Watch the Tape: Missouri Tigers

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Well, it happened again. The Kentucky Wildcats came up short to begin SEC play with an 89-75 loss at the Missouri Tigers. Mizzou punched the ‘Cats in the mouth from the opening tip and never looked back. The Tigers quickly built a double-figure lead and never really allowed Kentucky to put any true game pressure on the home crowd. Kentucky is now 8-4, 0-1 while Missouri improved to 12-1, 1-0. You can expect to see the Tigers ranked in the next AP Top 25 while the Wildcats are in real danger of falling out of the ranking.

It is hard to win college basketball games when you get out shot from both beyond the arc and the free throw line. On Wednesday night, the Missouri Tigers shot 10-25 from three-point range and 23-28 from the free throw line. However, Kentucky was just 8-23 from deep and 15-24 from the charity stripe. Coincidently, or maybe not so much so, the 14 points the Tigers won by from three and at the line match up perfectly with their 14 point advantage on the final scoreboard. The opportunities were there for the ‘Cats but they simply couldn’t make enough shots to stay in the game.

As we do after each game, it is time to step inside the KSR Film Room and breakdown the tape. Kentucky got exploited in transition, allowed too many uncontested three-pointers, and didn’t execute well enough in key moments offensively. Let’s dive in and take a look at what all went wrong in the loss to the Missouri Tigers.

Poor Transition Defense Led to Easy Baskets

This is an issue that should have been addressed time and time again leading up to the game. In every walk through, film session, and scouting report meeting getting back on defense should have been a consistent and emphasized topic. It is always the job of your point guard to get back and protect the basket in transition. If he can’t be the one due to a shot attempt or positioning on the floor, it is still his responsibility to make sure someone else is back. That should have been in the mind of every Wildcat on Wednesday night against the Missouri Tigers. They should have been so AFRAID of giving up a transition layup that they would sell out at all costs to make sure it didn’t happen. However, that clearly wasn’t the case. It must not have been talked about enough leading up to the game.

It feels like every watch the tape article features a clip from the first offensive or defensive possession. That is not a good sign for Kentucky. On Wednesday night, they were bad from the start at guarding the Missouri Tigers in transition. It is on your point guard to protect the basket in transition. Technically, Sahvir Wheeler is the point guard here, but with Cason Wallace taking a shot from the top of the key he has to be the first one back. He should be well past half court by the time Missouri rebounds the ball. Instead, he is back-pedaling and the Tigers have a 2-on-1 after the throw ahead. Needed far more urgency in transition.

You can’t fault Sahvir Wheeler for trying to go make a play. That is what you need offensively against an aggressive defense like Missouri plays. However, when he misses, it is on somebody else to be the first line of transition defense. Ultimately, that responsibility falls on your point guard still, but Chris Livingston should obviously be the one getting back here. What is he accomplishing there at the free throw line? SPRINT back and protect the rim!

There is really never an excuse for giving up a transition basket after a MAKE. It is even more unacceptable against a team that you know wants to push the tempo. Again, the Wildcats should have been SCARED of the Tigers laying it up in transition. Instead, after finally hitting a three and cutting it to 17-13, the ‘Cats give up an And-1 in transition. This is totally unacceptable. Too much back-pedaling. Too much point. Then, you allow Sean East to drive it left. Simply really bad defensive execution.

We are still in the first half and Kentucky is allowing their SECOND And-1 after a made basket to the Missouri Tigers. Sahvir Wheeler simply has to be back. Nothing more to say here. This is a total lack of preparation by the Wildcats.

Early Made Three-Pointers Gave Missouri Confidence

It has been a common issue this season that Oscar Tshiebwe is either unable or unwilling to guard out on the perimeter. You would never expect your 5-man to be excellent away from the paint, but there just seems to be a disconnect with him. He seemingly won’t even physically go with his man out to the perimeter regardless of their skill level. His personal defensive breakdowns led to four three-pointers made by the Missouri Tigers in the first half alone. Below are a couple of examples.

The aggressive, intensity, and attention to detail simply wasn’t there early on for the Wildcats. On this possession Oscar Tshiebwe did a good job of stepping over to take Tre Gomillion on the drive. However, he then completely neglects him as he goes out to the corner. It is CLEAR that Gomillion is still his man after the switch, but Tshiebwe simply stays in the paint. The result is a wide open three-point attempt that gets knocked in. Against a shooter who was just 3-10 up to that point, simply being close enough to contest would be enough to get him to miss most likely. We need to see better EFFORT from the reigning national player of the year trying to guard guys out on the perimeter.

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In the pregame scouting report on KSR we talked about how Kobe Brown likes to shoot the trail spot three-pointers. He hasn’t necessarily been high percentage for his career, but he has been much improved this season and those trail spot ones are his favorite. However, Oscar Tshiebwe was not ready to guard Brown out on the perimeter. Why was he not closing out aggressive as soon as he got the catch in the trail spot? For all of the amazing things that Tshiebwe brings to the floor, he seems to process things very slowly at both ends of the floor. It is becoming a real problem this season.

The defensive struggles continued in the second half for Oscar Tshiebwe. It shouldn’t go without mention that he also scored 23 points and pulled down 19 rebounds, but defensively he was a major liability. There is simply ZERO contest here to this Kobe Brown trail spot three-pointer. He doesn’t even put a hand up. Instead, it looks like he is just hunting a rebound because he immediately turns to go crash the glass. You can’t rebound shots that go in. Get a hand up and make him miss the shot!

Sloppy Offensive Possessions – Lack of Valuing the Basketball

You have to value the basketball at a high level to win games in the Southeastern Conference. However, that is even more true against the Missouri Tigers who are one of the best in the country at forcing turnovers. A big part of their offense derives from creating easy baskets off of turnovers. Kentucky played into their hands with too much carelessness on Wednesday night. The ‘Cats just didn’t value the every possession enough to win the game.

What in the world is this? This is such a sloppy, careless, and weak pass by Antonio Reeves. That pass has zero chance of reaching its intended target. Now, Oscar Tshiebwe could do a better job of sealing his man on the block instead of getting pushed out to 12-feet. That would allow for better spacing and an easier entry pass. However, this is a very disappointing turnover from a veteran perimeter player. It comes down to valuing the basketball. The Wildcats didn’t value it enough on Wednesday against the Tigers.

Kentucky’s point guards need to be the point guards. This is a sloppy, unnecessary throw ahead by Sahvir Wheeler and then a bad decision by Cason Wallace to throw the ball to Lance Ware. Why are you throwing it to Ware at the three-point line while he is on the run? He doesn’t even want it there! Wheeler has Reeves and Wallace running up the left sideline. Just dribble it at them and get into a handoff action. That is a lot harder to guard than a careless throw ahead that turns into your unskilled 4-man missing a layup.

On the offensive possession before this one Jacob Toppin air-banked a three-point attempt from the left wing. That led to a run out dunk for the Missouri Tigers that put them up 17 points with just over 17 minutes to play in the game. The ‘Cats are in obvious danger zone territory. However, Toppin comes down and takes a quick, contested floater from 12-feet. This is essentially never a good shot. That is especially true given the situation. To take this shot immediately after a bad offensive possession and a dunk on the other end displays either very low basketball IQ or incredible selfishness.

These last two clips aren’t meant to pile on Jacob Toppin. However, you do need higher level decision making from a senior. This is not something you should be seeing from a player who was expected to be a major contributor. Missouri’s physicality and pressure really bothered Toppin on Wednesday night. On this possession the Tigers brought a double team and get Kentucky forward to throw a pass at the feet of his teammate. This turnover created yet another run out opportunity for Missouri.