Alex Oriakhi
Oriakhi is very limited offensively as he missed a number of point blank shots, including a wide-open dunk from right under the basket. My expectations were much higher for him as he just has not delivered at all on that end of the floor. However, he did a pretty good job keeping the defensive glass clean as he ended the game with 15 rebounds.
Laurence Bowers
Bowers was awful in the first half and during a stretch in the second half, dominated as Missouri took control of the game. It was nice to see some of the two-man game that Bowers and Pressey had going in the second half where Pressey would deliver and Bowers would finish. I hope to see more of that.
Phil Pressey
Phil is great, but really needs Dixon back in the lineup to take some of the pressure off. Phil tried to do everything in this game because no one else was able to do anything in the first half. Guys weren't catching his passes, they weren't finishing plays. He ended the game with a nice set of stats: 9 assists and 2 turnovers and looked like the great point guard that he is.
Negus Webster-Chan
Webster-Chan is really a great addition to this team. He has really looked good in these early games and continues to impress with being solid in every phase of the game. Early on, he got hung up on a couple of screens but closed out well and was able to keep his man from getting a shot off. In the second half, he got stuck on some screens (as did a number of the Tigers late in the game) allowing some easy looks for SIUE.
Earnest Ross
Ross stunk. Didn't rebound. Couldn't guard. Missed layups. Threw airballs up from 3. When SIUE was getting all of those open looks from 3, Ross was usually in no man's land and then would fly at the shooter after the shot was released. It just wasn't his game. Ross needs to start playing better defense or he's going to see most of his minutes go to Jabari Brown in December.
Keion Bell
Bell was pretty quiet. After two early turnovers, he settled down and played much better in the second half. His outside shot sure hasn't looked good. He's a slasher and was able to get into the lane and pick up some nice assists.
Tony Criswell
Criswell looked good in the first half as he was very active on the boards and grabbed a number of offensive boards to keep possession with the offense. Unfortunately, he also had trouble finishing in close and seems very awkward on the left side of the goal. He really favors his right side and doesn't seem to be able to use his left hand even when it's the right move. He struggled defensively in the second half picking up four quick fouls which led to free throws for SIUE.
Stefan Jankovic
Jankovic continues to stroke it from the outside. That's where his bread will be buttered this year. He was a bit of a liability on defense I thought. He just lacks strength.
Overall Thoughts
Right now, this team plays worse defense than last year's team. I was just amazed at how easy a team like SIUE was able to get all the way to the basket time and time again. There was little help defense and overall the team just looked lazy on D like they just weren't willing to play tough. Even Oriakhi looked lousy on defense at times.
Dixon (assuming he returns) is going to cure a lot of the problems on offense as his quickness and reliability with the ball put additional pressure on opposing D's. Mizzou scored 83 points on 76 possession which is not very efficient considering the opponent. SIUE's zone defense late in the game really bogged Mizzou down, especially when Bowers wasn't in to man the high post.
Pressey, Webster-Chan and Jankovic were 7-9 from 3. Ross and Bell were 0-7. I know Ross lit it up in the first exhibition game, but he wasn't even close today.
Overall, it was a good early season game. The team has plenty to work on.
Next up: Alcorn State on Tuesday.
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