Missouri Tigers basketball vs. Mississippi State: Tipoff time, TV and a prediction
THE DETAILS
Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
TV: SEC Network
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
PROJECTED LINEUPS
P | No. | Mississippi State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 24 | Abdul Ado | 6-11 | R-Jr. | 5.8 |
F | 1 | Reggie Perry | 6-10 | So. | 17.4 |
G | 12 | Robert Woodard II | 6-7 | So. | 11.5 |
G | 3 | D.J. Stewart Jr. | 6-6 | R-Fr. | 8.8 |
G | 0 | Nick Weatherspoon | 6-2 | Jr. | 11.8 |
P | No. | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 14 | Reed Nikko | 6-10 | R-Sr. | 5.0 |
F | 24 | Kobe Brown | 6-7 | Fr. | 6.0 |
G | 4 | Javon Pickett | 6-5 | So. | 7.1 |
G | 12 | Dru Smith | 6-3 | R-Jr. | 12.5 |
G | 1 | Xavier Pinson | 6-2 | So. | 10.7 |
About Mississippi State (18-10, 9-6 SEC): The Bulldogs’ season teetered on the edge after an 0-3 start to SEC play, but they’ve bounced back, winning nine of their next 12. Mississippi State forward Reggie Perry is one of the best players in the conference and showed that the last time the teams met. With the Bulldogs on the wrong side of the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, they’ll be looking for a few more wins to end the season and improve their ranking. KenPom ranks them No. 52.
About Missouri (14-14, 6-9 SEC): The Tigers continue their hot streak; their latest victory at Vanderbilt was their first road SEC win of the season. Mizzou also returns players from injury in Jeremiah Tilmon (foot) and Mark Smith (lower back) as both should be available on Saturday. They’ve been led by guard Xavier Pinson, who’s played some of the best basketball of his career in recent weeks. The Tigers’ offense and defense has worked well, winning four of their past six games. KenPom has them No. 103.
Prediction: With Mizzou dangerous in the past few weeks and getting healthy, it should be a winnable game for the Tigers on Saturday. Mississippi State has dropped three of its last four on the road, struggling away from The Hump. With Tilmon back and some depth at forward, it should slow Terry enough for the Tigers to make an impact. We’ll say Mizzou pulls off a close one as it inches closer to a sign of postseason play.
Missouri 70, Mississippi State 65