Missouri Grinds Out A Victory Over Arkansas, 81-68

YUCK! What an embarrassing performance for Arkansas today. The Razorbacks shot 26.8% for the game. Missouri plays tough, hard-nosed defense. It is their identity. They make everything you do difficult.

Despite playing so terribly, Arkansas only trailed by 3 at halftime. Jeremiah Tilmon and Xavier Pinson gave Arkansas fits all day. Both players finished 20+ points. Their pick and roll offense gave Jaylin Williams and Connor Vanover problems. Tilmon had way too many easy baskets.

I thought Arkansas played good defense in pretty much every other scenario.

What did Arkansas in on offense was the inability to finish at the rim. Arkansas shot 8-30 from point blank range. Yes, you read that correctly. It was inexplicable. Embarrassing. Hard to watch. This team needs Justin Smith.

JD Notae finished the game with 19 points on 6-18 and Moses Moody had 18 points and 10 rebounds. The 2 combined for 10-33 from the field.

After a great performance on Wednesday, Desi Sills really struggled. He shot 1-10. Connor Vanover shot 0-11, but made all 6 of his free throw attempts.

After an embarrassing performance, it’s easy to panic. It’s easy to burn everything. We are nowhere near that point yet. The Hogs head to Knoxville to take on Tennessee on Wednesday. It won’t be easy. Without Justin Smith, I don’t see how Arkansas will win. Even then, still no cause for panic. What must be fixed is the shooting around the rim and some improved pick and roll coverages.

Maybe this team needed a good humbling. Maybe this will propel them.

Time will tell.

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