As Mizzou hoops heats up, Tigers enter crucial stretch with SEC standings at stake
The Missouri Tigers are trending up at the right time with six games left in the regular season.
They’re coming off their best win of the year, blowing out then-No. 11 Auburn. Mizzou (12-13, 4-8 SEC) has won two of its last three games, showcasing an uptick in play. In the wake of injuries, MU guard Xavier Pinson has stepped into the starting role, and after a bumpy start, he’s stood out as a score-first guard.
“It was a great team win,” Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin said. “Our guys continue to grow.”
As the season winds down, Mizzou’s next two games are crucial for seeding purposes for the SEC Tournament.
The week ahead provides a chance for separation. The Tigers play host to Mississippi at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Mizzou Arena. Then they travel to play Arkansas on Saturday. All three teams are tied for 10th place in the SEC. How the Tigers come out of the stretch has a massive impact on the final standings.
The bottom four teams in the conference, 11th through 14th, play in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday. Avoiding an extra game and earning a bye into Thursday is crucial for the Tigers to make any kind of run.
“We’re a good team,” Martin said. “We’re without some key guys, but that’s part of the game. … Like I told our guys, you’re good enough. But you also have to be grateful for the opportunity, the chance to be successful.”
In scouting the Rebels, they’re similarly on the upswing, winning three of their last four games. They came up short of an upset against No. 10 Kentucky in a 67-62 loss.
Mississippi is led by its guards, namely Breein Tyree and Devontae Shuler. Tyree averages 19.9 points per game, one of the top marks in the SEC.
The Rebels are similar to Mizzou with a weaker offense but stout defense. They’re also stingy against three-pointers, with opponents converting just 28.2% from deep, sixth in the nation. But Mississippi’s defensive free throw rate provides a hole, so attacking the basket and drawing fouls will be crucial for Mizzou.
In recent games, Mizzou has shot the ball well, but those open looks have come off its ability to drive to the basket. That’s where guys like Pinson and guard Dru Smith have excelled, by getting to the rim and aggressively attacking the defense.
Mizzou continues to miss two starters in guard Mark Smith (lower back) and Jeremiah Tilmon (stress fracture). Both were unavailable to play against Auburn. But the Tigers continue to lean on who’s healthy, primarily Pinson and Dru Smith.
As Mizzou looks to piece together a run, it also looks to fill up its home arena. A season-high 12,506 fans were at Mizzou Arena to watch the Auburn win, but Martin said that isn’t enough. While he said it’s his job to promote the program and his players’ job to keep winning, he urged fans to continue to show the support in numbers.
“We seat 15,000, so we have to keep fighting for that,” Martin said. “Our fans understand the value they bring to our team. There was (12,000), imagine them at (15,000).”