Max Copeland was talking conference play before he could wipe the blood from the bridge of his nose.
The Tigers had just beaten Arkansas State 41-19 to close their non-SEC
portion of the schedule on Saturday, and the senior left guard who says
his nose has been giving him problems since he head-butted something a
few months back was less concerned about the caked-red mess plastered on
his face than he was about making it clear his team plans to correct
its embarrassing two-win, six-loss league debut in 2012.
"Phase
One is complete," Copeland said. "Now it's on to Phase Two, and getting
respect from this conference. That's what we are out to do. Phase One is
complete, and we are excited about that. We are also hungry. Because we
are not satisfied with just winning our non-conference games. Now, it's
for all the marbles."
Right now the Tigers are looking good.
They're 4-0 for the first time since 2010 and paired with No. 1 Alabama
as the only perfect duo in the conference. They average 45.5 points per
game and hold opponents to 21.
But let's be honest.
We
really don't know what to make of this team. That won't be the case
after Pinkel and Co. navigate eight SEC games, four of which will be
played against currently ranked teams, in the next nine weeks. Before
Mizzou starts the grind Saturday night against Vanderbilt, let's take a
look at, as Copeland would say, Phase Two:
Vanderbilt
Date: Saturday
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Current record: 3-2, 0-2 SEC
Offense: 34.8 ppg
Defense: 21.6 ppg
Last year: 19-15, Vanderbilt
No. 6 Georgia
Date: Oct. 12
Location: Athens, Ga.
Current record: 3-1, 2-0 SEC
Offense: 41.3 ppg
Defense: 32.5 ppg
Last year: 41-20, Georgia
No. 18 Florida
Date: Oct 19
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Current record: 3-1, 2-0 SEC
Offense: 23.8 ppg
Defense: 12.8 ppg
Last year: 14-7, Florida
No. 13 South Carolina
Date: Oct. 26
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Current record: 3-1, 1-1 SEC
Offense: 30 ppg
Defense: 25.3 ppg
Last year: 31-10, South Carolina
Tennessee
Date: Nov. 2
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Current record: 3-2, 0-1 SEC
Offense: 31.8 ppg
Defense: 26.8 ppg
Last year: 51-48 OT, Mizzou
Kentucky
Date: Nov. 9
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Current record: 1-3, 0-1 SEC
Offense: 21.8 ppg
Defense: 23.3 ppg
Last year: 33-10, Mizzou
No. 24 Ole Miss
Date: Nov. 23
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Current record: 3-1, 1-1 SEC
Offense: 28.5 ppg
Defense: 24 ppg
Last year: Didn't play
No. 9 Texas A&M
Date: Nov. 30
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Current record: 4-1, 1-1 SEC
Offense: 49.2 ppg
Defense: 30.8 ppg
Last year: 59-29, Texas A&M
It's
a grueling stretch, but one Mizzou might be better prepared for this
year. The same desire to prove their worth is burning inside these
Tigers, even if they are not as vocal about it as the 2012 team. For
proof, look no further than the PowerPoint schedule Mizzou coach Gary
Pinkel showed his players after the Arkansas State win. Non-conference
games were highlighted in one color. Conference matchups stood alone.
"It's like a line now," Pinkel told reporters Monday. "That (non-conference) is over with. Now we are in the SEC. Here we go."
Follow Ben Frederickson on Twitter (@Ben_Fred), or contact him at frederickson.ben@gmail.com
