C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
South Carolina takes on Missouri tonight at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network with Frank Martin back in the head coach's chair.
Scouting Missouri
Missouri is the story in the SEC so far this year, jumping out to a 6-0 record to start the season and comes into Tuesday's game 8-2 and 2-2 in the SEC. This isn't a soft 8-2 at all with Missouri notching three wins over KenPom top 50 teams: Oregon (21), Illinois (10) and Arkansas (42).
The Tigers have slowed some in SEC play, starting 2-2 with a loss to one of the favorites to win the conference in Tennessee and then getting blasted by 15 points to Mississippi State in Starkville. The Tigers did wallop a good Arkansas team and did the same thing to Texas A&M (both by double digits and on the road). It's going to be a tough test for South Carolina.
They're led by point guard Xavier Pinson and big man Jeremiah Tilmon, who have been really good to start the year with Pinson a veteran pass-first point guard and Tilmon a huge piece down low. Tilmon didn't play last season against the Gamecocks and it will be a good test for Wildens Leveque.
They're very similar to the Gamecocks in that they're predicated on great defense, getting to the line and forcing teams to play out of rhythm for the majority of the game. With Missouri sitting at No. 19 in the AP Poll, No. 24 in the NET and No. 38 in KenPom, it would easily by a Quad I win for South Carolina and a very good win for a potential NCAA Tournament resume.
Numbers to know
91.4 and 94
These are the defensive efficiency numbers for both teams. Missouri ranks top 20 in the country allowing just 91.4 points per 100 possessions while South Carolina is top 50 at 94 points per 100. Both are considered two of the best defenses right now in the SEC. Each likes to switch things up and throw a few different styles defensively at teams, and whichever team is able to instill its defensive principles the best and most consistently has the best chance to win the game.
39.9 and 45.5
These are the free throw rates when Missouri has the ball on offense. The Tigers are getting to the line well above average at 39.9 percent rate (top 50 nationally) while the Gamecocks are one of the worst teams in the country (330th) in opponent free throw rate. In short, Missouri is one of the best teams in the league at getting to the line and South Carolina is one of the worst about keeping opponents off the free throw line. South Carolina will need to cut down on fouls and force Missouri to make shots to win.
35.1 and 28.9
These are the offensive rebound rates when South Carolina is on offense. The Gamecocks are a top 20 offensive rebounding team this season (35.1 offensive rebound rate) and Missouri is one of the worst in allowing opponents to crash the glass on that end of the court. If the Gamecocks can continue to get offensive boards, it gives them the chance for easy second chance points and a chance to steal possessions away from Missouri.
Keys to a victory
Don't foul
A big piece of Missouri's identity is getting to the free throw line with 22.7 percent of the Tigers' points coming at the line (37th-highest nationally). South Carolina—especially on the road—has a tendencies to have fouls called against them at a higher rate than at home. The Tigers like to work the ball inside and try and draw fouls. It's going to imperative for the Gamecocks to avoid fouling and giving Missouri free points at the line.
Xavier Pinson is really good (top 60 in the country) in drawing fouls, averaging 6.5 fouls drawn per 40 minutes. Whoever's matched up against the point guard—Seventh Woods, Jermaine Couisnard, Trae Hannibal or TJ Moss—to keep him in front and not commit sloppy fouls.
Pass the ball and get to the rim
The Gamecocks are middle of the pack nationally in assists-to-FGM ratio, assisting on just 52.5 percent of their made baskets this season. Against LSU the Gamecocks had a rate higher than average with 18 assists on 31 made buckets (58.1 percent) and that will need to continue.
Missouri is so good defensively the Gamecocks will need to move the ball, probably reversing the ball multiple times to try and get the Tigers out of position and opening driving lines. Also, getting to the rim is how the offense really gets going. South Carolina's done better shooting from inside three (50.9 percent this year, 53.2 in SEC play) and getting inside and attacking Missouri's defense will be important, and should also open up three-point opportunities.
Focus on playing fast and in transition
Conditioning is still an issue after frequent shutdowns and infrequent court time, but the Gamecocks need to be a team that dictates the pace and plays fast. If LSU showed anything, it was South Carolina isn't afraid to push the ball in transition despite being somewhat shorthanded.
Missouri plays pretty deliberately and isn't breakneck when it comes to pace. The Gamecocks will need to get the Tigers out of that and try and score without allowing Missouri to set its defense. If the Gamecocks are force to play a primarily halfcourt game, it could give Missouri's defense a chance to set and make it harder for South Carolina to score.
Scouting Missouri
Missouri is the story in the SEC so far this year, jumping out to a 6-0 record to start the season and comes into Tuesday's game 8-2 and 2-2 in the SEC. This isn't a soft 8-2 at all with Missouri notching three wins over KenPom top 50 teams: Oregon (21), Illinois (10) and Arkansas (42).
The Tigers have slowed some in SEC play, starting 2-2 with a loss to one of the favorites to win the conference in Tennessee and then getting blasted by 15 points to Mississippi State in Starkville. The Tigers did wallop a good Arkansas team and did the same thing to Texas A&M (both by double digits and on the road). It's going to be a tough test for South Carolina.
They're led by point guard Xavier Pinson and big man Jeremiah Tilmon, who have been really good to start the year with Pinson a veteran pass-first point guard and Tilmon a huge piece down low. Tilmon didn't play last season against the Gamecocks and it will be a good test for Wildens Leveque.
They're very similar to the Gamecocks in that they're predicated on great defense, getting to the line and forcing teams to play out of rhythm for the majority of the game. With Missouri sitting at No. 19 in the AP Poll, No. 24 in the NET and No. 38 in KenPom, it would easily by a Quad I win for South Carolina and a very good win for a potential NCAA Tournament resume.
Numbers to know
91.4 and 94
These are the defensive efficiency numbers for both teams. Missouri ranks top 20 in the country allowing just 91.4 points per 100 possessions while South Carolina is top 50 at 94 points per 100. Both are considered two of the best defenses right now in the SEC. Each likes to switch things up and throw a few different styles defensively at teams, and whichever team is able to instill its defensive principles the best and most consistently has the best chance to win the game.
39.9 and 45.5
These are the free throw rates when Missouri has the ball on offense. The Tigers are getting to the line well above average at 39.9 percent rate (top 50 nationally) while the Gamecocks are one of the worst teams in the country (330th) in opponent free throw rate. In short, Missouri is one of the best teams in the league at getting to the line and South Carolina is one of the worst about keeping opponents off the free throw line. South Carolina will need to cut down on fouls and force Missouri to make shots to win.
35.1 and 28.9
These are the offensive rebound rates when South Carolina is on offense. The Gamecocks are a top 20 offensive rebounding team this season (35.1 offensive rebound rate) and Missouri is one of the worst in allowing opponents to crash the glass on that end of the court. If the Gamecocks can continue to get offensive boards, it gives them the chance for easy second chance points and a chance to steal possessions away from Missouri.
Keys to a victory
Don't foul
A big piece of Missouri's identity is getting to the free throw line with 22.7 percent of the Tigers' points coming at the line (37th-highest nationally). South Carolina—especially on the road—has a tendencies to have fouls called against them at a higher rate than at home. The Tigers like to work the ball inside and try and draw fouls. It's going to imperative for the Gamecocks to avoid fouling and giving Missouri free points at the line.
Xavier Pinson is really good (top 60 in the country) in drawing fouls, averaging 6.5 fouls drawn per 40 minutes. Whoever's matched up against the point guard—Seventh Woods, Jermaine Couisnard, Trae Hannibal or TJ Moss—to keep him in front and not commit sloppy fouls.
Pass the ball and get to the rim
The Gamecocks are middle of the pack nationally in assists-to-FGM ratio, assisting on just 52.5 percent of their made baskets this season. Against LSU the Gamecocks had a rate higher than average with 18 assists on 31 made buckets (58.1 percent) and that will need to continue.
Missouri is so good defensively the Gamecocks will need to move the ball, probably reversing the ball multiple times to try and get the Tigers out of position and opening driving lines. Also, getting to the rim is how the offense really gets going. South Carolina's done better shooting from inside three (50.9 percent this year, 53.2 in SEC play) and getting inside and attacking Missouri's defense will be important, and should also open up three-point opportunities.
Focus on playing fast and in transition
Conditioning is still an issue after frequent shutdowns and infrequent court time, but the Gamecocks need to be a team that dictates the pace and plays fast. If LSU showed anything, it was South Carolina isn't afraid to push the ball in transition despite being somewhat shorthanded.
Missouri plays pretty deliberately and isn't breakneck when it comes to pace. The Gamecocks will need to get the Tigers out of that and try and score without allowing Missouri to set its defense. If the Gamecocks are force to play a primarily halfcourt game, it could give Missouri's defense a chance to set and make it harder for South Carolina to score.
