ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Tigers got defensive in their annual Braggin’ Rights matchup with the Fighting Illini and in the process snapped a five-game losing skid to Illinois. The 79-63 victory at the Enterprise Center extended their winning streak this season to five games, exorcised the demons of poor performances past and sent both players and coaching staff into the Christmas break on the highest of notes.
Head coach Cuonzo Martin admitted that he had a miserable Christmas following last year’s loss. Ah, but redemption is oh so sweet!
Defense is a trademark of Martin-coached teams and that staple was on full display Saturday.
Mizzou held Illinois well below their scoring average of 74.5 points per game on 24 of 59 shooting (40.7 percent) from the field overall. The Tigers also held the Illini to 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from 3-point range with a suffocating style that led to 19 Tiger points off of turnovers and was responsible for a 22-4 run during the last seven minutes that sealed Illinois’ 2018 fate.
The Illini didn’t help their cause, going 7 of 14 from the free-throw line while giving up 12 second chance points. Missouri scored 36 points in the paint, a testament to their ability to capitalize on drives to the basket, stick-backs and short range jumpers.
The game included three Tigers who previously committed to Illinois: Jeremiah Tilmon, Javon Pickett and Mark Smith. The former Illini recruits were released from their letters of intent or transferred when Brad Underwood was hired to be Illinois' head coach.
The play of Tilmon, Pickett and Smith complemented senior guard Jordan Geist who, despite a few bouts with muscle cramps, was able to string together a line that saw him score 20 points, nab six rebounds and dish out seven assists. He knocked down 4 of 8 shots from beyond the arc in registering one of his best performances in a Tiger uniform. Tilmon poured in 16 points and hauled down 12 caroms, while Pickett, a freshman small forward, turned in his best game of the season, registering 16 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the floor, a stat that included his going 2 of 2 from three.
Missouri has bought into Martin’s defense-first philosophy and the results have produced back-to-back conquests of good Xavier and Illinois programs by a total of 31 points. It has given this team momentum amid a newly found level of confidence.
The Tigers have proven the best offense is defense and the euphoria of winning should carry the team through Christmas to the final non-conference game next Saturday in Columbia against Morehead State.
Can Mizzou ride that momentum, stretch their winning streak, finish the non-conference portion of their 2018-19 schedule 9-3 and head into SEC play on a roll?
Never underestimate Martin’s coaching ability or his Tigers.
