Tiger Tip-Off Preview: Oklahoma

Mizzou’s first matchup in opposition to Oklahoma It was the group’s tightest end all season.

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The Tigers performed host to the Sooners on Jan. 24 and located themselves trailing 81-78 with 5.6 seconds remaining within the second half. Junior ahead Trent Pierce pulled up for a shot from the halfcourt emblem simply earlier than the buzzer sounded and linked on the deep 3-pointer to ship the sport into extra time. OU junior guard Xzayvier brown made a go-ahead floater with 4.8 seconds left in OT, however senior ahead Mark Mitchell flew down the courtroom on the final possession and knocked down a game-winning triple on the buzzer handy Oklahoma an 88-87 loss.

That sport proved to be a turning level for Missouribecause the black and gold have now received seven of their final 10 video games. That features a pair of wins final week over then-No. 22 Tennessee and Mississippi Statewhich has the group at present sitting in fourth place within the SEC with an inside observe to a double-bye within the convention match.

The Sooners dropped their subsequent three video games after falling to the Tigers, their shedding streak extending to 9, however have since discovered their footing, successful 4 of their final six outings, the victories coming in opposition to Vanderbilt, Georgia, Auburn and LSU.

OU will probably be out for revenge of their rematch in opposition to MU this week, and could have the benefit of being at house this time round. Tigers head coach Dennis Gates He stated his group might want to deal with the Sooners as a group that is a lot better than their file.

“(It’s) another SEC opponent who’s playing very good basketball,” Gates stated. “One of the hottest teams in their last five games. Obviously, you can look at the stats and see what’s glaring. We gotta continue to approach every game one by one. You know, they’re not the same team that we played a month ago. We’re not the same team. At this point, you have experiences that will continue to allow teams to become a little bit better as we move closer toward the SEC Tournament. Porter Moser does a great job. You know, they have two great players with great experience — both (Nijel) Pack and Brown, lead guards — but also great players around those two. But primarily, (it’s a) one-two punch that is really dangerous and has been behind several of their victories recently.”

TIP TIME INFORMATION

Who: Missouri (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at Oklahoma (15-14, 5-11

When: Tuesday, 6 pm CT

Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma

TV: ESPNU

Series: Oklahoma leads, 116-99

KenPom Prediction: Oklahoma 80, Missouri 76

SEC INJURY REPORT

Mizzou

Jevon Porter – Out

Annor Boateng – Out

Oklahoma

All obtainable

LAST GAME’S STARTERS

Missouri Tigers

Oklahoma Sooners

BY THE NUMBERS

KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Clean the offensive glass. One of the Tigers’ saving graces of their win over Oklahoma was the pronounced edge that they had on the boards. Missouri pulled down 41.5% of their very own misses — the group’s highest offensive rebounding proportion in SEC play on the time — and outscored the Sooners 19-3 on second-chance factors. Mitchell and senior heart Shawn Phillips Jr. each performed huge roles in serving to MU crash the glass, combining for 9 offensive rebounds. OU stays one of many worst defensive rebounding groups within the convention, giving up 36.7% of accessible offensive rebounds to opponents. Mizzou ought to look to proceed to use that weak spot this time round.

2) Get bodily across the rim. One factor the black and gold didn’t do all that properly of their first assembly with the Sooners was ending inside. Missouri made 52.3% of its 2-pointers, capturing 23-44, a mark that was under its SEC common of 54.3%. The group additionally allowed Oklahoma to make 51.9% of its seems to be inside regardless of the Sooners solely capturing 49.7% on 2-pointers in convention play. The Tigers solely took three extra foul photographs than OU as properly regardless of there being a big disparity of their offensive free throw charges. Those benefits will must be a lot bigger for MU to return away with a extra snug win within the rematch.

3) Protect the 3-point line. The Tigers’ greatest shortcoming in opposition to Oklahoma the primary time round was permitting the guests to get scorching from outdoors. The Sooners canned 12-27 from past the arc, or 44.4%, with Pack main the best way capturing 5-8. OU is capturing 38.1% from deep in league play, the highest mark within the SEC, with 3s accounting for 36.4% of the group’s factors scored. The group made 9-21 in its win over Vandy, 14-25 in its win over Georgia and 13-19 in its win over Auburn. Missouri has allowed opposing groups to shoot 35.2% from outdoors in convention play, and allowed its opponent to shoot at the least 38.5% from lengthy vary in 4 of its six SEC losses. Slowing the Sooners down on the perimeter will must be a precedence for the Tigers.

PREDICTION

Both groups are enjoying their finest basketball in weeks and Mizzou has an actual problem forward enjoying on the street in opposition to a red-hot Oklahoma group. Still, I anticipate the Tigers to deal with the Sooners with their due respect and discover a approach to come out on high. I’m taking Missouri to win, 82-75.

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