Why didn't Isiaih Mosley play against Penn? It was a coaching decision
Isiaih Mosley, one the prized additions this offseason for Missouri men's basketball and one of the most coveted transfers in college basketball, didn't play Friday night against Penn.
According to MU head coach Dennis Gates, it was simply a coaching decision.
"We have depth," Gates said.
Missouri won 92-85. The Tigers improved to 2-0 and have an offense that clicked well and often without Mosley. Noah Carter led the way with 28 points as four total MU players finished in double figures offensively.
Still, Mosley, a Rock Bridge alum, scored 20 points per game last year for Missouri State and was assumed to be a major part of the rotation.
Mosley did see action early on. He played 16 minutes last Monday against Southern Indiana and hit 2 of his 7 field goals for four points. He was 0 for 3 on 3-point attempts.
However, Mosley earned praise from Gates Monday after the game when asked about his limited minutes.
Gates noted that Mosley's passing helped the team, as did his defense. The most praise Gates gave was for the two charges Mosley took. Gates noted Mosley didn't play many minutes because of how the flow of the game was going, and that the players he had in the lineup were in a rhythm.
The same rules applied Friday. Gates could have played Mosley, but decided against it because of what was on the court
It is fair to point out that D'Moi Hodge, Nick Honor and Tre Gomillion were playing excellent defense. Each recorded three steals apiece, although Missouri struggled in defending the 3-point shot Friday night. Penn shot 50 percent from 3-point range.
What Missouri needed Friday night was defense, and it's fair to assume Gates wanted a more defensive-minded lineup to close out the win after Penn kept finding ways to keep the game close.
Gates is confident that Mosley would have played well had he gone in.
"If I put him in, he could have went in," Gates said. "I just chose to tighten up the lineups and go with the guys who were playing well."
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri's Isiaih Mosley play against Penn due to coaching decision
