Physicality, effort gives Missouri defense a much-needed edge

For the vast majority of their game against the Missouri Tigers on Tuesday night, the South Carolina Gamecocks shot around the 60% mark from the field.

While being outshot by nearly 15% at times, the Tigers needed to find a way to claw their way back into the contest. They did this by winning the turnover battle, finishing the game with nine steals and forcing the Gamecocks into 14 turnovers, holding on to win 83-74.

"I'll never overreact if teams make great plays,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said. “South Carolina shot the heck out of the ball tonight. I credit Lamont Paris’ staff as well as the players on that team for being prepared to play.”

While trying to make up for a percentage deficit between the two offenses, Missouri used the defensive end of the ball to limit the number of South Carolina possessions ending in a shot. The Tigers finished the game with a 53-50 edge on field goals attempted.

The fast, physical Tigers defense ranks 185th in the nation, far from where Gates would want it to be, but ranks second in the nation in defensive possessions ending in steals and seventh in the nation in defensive possessions ending in turnovers.

Gates claims that the energy behind their defensive effort gives the Tigers their edge in the turnover battle from game to game.

“We want to stay as solid as possible, but also disciplined in what we do,” Gates said. “Then that, by nature, allows us to get some of those turnovers because guys are in the right spot. As long as we're in the right spot? Great.”

This season, the Tigers have lost the turnover battle just twice – once in their Dec. 10 game against Kansas at Mizzou Arena and once more this past Saturday against Mississippi State during their road trip to Starkville.

With the win against the Gamecocks, the Tigers suit up for another road trip, taking on the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. Tennessee looks to rebound from a loss to an unranked Vanderbilt on Wednesday night by defending home court against Missouri.

“I'll probably watch this game three or four times tonight, and then tonight, I'll still watch Tennessee,” Gates said following his team’s win on Tuesday night. “As a head coach, that's my job. Their job is to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead.”