Game 20 - Jan 21 - Missouri St.

[PantherAlum09]

We are hosting Missouri St. tonight. They have statistically been one of the worst teams in basketball this year and do not have a conference win. Dez White is a productive player for them, but they just are not very good. Have to take care of business at home and get on the right track. I would like to see some adjustments made tonight and they have to be faster than what we typically do.

[BCPanther]

Welp. If Saturday's loss was catastrophic, and it was, this would be nuclear. This has to be a jump on them at the tip and bury them type game.

We just put ourselves in a horrible spot. We've had the easiest league schedule so far and being 5-3 just isn't something that makes you a legitimate contender.

[kochrab]

Has there been anything out there to rationalize any of this? I know that we won't win them all, the Valley is insanely hard to do that in, but to have a slow start like we've had with the schedule we've had is... perplexing. There's no reason we should be losing to SIU by that much. If this game is down to the wire or we lose, the whole team better have just had ACL replacement surgery or all have the plague for it to make sense.

[PantherAlum09]

Has there been anything out there to rationalize any of this? I know that we won't win them all, the Valley is insanely hard to do that in, but to have a slow start like we've had with the schedule we've had is... perplexing. There's no reason we should be losing to SIU by that much. If this game is down to the wire or we lose, the whole team better have just had ACL replacement surgery or all have the plague for it to make sense.

I think the rationale is that we have individually solid pieces but together they just don’t make a formidable team. We have good athletes but don’t shoot the ball well enough and we play a style that requires better offensive execution. We also don’t play defense at a high enough level to offset our bad shooting nights. We don’t have an identity right now. Teams can smell blood in the water and we need to make some big changes if we don’t want this season to get ugly.

[CincyPanther88]

Not really starting off well.

[PantherAlum09]

Ohhhh. Cael Schmitt is a baller. That will help.

[BobCat]

Cael is playing like he's trying to get a full season's worth out of a half season. Love how active he is on off-the ball defense as well

[CincyPanther88]

12 point lead down to 5.

[BobCat]

That was a fun game to watch...good win. Tytan came up with a BIG night, Hutty 16 pts and 3 blocks...Hornseth looked great..Bond didn't score much but had 5 assists with no TO's. Actually only 5 turnovers for the team..love that

[Big Cats]

Two bench guys in double digits in scoring and three bench guys in double digits in minutes played. That can only help down the final stretch of the season.

[PantherAlum09]

The guys played hard and it was a good win. Cael was a huge lift off the bench and Tytan cleaned up in the second half. Tonight was a good example of how we have to play to be most effective on offense. Pound it inside and get easy shots and find wide open shooters when the defense collapses. Cael having a good stroke out there tonight was very promising and needed. I absolutely loved his energy at the point.

Once again, Kyle Pock, we need you out there man. He needs to be a guy at his size that fires even if there's a hand in his face at times. I'm also still worried about the defense. The guys were working hard but when it's all said and done, MO St. shot 53% from the field and 50% from 3. We did turn them over 12 times and we only turned it over 5 so that's big.

On to Terre Haute where we really need a big performance.

[BCPanther]

Much better tonight. Missouri State made some real late clock stuff that made it seem closer than it was.

I think Cael Schmitt needs to play 25 minutes. We desperately need that toughness on the defensive end and I feel like we really missed him without knowing it.

I love the idea of what Kyle Pock brings but until it actually shows up, he's borderline unplayable which I really hate

[orangetennis]

Why did we keep doubling their 6'4" big man all night? He kept killing us with passes to open shooters, but never hurt us much going one on one with Hut.

[Neighbor]

Why did we keep doubling their 6'4" big man all night? He kept killing us with passes to open shooters, but never hurt us much going one on one with Hut.

Early on I had the same thought. But, after the second time out we changed and didn't double on 23. He scored in 1 on 1 against Hutty and Hornseth. we doubled because he wasn't great at dribbling.

As BC said I hope to see more of Schmitt. I'm skeptical that his knee can withstand 25 minutes. I've gone through severe knee injury and it affects mobility. But man he can shoot.

[Wxcpanther]

To be clear, their 6'4" big man is also 280 pounds. Remarkably unique player. Hutty got the best of him in the first half with blocked shots, but that much weight and that low of a center of gravity is going to be REALLY difficult to deal with. Defense wasn't GREAT, but the effort was mostly there. Cael certainly adds an edge, having the students back also matters, last night was a good showing for them considering we were coming off a bad loss. Gives me a real good feeling about what we could see a week from Sunday if we can get at least 1 of the next 2. The next 3 are incredibly important with a trip to the abyss that is Indiana and then games at 2nd place Drake and 1st place Bradley. If we want to be taken seriously, we gotta get 2 of 3. Get all 3? Hold onto your butts.