Takeaways from Missouri's 9th Straight Loss in SEC Play Against Vanderbilt
Saturday was the last chance Missouri men's basketball had to change the course of the season.
A win wouldn't have put itself into serious contention in the Southeastern Conference, but it would've at least given the Tigers some sort of hope ahead of their February schedule. After all, the Vanderbilt Commodores were the other team at the bottom of the conference and have looked even worse against their opponents.
That hope left Missouri after its 68-61 loss, officially putting any chance at winning the rest of the season to rest. Noah Carter and Tamar Bates combined for 37 points, but an inefficient offense and lack of rebounding left them unable to lead their team to a win.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
Missouri Tigers center Mabor Majak (45) gets the a long rebound ahead of Vanderbilt Commodores guard Evan Taylor (12) during their game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.
© Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
How Do You Win From Here?
Playing Vanderbilt was the best chance for Missouri to overcome its winless streak in the SEC by a considerable margin.
The previously 5-15 Commodores struggled even more in nonconference play than the Tigers and also didn't have a win in conference play, so the game looked like a considerably easier opportunity to gain a win.
Missouri blew that opportunity, failing once again to play a complete 40 minutes of energized and consistent offense. The struggles from behind the arc continued to affect the Tigers, resulting in a 7-of-26 3-point shooting night. Vanderbilt didn't perform much better in that area, but got to the free-throw line at a higher rate and dominated the rebound battle.
At this point, the Tigers getting a win for the rest of the season seems like it has a low possibility of happening. Most of the rest of their schedule consists of teams towards the top of the SEC rather than the bottom, and if they aren't, they've already beaten Missouri in convincing fashion this season.
The LSU Tigers might be the team for Missouri to beat if anyone, but their 95-74 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks yesterday might've shown a different side of their team.
Anything can happen in college basketball, so the low chance of the Tigers pulling off a major upset to finally get a win isn't out of the realm of possibility. It can't be counted on though, and the outlook on Missouri basketball is the lowest its been in an already low-morale season.
Need More Boards
Possibly the biggest over-arching struggle over the two teams in the Dennis Gates era has been rebounding.
It was one of the few issues that last season's team dealt with in a highly successful season, even with Kobe Brown at the forefront of the lineup. This year the additions of Connor Vanover and Jordan Butler were expected to help the issue, but instead it is still glaring.
The Tigers were outrebounded by the Commodores 42-31, which included six fewer offensive rebounds. What makes the differential worse is the overall lack of size Vanderbilt has, with its tallest starter only standing at 6-foot-8. There were no excuses for the rebounding performance, and it has been a problem throughout their nine-game losing streak.
Ultimately the personnel Missouri has can't become better rebounders overnight, but it has to be a problem corrected for next season's squad. Gates will have to target transfers that pride themselves on their rebounding game, especially with it losing some big man talent next year.
The Sole Source of Offense
About the only positive thing of SEC play for the Tigers has been Bates, their second-highest scorer this season.
Second-highest is really only because of his low playing time early in the season, as the junior has completely taken over the Missouri offense during conference games. He scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting against Vanderbilt, its only efficient and high-volume scoring performance of the night.
Carter provided 20 points as well, but on a less efficient and consistent basis. Bates is a reliable 15+ points per game player, and he does it effectively. Sean East II had been the leader of the offense, but Bates has truly stepped into that role through his excellent play.
Bringing Bates back to the roster should be Gates' and the Missouri program's No. 1 priority for next season, who would contribute well as a continuity piece who can be a trusted scorer. With another full season under his belt, next season should only be an improvement for the guard.
The junior has earned the possibility of transferring to a top team in the SEC through his play, so it will certainly take some convincing from Gates to bring him back. If the Tigers can swing a couple of games in their favor in the final month of the season, it would only help their case.
