Didn’t We Almost Have It All?

On Saturday afternoon, Missouri and Kansas took part in an epic battle, the latest and possibly last in a century old rivalry. The championship of the Big XII hung in the balance. The Missouri Tigers won the first contest between these rivals earlier in the month. The Kansas Jayhawks’ backs were against the wall coming into this game in their own building.

Missouri had the regular season tiebreaker over Kansas. Missouri took an early lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of regulation. Missouri led by 19 points in the second half. Missouri lost.

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LIVE BY THE SWORD…DIE BY THE SWORD

By “sword”, I mean the three point shot. In the first meeting, Missouri trailed Kansas late in part because of missed jumpers. They came back with late three point shots and missed free throws by Kansas. This afternoon, Missouri surged far ahead early in the game. The Tigers attempted 29 three point shots, making 11 (six in the first half).

Senior Marcus Denmon, who finished with 28 points, nailed a three point shot to put Mizzou up 19 points. Denmon was 6 for 10 from downtown. The rest of the team didn’t fare so well from behind the arc.

After going up by 19 points, Missouri would go 1 for 8 on three pointers. Missed jump shot after missed jump shot allowed Kansas to climb back into the game. Kansas senior Tyshawn Taylor (24 points) and Thomas Robinson (28 points, 12 rebounds) steadily chipped away at Missouri’s defense. Robinson seemed to be Johnny on the spot, grabbing rebound after rebound following a missed shot by the Tigers. Robinson tied the score with 16 second remaining in the second half, sending the game into overtime.

Robinson: and one! 3

ONE MAN SHOW

Missouri’s Marcus Denmon was spectacular in the extra five minute period. Denmon made three of the Tigers’ four field goals in overtime, including two three pointers and two shots to give Missouri the lead. However, Denmon, who played 44 minutes, appeared to be the only Tiger who was not gassed by the end of regulation. The momentum had completely shifted to Kansas and Missouri could not stop them.

Taylor and Robinson of Kansas would combine to score all 12 of the Jayhawks’ overtime points, with only one field goal coming from beyond the perimeter. Taylor, Robinson, and the Kansas crowd appeared to overwhelm Missouri, who offered little resistance to Kansas’ penetration. The ultimate irony, Marcus Denmon made what would have been a game winning shot for Missouri with no time on the clock. Unfortunately for Denmon and the Tigers, the ball left his hands with no time on the clock.

Denmon helped put Missouri ahead early and keep them in the game during overtime. 2 

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

For the second year in a row, Mizzou reached the 25 win plateau in the regular season. For the second year in a row the Tigers began a conference losing streak in late February that began with a loss to Kansas State and included a loss to Kansas. Conversely, Kansas, for the second year in a row, had a winning streak of five or more after beating Missouri. Last year Missouri was one and done in the NCAA Tournament, cleaned out Cincinnati in the round of 64 after limping into the Big Dance. This year?   

The picture says a thousand words. 1

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1) Image from http://www.stltoday.com/
2) Image from http://www.kansas.com/
3) Image from www2.ljworld.com
4) Image from http://www.kansascity.com/