Mizzou vs SEMO Game Analysis by our coaching expert Nathan Docter.
The non-conference between in-state rivals Mizzou and Southeast Missouri State featured several combinations that were successful for both teams, resulting in an efficient yet high-scoring game. With the University of Missouri featuring a new coaching staff, with a host of new players, it was important for the new staff to test out various lineups in a non-conference game of this magnitude, especially with a marquee home matchup against Kansas around the corner.
While Mizzou will utilize a standard starting five, they are careful to understand situations where players coming in off the bench will provide better numbers for their program depending on the situation. A perfect example is when the backcourt of Mizzou features #55 Sean East, a junior college transfer. Based on the shift analysis from Pivot Analysis, with East in the backcourt and a smaller, yet long and athletic lineup, Mizzou is scoring more points and can switch more defensively as well. This is true as well when looking at numbers such as effective FG%. From a defensive perspective, with East in the backcourt alongside DeAndre Gholston, Mizzou has one of their best defensive efficiency combinations as well, at 84.87 per 100 possessions. This shows that having East on the floor provides a boost on both ends of the floor.
From a pure combination standpoint, it is the standard combination of two transfers, D’Moi Hodge from Cleveland State, and Noah Carter from Northern Iowa, which provides the best opportunity for Missouri to be successful not only against SEMO but overall as well in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Carter and Hodge on the floor together provide necessary scoring, and efficient offensive possessions as they are the best offensive combination on the team according to Net Rating, Synergy, and offensive combinations overall.
By utilizing these specific combinations on the floor during crucial moments, Mizzou was able to keep pace with SEMO from a scoring perspective and get stops when necessary down the stretch.
For more analysis by Nathan check out our interview with him here!