Longhorns vs Tigers

[Driftwood]

Missouri has struggled this year with an overall record of 8 and 10. They are 1-4 in conference with their only victory against TTech at home.

They have three players in double figures for the season:
Alyssa Hollins @ 16.4
Jessra Johnson @ 14.8
and Shakara Jones at 11.9

Tigers shoot .396 from the field and .359 from beyond the arc. They turn the ball over 17 times on average per game and have 9 steals per game. They pull down 35 RBs and are generally out rebounded by the opposition.

Texas is on a roll coming off an outstanding game against the ranked OSU Cowgirls. Expect three point shooting percentages for the Tigers to drop off in the face of the Texas defense. Turnovers should also increase if the Horns press and trap.

Let's hope the Horns bring their "A" game and take it to the Tigers!

 

[BabHorn]

The Tigers have been vulnerable in the paint in conference play. Tech outscored them 31-10 in the paint although Missouri won. OSU’s post Cordero (12 pts) and forward Green (14 pts) were a combined 12-23 in their win against Missouri. KU’s center Boogaard (6-5) and g-f McCray were the leading scorers (17 & 15 pts, respectively) in the Kansas win. Baylor had a 42-22 edge in points in the paint in their win. Starting forwards Spears (24 pts), Putnina (12 pts) and McFarland (17 pts) led Colorado to victory.

The Texas post players have a chance to dominate the game, hopefully getting Kat and the other guards open shots from the perimeter. While Texas as a team is only connecting on 27.4% of their 3s in Big 12 games, Kat is hitting 44.4% of her 3s (tops on the team for another taking at least 5 3s in conference). Texas as a team ranks last in the Big 12 in making 3s. The Horns make 4 of 14.6 attempts from BTA.

What the Horns will have to guard against is the 3. Missouri is 3rd in conference play making 6.8 3s a game in 17.4 attempts per game. Almost a 3rd of their shots attempted have been 3s. They shoot better from BTA (39.1%) than they do from inside the arc (34.2%). For MU, Hollins and Hanneman are averaging 5.8 & 4.4 3pt attempts per game. They are making 2.8 & 1.6 3s a game respectively. For Texas, Kat is the leader with 8-18 3s in Big 12 play. That’s 1.6 made per 3.6 attempts. Brittainey (2-14, 14.3%) and Ebay (3-13, 23.1%) are the only other Horns to have attempted at least 10 3s in conference play. Nine Horns have attempted a 3 in conference play with seven making at least one.

The Horns will have chance to dominate on the boards as the Tigers are giving up 12.6 rebounds more to opponents than they collect. Texas, while also giving up more rebounds than they get, are only a negative 3.4 on that score. While the Texas press likely to force Missouri into TOs, after five conference games, the teams are close together in number of TOs given up (UT 16.0; MU 16.4) and forced (UT 19.8: MU 19.8). Texas will try to force 20 or more TOs as they have in 3 of their 5 conference games.

At first glance, it appears that MU has smaller lineup than the Horns. But their backcourt is taller on the average than Texas’. MU runs 5-11, 5-11, 5-6. Texas is 5-7, 5-9, & 6-0. The difference in the front court is slight. Texas is at 6-4 and either 6-1 or 6-2 while MU starts 6-1 and 6-2, assuming they go with the same lineup they have the last two games. The Tigers are young as their lineup is made up of three sophs, one frosh, and one junior the last two games. Texas starts similar experience as the lineup usually consists of a senior, a junior, a soph, and two redshirt sophs. Should Kat start in place of Earnie, a frosh takes the place of a RS soph.

As Driftwood noted, MU is has a trio of players averaging double figures. Big 12 play, the players are scoring a bit less but still in double figures. Hollins is at 15.6 ppg, Johnson at 11.0 ppg and Jones at 10.2 ppg. The Horns are led by Brit at 15.2 ppg and Ashley at 10.8 ppg. Kat’s 7 pts against OSU dropped her Big 12 scoring average to 9.4 ppg. For the Tigers, two of their top scorers in conference play are 6-1 Johnson and 6-2 Jones. Given that they are the tallest Tigers starting, I assume they play inside. Johnson is their best rebounder at 6.0 in Big 12 play. The Horns will counter on the boards with Ashley (8.2 rpg) and Kat (7.0 rpg).

MU is really not playing slow. They average 56.6 shots a game compared to 63 for Texas. They outshoot their opponents by 3.2 shots a game. They just don’t make very many of their attempts. They are 11th in conference in FG% at 35.7%. Texas is last at 34.5%. The good news for Texas is that they shot 41% against OSU and that MU is allowing opponents to make 48.3% of their shots (last in the conference). For the Tigers, the good news is that they are facing a team in Texas that is almost as bad in defending shots as they are. Texas is 8th in the conference, allowing opponents to hit 41.3% of their FGs. And this is after the sterling effort against OSU. The Tigers don’t get to the FT line much, having made 48 of 77 FTs for 62.3%. The % is 11th in the conference. The number of FTs made and attempted is 10th . Texas has made 68-99 (68.7). The number of made FTs is fifth in the Big 12 while the number of FTs attempted is fourth. The % ranks ninth. The Tigers are sending opponents to the FT line 16.8 times in Big 12 play. Texas is getting there 19.8 times. The Horns will have to work to get there as Missouri's last three opponents have gotten only 13, 14, and 17 (Baylor) FT attempts.

Texas is trying to start a winning streak after beating OSU last weekend while Missouri is trying to break a three game losing streak in conference play.

MikeUT00 has provided links to the game stories from the Texas and MU college sport sites on another post.

The game is being touted as part of a double header. The game starts at 1 pm while the men will face off against Tech at 7pm. The game will nationally televised on ESPNU with Nancy Lieberman doing the color. The game will on radio at FM98.1 instead of the familiar KVET 1300AM.

 

[Iguana]

Great job BabHorn.

 

[BabHorn]

Nice work by the Horns taking advantage of the Tiger's weakness inside. The Horns outscored the Tigers 32-20 in the paint and had a 16-2 edge in second chance points. They turned 23 Missouri TOs into 28 pts while giving up only 2 pts of their 13 TOs.

While only two Horns were in double digit scoring (Ashley with 14 and Brit with 13), 5 other players had at least 5 points and every player that played scored. That was all 11 players available. Brit continued her streak of double digit scoring in every game this season.

Horns continued the excellent help defense they showed in the game against OSU. They really disrupted the Tigers' offense, allowing only 37 pts. MU couldn't get a basket and even their FTs were affected as they made only 1-7 FTs. MU scored only 17 pts in the second half after getting 20 in the first half.

Horns appear to be hitting their stride on defense the way they played the last two games. The offense is still hard to come by (38% from the field) but making 95% of your FTs, especially when you get 19 FTs, will allow you a lot of slack when combined with the defense. The next four games will be really tough, Baylor away, OU at home, A&M away and then Baylor at home. The way the Horns are playing, a 2-2 record is quite possible, a sweep not out of the question. Baylor this coming Wednesday will be especially tough.

 

[BBV_Horn]

We did look very complete, and I was thrilled to see Kristen Nash get in the game!!

Funny, I came home and was going to see a repeat on BEVOD from this season, but ran across our 2005 win against Baylor, when they were #6 in the nation....we were missing "bunnies" that game, too.

That was our best game ever against Baylor...boy I would love to see a repeat of that performance!!!

Go, Horns, Bite the Bears!!