The Missouri guard wants to play aggressively but avoid foul trouble.
After fouling out against Kansas, Stefhon Hannah laid for an extra second on Norm Stewart Court thinking about what had just happened.
Seconds earlier, he tried to steal the ball from Jayhawks guard Russell Robinson but was unsuccessful, getting more of Robinson’s body than the basketball. The slight collision caused Hannah to fall. Despite being the one who ended up on the floor, Hannah was called for his fifth foul.
And it was probably an unnecessary steal attempt. If Hannah hadn’t reached in, Missouri could have pressed or trapped Robinson, possibly causing an errant pass or 10-second violation.
Trailing by only 12 with five minutes remaining, Missouri (14-9, 3-7 Big 12) still had an outside chance to win a game it didn’t deserve to. The Tigers had allowed Kansas to take a 23-point lead in the second half, but had gotten in position to make a late rally. Hannah, sensing this, tried for a steal in Kansas’ backcourt, one that could have led to two more points and an even louder Mizzou Arena.
Instead, Hannah was headed to the bench to watch Kansas outscore the Tigers 12-6 in the game’s last five minutes, completing what turned into a rout.
Hannah’s value to Missouri should be well known by now. He is the team’s leading scorer at 15.6 points per game. He also is leading the team in assists and steals. Furthermore, as he showed on Saturday, Hannah is the team’s most aggressive player, on both offense and defense. That aggression led to 19 points and three steals against the Jayhawks. But it also led to his early departure from the game, one that took away any momentum Missouri had.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, what happened Saturday has been common since the conference season began. In 10 Big 12 games, Hannah has had four or five fouls four times, fouling out twice. It’s something Hannah knows is a problem, and he’s known it for a while.
“I don’t know (what I can do),” Hannah said. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, since conference started.”
When Missouri played Coppin State and Southern before the conference season began, Hannah was quicker than anybody he played against, allowing him to get many easy steals. Against Kansas or Kansas State, Hannah isn’t superior athletically to players he’s facing.
For Missouri to win games against tougher opponents, it probably needs Hannah to play the way he likes, aggressively. But if he is to avoid fouling out, Hannah knows he may need to avoid going for the steal or driving to the basket. It’s a balance Hannah says he hasn’t quite figured out.
“I try to (hold back) sometimes,” Hannah said. “For me holding back so much, I just... When I go all out, I get my foul calls.”
Still, Hannah said he doesn’t know how holding back because of foul trouble affects his game.
“I can’t really say, for real.”
BEAR DOWN: Baylor guard Aaron Bruce injured his left ankle in the Bears’ 68-64 loss Saturday to Oklahoma.
Coach Scott Drew said Bruce suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss one-to-two weeks because of the injury, keeping him out against the Tigers. Bruce is Baylor’s third-leading scorer at 11.6 points and is tied for the team lead in assists with 3.7 per game.
Drew said sophomore Henry Dugat will start in Bruce’s spot. Dugat, who is averaging 10.3 points, is one of four Bears scoring over 10 points per game. The others are Bruce, sophomore guard Curtis Jerrells (13.2), and sophomore forward Kevin Rogers (12.7).
LOVELY: For the first time since 2001, Missouri will be playing on Valentine’s Day. Five years ago, the Tigers defeated Colorado 80-69 in Columbia. Guard Wesley Stokes scored 19 points and made 14-of-16 free throws to lead Missouri.
Overall, Missouri is 13-11 all-time on Feb. 14.