In the closing moments of the first half at the SEC Tournament, Jacob Crews broke free off an elevator screen and confidently drained a three-pointer against Kentucky. This shot not only lit up the scoreboard but also ended a personal shooting slump for Crews.
Before this, Crews had been struggling to find his rhythm. His last jumper came during a late-game rally against Oklahoma, and prior to that, he endured a four-game stretch without a successful catch-and-shoot jumper.
Since Missouri began SEC play, Crews has only attempted 18 of these shots, bringing his season total to 114. Coach Dennis Gates had set an ambitious target for Crews to hit 100 of these shots this season, highlighting the inconsistency that has plagued the Tigers’ backcourt.
There are bright spots, though. T.O.
Barrett’s rise, Jayden Stone exceeding expectations despite a history of injuries, and Trent Pierce’s solid performance as a reserve offer some hope. But Missouri’s preseason goals were built on more than just these elements.
They needed Anthony Robinson II to become a scoring force, Crews to replace Caleb Grill’s long-range prowess, and UCLA transfer Sebastian Mack to add pressure with his drives. Unfortunately, Robinson’s progress has stalled, Mack has been sidelined since a tough loss to Alabama, and Crews’ role has diminished.
Despite these challenges, the Tigers have maintained a level of play that earned them a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting up a showdown with Miami at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Facing Miami, Missouri will encounter a team with a similar style. The Hurricanes, like the Tigers, rely on a short rotation, efficient scoring at the rim, and a dynamic forward to lead their offense. Both teams depend on physical lead guards to influence the game’s outcome, raising questions about the backcourt’s contributions in this evenly matched contest.
To understand Missouri’s situation, we need to look at how the guards are used and their efficiency. The backcourt’s possessions increased significantly in early January with the return of Stone and Pierce from injury, stabilizing at around 46.7 to 49.0 per game during SEC play. This boost led to a scoring surge, peaking during an upset over Vanderbilt.
However, as the competition intensified, the guards’ efficiency began to decline. A slight improvement was seen in early February, highlighted by a win over Tennessee, but maintaining this balance has been challenging.
In recent months, Robinson and Crews have seen their touches decrease, with more opportunities given to Barrett, Stone, and Pierce. By February, Pierce’s average possessions overtook Crews, and Robinson’s advantage over Barrett diminished at the SEC Tournament.
Scoring has followed a similar trend. Barrett, Stone, and Pierce have stepped up to fill the void left by Robinson and Crews. Stone and Pierce were expected to enhance the team’s output, yet they’ve mainly provided just enough to keep Missouri competitive.
Over the last 11 games, possessions have dropped by 8.7 percent, points per possession by 8.6 percent, and points per game by 16.6 percent. Barrett’s touches have remained steady, but their value has decreased since his strong performance against Tennessee. Recently, he’s been shooting just 46.1 percent at the rim.
Stone’s chances have remained consistent but less effective, hitting only 34.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers since January 31. Pierce has been reliable but inconsistent in his contributions.
Barrett occasionally finds mismatches to exploit, but recent weeks suggest he’s reaching his limits. When Stone or Pierce shoots well, they provide the necessary support to Mitchell, who plays heavy minutes and carries a significant load, helping Missouri achieve positive results.
This balance has been enough to secure a spot in the tournament, but a late three-game losing streak has raised questions about their future performance.
Robinson has shown improvement after a rough January, increasing his efficiency, though on limited attempts. He’s making some long-range shots but still struggles with close-range opportunities.
Crews, on the other hand, has seen his role diminish significantly. His average of almost five catch-and-shoot attempts per game early in the season has dropped to 1.6 in the latter half of SEC play.
With Stone and Pierce returning, Crews’ usage rate has fallen to 12.7 percent, the lowest among regular players. The issue now isn’t just about making shots; it’s about getting opportunities to shoot.
While the coaching staff has made adjustments, such as slowing the tempo and refining the rotation, the key to Missouri’s success lies in consistent backcourt performance. Mixing up lineups and tweaking strategies can help, but ultimately, the guards need to capitalize on the opportunities they’re given.
When they do, Missouri can outperform expectations. Recent weeks have shown the consequences when they don’t.