to how we played in the Notre Dame game, any team in this league can beat us.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Good call op