Mizzou men’s basketball vs. Mississippi: SEC Tournament prediction, time, TV, lineups
The details
When: 5 p.m. Central time Wednesday
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
TV: SEC Network
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
Betting line: Mississippi by 3
About Mississippi (13-18, 4-14 SEC): Since last facing Missouri on Feb. 12, Ole Miss has lost five of six games. The Rebels sole win during that stretch came over last-place Georgia, and they’ve lost four consecutive games since. They ended the regular season with a 63-61 loss to Vanderbilt at home and now enter the SEC Tournament as the 13-seed. Though the team has struggled as of late, guard Matthew Murrell has been heating up. He’s averaged 20.0 points and shot 52.5% from the field and 50% from three-point range over his last three games. KenPom ranks Mississippi No. 105.
About Missouri (11-20, 5-13 SEC): The Tigers have lost six of seven games since their second meeting against Mississippi, with their sole win also coming over Georgia. That 79-69 victory, in which Mizzou had a 49-30 edge in the second half after trailing by nine points at halftime, ended the regular season on a less sour note, but it has been a disappointing season for the program nonetheless. Only five other teams in program history have recorded as many losses, while only two others have had as many blowout defeats of 20 points or more (7). KenPom ranks Missouri No. 144.
Projected lineups
P | No. | Ole Miss | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 24 | Jarkel Joiner | 6-1 | Sr. | 13.3 |
G | 11 | Matthew Murrell | 6-4 | So. | 11.8 |
G/F | 15 | Luis Rodriguez | 6-6 | Jr. | 6.4 |
F | 4 | Jaemyn Brakefield | 6-8 | So. | 7.9 |
C | 3 | Nysier Brooks | 7-0 | Gr. | 10.1 |
P | No. | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 5 | Jarron Coleman | 6-5 | R-Jr. | 8.9 |
G | 4 | Javon Pickett | 6-5 | Sr. | 11.1 |
G | 12 | DaJuan Gordon | 6-3 | Jr. | 8.0 |
F | 23 | Trevon Brazile | 6-9 | Fr. | 6.2 |
F | 24 | Kobe Brown | 6-8 | Jr. | 12.6 |
Prediction
The Tigers haven’t beaten many teams this season, but they’ve managed to knock off Mississippi twice.
Missouri shot at least 53% from the field in both of those contests — something it’s only managed to do in one other game (against Texas A&M on the road). Those matchups also featured some of the Tigers’ best performances down low all season; they scored 78 points in the paint between the two meetings.
It’s hard to beat a team three times. Yes, I know it’s an old cliche — but for good reason! Sure, a great team can do it, but Missouri is certainly not that. Beyond this year’s squad, the program hasn’t done so against any opponent since 2012. It’s also worth noting that Ole Miss hasn’t lost five games in a row all season.
With that said, I think the Tigers start the game with a lackadaisical effort, make things close, but ultimately aren’t able to pull out a win in a late-game situation.
KenPom gives Missouri a 39% chance of winning while the ESPN BPI has the odds at 27.4%.
Mississippi 65, Missouri 62
