COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri received an unpleasant and early introduction to Tennessee’s defensive wizardry Wednesday night.
Springy senior Volunteers forward Yves Pons, the owner of arms with reach that would make Inspector Gadget green with envy, swiped the ball away from Xavier Pinson just 14 seconds after the opening tipoff.
Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin was forced to burn his first timeout a minute and a half later, when long, lanky Tennessee clamped down in a surprise full-court press, leaving no Tiger uncovered for an inbound pass.
After the timeout, Jeremiah Tilmon got the ball in the post, pump-faked and found something as good as gold in this game — an uncontested shot.