Much has been made of Missouri’s starting five and nine (the number Cuonzo Martin mentioned after Mizzou Madness) man rotation. Perhaps nowhere is there more intrigue than at point guard. The main competition appears to be between returning two-year starter Terrence Phillips and true freshman Blake Harris.
“Blake is an outstanding player with a great mind for basketball with great skills,” Phillips said. “He can lead a team just as I can. I think that’s where if I start or he starts it doesn’t really make a difference. I feel like at the end of the day we both just want to win.”
“It would be pretty cool to start,” Harris said. “I think I’m getting there. College basketball is pretty hard. They’re trying to get me to be a good point guard. I think I’m getting there. I’m not sure who’s starting.”
Neither is Cuonzo Martin. While he said he wanted to win an exhibition against Kansas and a scrimmage against Wisconsin (Missouri lost both), the more important goal was to get an idea what he had on his team.
“If this is year two or three or four we’re rolling, we understand what we have,” Martin said. “We’re still trying to figure out what we have. Once the ball tips November 10th, we’re playing the guys that give us the best chance to win games.”
It was Harris who got the starting nod against Kansas, the only time the media or public has gotten to see Missouri in action. He was up-and-down, particularly at the free throw line where he went 1-for-5. But the talent was evident.
“He’s an amazing defender. I know you guys can tell how quick he is,” Kassius Robertson said. “He’s quick with his feet, he’s relentless on defense. Offensively he’s just got to learn a little bit more, be a little bit more vocal. As soon as he gets that he’s going to be an amazing player for sure. The things that he does well he does really well.”
All of Missouri’s newcomers admitted to some nerves in the game against the Jayhawks. Harris has learned plenty more as well.
“Just the physicality. Guys are a lot bigger and faster,” he said. “I think I’ve got to be more vocal. It’s a little loud in the gym so you’ve got to scream some.”
Harris was a strong scorer in high school, but he doesn’t see that as his role at Mizzou. At least not right now.
“I just scored a lot in high school because I needed to,” he said. “I think I’m more of a distributor. I shoot when I need to shoot. I think I’m trying to my teammates involved more, play defense and be a leader.”
Phillips found himself in the same situation the last two years. He was the Tigers’ third-leading scorer a season ago. He took more shots than anyone other than Kevin Puryear and led the team in three-point attempts.
“I know he’s not scared to shoot, I know he doesn’t mind shooting. Once he gets a shot he’ll take it, but he’s definitely more in his element with this team for sure,” Jordan Barnett said. “It definitely lets him be a real point guard, be the Oak Hill point guard he was, just sit back and get all the assists.”
As for the contrasts between the two?
“I think I probably shoot the ball a little bit better than he does, but he’s always in the gym working,” Phillips said. “I do think he’s a little bit quicker and a little more shifty than I am so that’s where he offsets me. With the two styles we play are different but at the end of the day we’re all about winning and we’re going to stick to what we do best.”
Harris said Phillips has been a big help to him in learning the ropes, both on and off the basketball court.
“He helps me if he sees I’m not doing something right. He’s good at that, you can tell he’s been in college for two years,” Harris said. “Just how to be a leader. How to talk to your teammates. How college is. Just trying to prepare me to be ready when November 10th comes.”
But this may not just be a two-man race. Martin said he played four point guards in the closed scrimmage against Wisconsin. Robertson, more of a shooting guard by trade, manned the position at time against the Jayhawks and Martin said he did it more against the Badgers.
“I think his future (as a professional) is combo point guard,” Martin said. “I thought he did a good job with it. Older guy, experienced guy, understands it, can make shots, can make plays. But if he’s at that position what we don’t want to do is take away his ability to be aggressiveness to score.”
“I know everybody seen the 40% and I’m a three point shooter, but at the end of the day I’m here to make plays,” Robertson said. “I don’t like to be a one dimensional player because I know I’m not going to stay on the floor if that thing’s not working. To help this team and be a leader on this team I’ve got to do more than one thing.”
As far as running the point, Roberston said “You’re probably gonna see that a little bit more through the year for sure.”
The Tigers open the season in nine days against Iowa State. The point guard question likely won’t be completely settled by then. In fact, a lot won’t be settled.
“It’s probably going to take several games to fill it out,” Martin said.
