WHEN/WHERE: 6 tonight at Mizzou Arena in Columbia
TV/RADIO: ESPN2; KMBZ (980 AM, 98.1 FM), WHB (810)
ABOUT KANSAS STATE (18-8, 7-7 Big 12): The Wildcats are coming off their biggest win since they defeated Missouri at home in early January. K-State defeated Baylor 57-56 on the road Saturday. Will Spradling and Angel Rodriguez have been sharing time at point guard, with both players bringing the ball up court depending on the situation. Jordan Henriquez has established himself as a starting forward, and freshman Thomas Gipson is backing him up. Rodney McGruder, Spradling and Henriquez all scored in double figures against the Tigers earlier this season. K-State outrebounded Missouri 39-25 that game. The Wildcats have lost four straight games at Mizzou Arena. Frank Martin is winless in Columbia. K-State players consider Missouri one of their rivals because of the physical games they have played in the past.
ABOUT MISSOURI (25-2, 12-2 Big 12): Missouri displayed another team effort Saturday, when it held on for a 71-62 road victory against Texas A&M. The Aggies were banged up but still managed to keep things close before MU pulled away thanks to some clutch outside shooting and key defensive stops. Four Tigers scored in double figures, which made up for the loss of senior guard Matt Pressey, who left in the second half because of an ankle injury, and a rare off night from senior forward Ricardo Ratliffe, who scored only four points. Missouri tied the 1989-90 team for the best start in school history and has a chance to go 26-2 for the first time ever. MU has won seven straight games and is undefeated this season at Mizzou Arena.
RPI: Missouri ninth, K-State 49th.
BOTTOM LINE: Missouri will be looking for revenge against a team that out-toughed them Jan. 7 in Manhattan. Missouri coach Frank Haith has hammered home that point repeatedly since then, with positive results. An enormous road test against Kansas looms on the horizon, but that game will mean less if Missouri doesn’t take care of business tonight. If K-State can keep today’s game at a slow pace, it will have a chance.
| Terez A. Paylor,
tpaylor@kcstar.com, and Kellis Robinett, krobinett@kcstar.com
| P | No | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
| F | 21 | Jordan Henriquez | 6-11 | Jr. | 6.0 |
| F | 32 | Jamar Samuels | 6-7 | Sr. | 10.0 |
| G: | 22 | Rodney McGruder | 6-4 | Jr. | 14.5 |
| G | 55 | Will Spradling | 6-2 | So. | 10.2 |
| G | 13 | Angel Rodriguez | 5-11 | Fr. | 7.7 |
| P | No | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
| F | 10 | Ricardo Ratliffe | 6-8 | Sr. | 13.7 |
| G | 24 | Kim English | 6-6 | Sr. | 14.2 |
| G | 12 | Marcus Denmon | 6-3 | Sr. | 17.8 |
| G | 3 | Matt Pressey | 6-2 | Sr. | 6.7 |
| G | 1 | Phil Pressey | 5-10 | So. | 10.0 |
