The keys to SEC play for Mizzou women’s basketball

In twelvemonth 1 nether Kellie Harper, Mizzou women’s hoops is already disconnected to a basking start. At nan extremity of non-conference play, nan Tigers are sitting astatine 12-3 for their champion grounds entering SEC play since 2022-23. But this has travel pinch respective adjacent calls, including single-digit wins against nan likes of Central Arkansas, SIUE and Kansas City.

However, nan Tigers are entering nan existent situation of nan season. The SEC has not been benignant to nan Tigers arsenic of late, pinch only 5 convention wins crossed nan past 2 seasons. This twelvemonth will not beryllium immoderate easier, arsenic nan SEC has nan champion mixed non-conference grounds astatine a staggering 195-24. According to WarrenNolan.com, nan Tigers are projected to decorativeness 11th successful nan convention pinch a grounds of 5-11. This would beryllium a immense betterment complete nan past mates seasons, and a awesome measurement guardant acknowledgment to Coach Harper. But for that to happen, location are respective things that request to spell correct for nan Tigers successful nan caller year. Here are 3 keys for Mizzou women’s hoops to win successful convention play.

Currently location are six teams successful nan convention projected to decorativeness extracurricular nan apical 100 of nan RPI. Mizzou sits astatine nan apical of these teams and will play them a full of six times (Arkansas twice). Four of those games location astatine location against nan likes of Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M. The toughest challenges will travel connected nan roadworthy against Arkansas and Florida.

These person been nan champion games for nan Tigers during this reliable stretch, pinch 3 of nan 5 wins crossed nan past 2 years coming against nan aforementioned opponents. But moreover if Mizzou was not capable to propulsion retired nan triumph successful these games, they person perpetually been competitory and travel down to nan wire.

While it is imaginable to propulsion disconnected an upset triumph complete 1 of nan conference’s best, nan spread betwixt these six teams and nan apical 10 make it look adjacent impossible. There is simply a cardinal agelong betwixt Jan. 15 and Feb. 19 wherever each six of these winnable games will beryllium played, truthful nan Tigers will request to beryllium successful apical shape erstwhile that arises. That takes america to my adjacent point; getting healthy.

One of nan biggest struggles that Mizzou has faced this twelvemonth has been wounded concerns. Five abstracted players person missed immoderate magnitude of clip during nan first mates months of nan season. It was announced correct earlier nan play opener that Averi Kroenke would miss nan full play pinch a torn ACL. Both Sydney Mains and Hannah Linthacum person yet to play this play but are expected to beryllium backmost sometime during convention play. Saniah Tyler had a insignificant limb wounded which caused her to miss nan first 3 games of nan season, but has been backmost arsenic a cardinal contributor disconnected nan chair pinch 1.7 points and 1.7 assists per crippled truthful far.

However nan astir impactful wounded has been to Shannon Dowell, who has missed nan past 2 games pinch a little assemblage injury. Her beingness was dearly missed successful nan triumph against Kansas City, arsenic nan Mizzou discourtesy struggled to find immoderate benignant of occurrence astatine nan rim for a ample portion of nan game. Luckily it is expected that Dowell will beryllium backmost sooner alternatively than later, arsenic nan wounded was primitively considered day-to-day.

These sorts of injuries tin stockpile erstwhile it comes to nan grind of nan SEC. As a consequence it’s important for nan Tigers to get patient and enactment there. If Mizzou is to compete pinch nan champion of nan champion successful nan full nation, they will request to usage nan talents of everyone disposable connected nan roster successful immoderate capacity.

When looking astatine past year’s SEC play, 1 of Mizzou’s biggest struggles came from a slowed violative attack. The Tigers averaged 64.6 points crossed their 17 convention games. By comparison their opponents scored 76.4.

A large portion of this came from nan team’s inability to create unfastened looks successful nan offense. The Tigers averaged only 11.8 assists against convention opponents past season.

Even without a existent defender starter (which I discussed successful this portion recapping nan non-conference slate), Mizzou has been passing to find unfastened teammates astatine a overmuch higher rate. Through 15 games nether Kellie Harper, nan Tigers person averaged 14 assists per game.

This has been a concerted squad effort, pinch 8 players averaging astatine slightest 1 assistance truthful acold this season. One existent standout has been constituent defender Lisa Thompson, who has been in-and-out of nan starting lineup withe nan antecedently mentioned injuries. While averaging only 12.1 minutes of action, she is 3rd connected nan squad pinch 30 assists. If nan Tigers dream to amended their grounds successful SEC play from erstwhile seasons, Thompson will request to proceed and grow upon this occurrence successful nan coming months.

The Tigers get their first glimpse astatine nan gauntlet that nan SEC pinch 3 consecutive showdowns against classed opponents. That starts against No. 1 Texas astatine 6:30 connected New Year’s Day from Mizzou Arena.