Under any circumstances, a 5-0 start is impressive. Factor in the
adversity that Missouri has faced in the early season and the Tigers'
undefeated start also has to be considered at least a little surprising.
The Tigers have been without their head coach, are breaking in
four new starters, none of whom is a true point guard, and began the
season without their most experienced big man (Tony Criswell). Overcome
such challenges and you can overlook -- for the most part, anyway --
Missouri's mostly soft schedule to this point.
Now as the
schedule turns firm with a Thanksgiving trip to Las Vegas and coach
Frank Haith is reinstated from his five-game NCAA-mandated suspension,
here are three reasons for their strong start.
THE WINGS HAVE BEEN HOT
Junior
transfer Jordan Clarkson is considered the starting point guard, but
he's not a true "1." He's a scorer. An efficient scorer, at that.
Though he has yet to find his 3-point shot, Clarkson still is averaging
18.8 points on 52.1 percent shooting. With a knack for slipping past
defenders in the lane, Clarkson has been able to get the ball to the rim
even against zone defenses.
When he doesn't shoot, his first
option is to find junior Jabari Brown at the 3-point line. Brown also
knows what to do when he gets the ball. He leads the Tigers with a
19.2-point average, thanks in large part to the fact he's shooting 46.7
percent on 3s. Playing 37 minutes a game hasn't hurt, either.
"I
am excited about Jordan and Jabari," said Tim Fuller, who served as
interim head coach in Haith's absence. "It gives any coach confidence to
finish games when you have two high-powered wings that can play the way
they play."
The third member of the terrific trio, senior
Earnest Ross, has been struggling with his shot (6 of 22 on 3-pointers)
but still is averaging 12.2 points.
PHENOM LIVES UP TO HIS BILLING
Johnathan
Williams III, a top 50 recruit coming out of high school in Memphis, is
showing why he was worthy of becoming the first Missouri freshman to
start the season opener since Jason Horton in 2004.
The 6-9
lanky lefty is adjusting quickly to the physical college game, as
evidenced by his team-best rebounding average of 9.2 In his past two
games, JIII has turned in a 17-rebound effort and his first
double-double. He also is shooting 55.2 percent, though he has taken
fewer than six shots a game.
You can be sure his attempts will
go up as he gains more experience. About the only weakness Williams has
shown is his free-throw shooting; he has missed nine of his 14 attempts.
ANOTHER FRESHMAN MAKES HIS POINT
The
Tigers have a true point guard in Wes Clark though, so far, he has not
cracked the starting lineup. If he continues to play like he has, it's
only a matter of time before Haith figures out a way to get Clark more
minutes. (Putting Ross at the power forward and going with one true big
man looks like the best option.)
Even if he isn't quite as tall
as his listed height of 6-0, Clark looks a bit taller than Phil Pressey.
His passing is just as sharp. When Clark is in the game, Missouri's big
men have to be alert because they're more likely to get a touch than
when he's not on the floor.
"It's crazy how much you see Phil in
him," said sophomore forward Ryan Rosburg. "He's a pass-first point
guard who sets people up for easy shots, but he can score when he needs
to. He brings a lot to the table."
Clark, who has made 6 of 10
3-pointers, looks to be a better shooter than Pressey so far. He
displays the same ball-hawking skills on defense and, on offense, he
plays very much under control, especially for a newcomer to the college
game.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @stanmcneal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
