Mizzou Tigers men’s basketball at South Carolina: Prediction, time, TV, lineups
The details
When: 6 p.m. Central time Tuesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
TV: ESPNU
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
Betting line: South Carolina by 7.5
About South Carolina (17-11, 8-8 SEC): The Gamecocks have shown a lot of improvement this season after finishing with a 6-15 record in 2020-21. Head coach Frank Martin’s squad won four straight SEC games in February for the first time in program history, defeating the likes of Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU and Mississippi State. South Carolina lost its most recent contest though, blown out by Alabama, 90-71, on the road. The Gamecocks are led by guards Erik Stevenson and Jermaine Couisnard, who are both averaging 11.5 points per game. KenPom ranks South Carolina No. 93.
About Missouri (10-19, 4-12 SEC): The Tigers have dropped five consecutive games, most recently suffering a 75-55 defeat at LSU. That result marked the seventh loss by at least 20 points for Mizzou this season — the first time that has happened since 1965-66 and just the third time in program history. The Tigers are also on the verge of a 20-loss season for just the sixth time in school history — it would be the fourth such occurrence over the past decade though. Mizzou has been held under 65 points and shot worse than 41% from the field in each of the last five games. KenPom ranks Missouri No. 144.
Projected lineups
P | No. | South Carolina | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 5 | Jermaine Couisnard | 6-4 | R-Jr. | 11.5 |
G | 0 | James Reese V | 6-4 | Gr. | 10.4 |
G | 10 | Erik Stevenson | 6-4 | Sr. | 11.5 |
F | 24 | Keyshawn Bryant | 6-6 | Sr. | 8.9 |
F | 15 | Wildens Leveque | 6-10 | Jr. | 7.2 |
P | No. | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 5 | Jarron Coleman | 6-5 | R-Jr. | 9.1 |
G | 4 | Javon Pickett | 6-5 | Sr. | 10.6 |
F | 12 | DaJuan Gordon | 6-3 | Jr. | 8.3 |
F | 23 | Trevon Brazile | 6-9 | Fr. | 6.0 |
F | 24 | Kobe Brown | 6-8 | Jr. | 12.1 |
Prediction
Missouri faces South Carolina in its last road game of the season on Tuesday night.
This figures to be a defensive matchup in a pairing of the two worst offenses in the SEC. The Tigers rank dead last in the league with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 95.6 in conference play, while the Gamecocks are 13th with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 96.8, according to KenPom.
Though neither offense is great, South Carolina has a much better defense than Mizzou. The team ranks 22nd in the country in blocks per game (5.0) and averages 16.8 points off turnovers per game.
South Carolina also has the edge on the offensive boards. The Gamecocks rank 13th in the nation with 13.14 offensive rebounds per game, so it’ll be key for the TIgers to limit that and stop them from capitalizing on second chance points.
KenPom gives Missouri a 24% chance of winning and the ESPN BPI has the odds at 12.4%.
South Carolina 75, Missouri 64
