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Missouri's Caleb Grill has 3-point range from the midcourt logo and it's 'a real issue'

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•about 9 hours•

GrantRamey

Caleb Grill, Missouri Basketball | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
(Wesley Hale-Imagn Images) Feb 1, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) drives to the basket against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum.

When Tennessee assistant coach Gregg Polinsky was asked about Missouri shooting guard Caleb Grill before practice Tuesday afternoon, his mind went back 30 years to Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

That’s where guard Al Dillard became famous not just for his 3-point shot, but his 3-point range.

“From the nose of the pig,” Polinsky said.

Dillard had range from the nose of the pig — on the Razorback logo spread across mid-court at ‘The Basketball Palace of Mid-America’ — or, on the other side, from the tail of the hog. 

“That is what you’re looking at (with Grill),” Polinsky said.

Up Next: No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Missouri

That’s what No. 4 Tennessee (18-4, 5-4 SEC) is looking at against Grill and No. 15 Missouri (17-4, 6-2) on Wednesday (7 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Food City Center.

Grill is shooting 49.0% on an even 100 3-point attempts through 16 games, nearly 13% higher than any of his previous five seasons of college basketball. Only UC Santa Barbara’s Cole Anderson is shooting better for three this season, leading the country at 53.7% on 108 attempts. 

And a number of Grill’s threes are closer to the midcourt logo than the 3-point line.

“From behind the arc?” Polinsky asked when Grill’s range was referenced Tuesday. “You mean almost at half-court? That’s a real issue.”

Grill is averaging 13.2 points per game and shooting 53.1% from the field, two more career highs. He averaged 9.5 points per game at Iowa State in 2022-23, shooting 39.3% from the field and 38.6% from three, his previous career best. 

“He’s got great range,” Polinsky said. “I think the most impressive thing is his ability to balance himself on his shot — shot prep, quick release. He’s just a really tough cover because you can play really good defense and his offense might be better.”

Grill started his career at Iowa State in 2019-20, transferred to UNLV for one season, returned for two more seasons at Iowa State and is now in his second season at Missouri.

He has 11 made threes over his last two games, making six at Mississippi State on Saturday, including one from the midcourt logo, and five against Ole Miss on January 25. 

Grill made a season-high eight 3-pointers against Eastern Washington in November, had seven more two games later against Pacific and had six at Florida three weeks ago.

“It’s impressive,” Polinsky said. “I mean, as we prepared for Florida in the second game, I watched that game down there. He was phenomenal. I mean, the shots he was making off of movement were NBA-ish.”

Missouri projected as No. 5 seed in NCAA Tournament

Grill’s career season has mirrored Missouri’s turnaround. When Tennessee won 72-67 at Missouri last February, it was Mizzou’s 13th straight loss. The Tigers were free-falling toward an 0-18 record in SEC play and 22 losses over their final 23 games in an eight-win season. 

Now Missouri, led by guard Tamar Bates (13.5 points per game), Grill and forward Mark Mitchell (12.8 points per game) is projected as an NCAA Tournament No. 5 seed in ESPN Bracketology, ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 21 in the NET. Mizzou is also third in the SEC standings at the halfway point of conference play.

“Last year was a brutal year for them,” Polinsky said. “A lot of injuries, et cetera. They are playing great basketball. I think in the month of January they have been the top offensive team in the country. 

“Their defense has always been really good, chaotic in an organized fashion, so they’re a very difficult matchup. But they’re really improved. It’s a really good basketball team.”

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