Takeaways from the Mizzou women’s basketball non-conference slate

In nan first twelvemonth of caller coach Kellie Harper, Mizzou women’s hoops is disconnected to a beardown commencement astatine nan conclusion of non-conference play. The Tigers are 12-3, their champion commencement since nan 2022-23 season. In addition, this has travel pinch a tougher schedule, finishing nan slate pinch a 2-2 grounds against powerfulness opponents.

Here’s what we person learned astir this year’s Mizzou squad frankincense acold and what’s adjacent heading into SEC play.

What has stood retired nan astir erstwhile watching this Tigers squad is some nan violative measurement and consistency. Currently, Mizzou is averaging 76.9 points per game, up from 68.6 a play ago. Thus far, nan squad has scored 80 points connected six abstracted occasions and person a 5-1 grounds successful specified games.

This violative prowess has travel from each 3 facets of nan game, arsenic nan Tigers rank successful nan apical 35 successful nan state successful section goal, three-point and free propulsion percentage. The team’s champion spot is some from nan three-point statement (39%) and free propulsion percent (81%), some which classed 8th nationally erstwhile this schematic was created past week.

The duo of Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell person led nan charge, combining for an mean of 35.8 points per game. Earlier this month I wrote astir nan summation of Dowell to nan squad and what makes these 2 arsenic a duo truthful special.

Both Dowell and Slaughter person been highly efficient, hanging correct astir nan squad averages successful each 3 categories while spearheading nan violative workload. Jayla Smith has been a exemplary of ratio for nan Tigers arsenic well, averaging 9.8 points connected shooting splits of 55/49/93.

Add successful Jordana Reisma, who is besides averaging double-digits, and Mizzou has been capable to overpower galore of their mid-major opponents pinch violative firepower. However, that has not been nan only cardinal to occurrence for nan Tigers frankincense far.

Another large portion of nan occurrence for this year’s squad has been winning nan 4th quarter. So acold this play nan Tigers person outscored their opponents successful nan last framework 11 times this year, and Mizzou holds a grounds of 10-1 successful specified games.

A cleanable illustration came successful nan triumph against Cal, wherever nan Tigers trailed 55-50 heading into nan 4th quarter. Mizzou recovered that other cogwheel conscionable successful time, winning nan 4th fourth 18-12 to unafraid nan 68-67 triumph pinch a last-second changeable from Dowell.

These precocious crippled spurts person allowed Harper’s squad to either abstracted aliases overtake their opponents. While a large 4th fourth has not been basal successful immoderate of these blowouts, nan games will go much competitory heading into SEC play. If Mizzou tin support things adjacent against immoderate of nan champion teams successful nan SEC (let unsocial nan nation) heading into nan last 10 minutes, they are giving themselves a changeable to unafraid immoderate big-time wins and proceed to build an NCAA-tournament caliber resume.

During nan Robin Pingeton era, 1 of nan Tigers’ biggest problems was turnovers. During nan past twelvemonth nether Pingeton, Mizzou averaged 16 turnovers per crippled which led to easy points for opponents. Under Harper, nan turnovers proceed to beryllium a activity successful progress. Through 15 games, Mizzou is averaging 15.7 turnovers this season. This successful move has led to an mean 14.7 points for opponents disconnected those miscues

Part of nan problem is nan caller fast-paced discourtesy Harper has implemented. This benignant of quick-thinking, fast-acting style makes teams much vulnerable connected offense, but much susceptible to turning nan shot complete owed to a miscommunication aliases a shuffling of nan feet.

Another rumor is nan Tigers person been rolling retired a starting lineup without a existent constituent defender truthful acold this season. With Averi Kroenke retired for play and an wounded limiting Saniah Tyler’s role, Harper has had to move astir respective pieces to thief tally nan offense, including utilizing Dowell arsenic nan superior ballhandler. While she is not being utilized arsenic a existent constituent guard, Dowell’s abilities to create for herself aliases commencement nan action successful modulation has kept nan discourtesy moving smoothly. However, this has contributed to nan spike successful turnovers, arsenic nan shot has spent little clip successful nan hands of a genuinely elite ball-handler. With Dowell now spot by nan wounded bug arsenic good — she’s been sporting a stepping footwear nan past 2 games — fans will again person to spot nan Tigers adjust.

The last responsible statement I would opportunity is time. A cardinal portion of this first twelvemonth is nan precocious measurement of caller members connected nan roster. With this understanding, nan squad has been moving to get acquainted pinch 1 different arsenic accelerated arsenic possible. But that process still takes time, nary matter really bully nan players aliases coaches whitethorn be. There person been moments wherever you tin show that players look unsure of their domiciled wrong nan discourtesy aliases really to champion find 1 another. However, location has been continuous betterment passim nan year, arsenic some nan crippled scheme and nan players themselves person go much comfortable alongside 1 another.

While this beardown non-conference was a large first measurement successful twelvemonth 1 nether Kellie Harper, nan toughest trial lies ahead. The SEC arsenic a full has had an unthinkable non-conference season, pinch nary squad presently classed extracurricular nan apical 100 of nan NET. As a result, wins will beryllium obscurity arsenic easy to travel by.

Coming Soon: I americium moving connected a portion that will research precisely what Harper and Co. should expect heading into convention play that will beryllium released later this week. The Tigers dive headfirst into SEC play erstwhile they big No. 1 Texas astatine 6:30 p.m. connected New Year’s Day from Mizzou Arena.