Tigers set for KU game

By Jeff Stoffey

How good is the Big 12 in women’s basketball? Well, currently five teams are ranked in the Top 15 of the country. That doesn’t bold well for teams such as Missouri.

In the past week, the Tigers have faced three of those five teams. On Tuesday night, MU had the daunting task of stopping Oklahoma State star Andrea Riley. The Tigers were not successful, dropping the game 75-60.

Now, the Tigers come back home to face Kansas at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Mizzou Arena. While KU and MU currently sit at the bottom of the  conference standings, this rivalry game is always big for both teams. Here are a few thoughts on the Tigers:

• Despite the loss, it was good to see Amanda Hanneman have a big game. The senior had struggled during the past month, but on Tuesday things finally started falling for her. Hanneman shot 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, and finished with 19 points. If the Tigers are going to win again in conference play, they will need her to continue that success.
• How alarming are the Tigers road woes? In the past three seasons, the Tigers have won just one game on the road in Big 12 play. Since Big 12 play began in 1996, the Tigers have a winning percentage of .243 on the road in conference play. While going on the road is difficult for any team, that win percentage is alarming. Something needs to change if the Tigers want to stay out of the Big 12 cellar.
• Jessra Johnson and shooting the three. This is something that puzzles me. Johnson has been dominant inside the arc, but has struggled from beyond the arc. In the past three games, Johnson is 2-for-15 from 3-point range, shooting just 20 percent on the season. Meanwhile, she is 16-for-27 from 2-point range in the past three games. Why does Johnson continue to fire away from 3-point range? Great question.
• Is the KU game the best shot for another Tigers win in Big 12 play? At the moment it appears that way. Kansas has struggled in the Big 12 as well, sitting at 1-4 in conference play. The atmosphere at the game should give the Tigers some momentum. For this rivalry, the records are a mute point. If the Tigers aren’t going to postseason play, this is the most important game of the year.

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