What to know as Mizzou Tigers men's basketball visits Mississippi St. on Saturday

Three regular-season conference games remain for the Tigers.

With the Southeastern Conference tournament on the horizon, each game holds more weight than the one before. But for Mizzou, the game it is coming off of is one of its best and most complete performances to date.

Only if the Tigers can straighten up on the road against Mississippi State and Oklahoma — teams they've beaten at home this season — and then take down No. 20 Arkansas, will they secure a four-game win streak heading into the SEC Tournament.

Currently, Missouri sits tied in SEC standings with Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Texas A&M at 9-6 in conference play. Mizzou is projected to secure the number five slot because of its win over Florida and wins over each team with which it’s tied.

If the Tigers enter at No. 5 out of 16 teams, they will play their first game in the second round, on March 12, against the winner of the 12 vs. 13 game in the first round, which would be Mississippi State and Oklahoma, respectively.

The next few weeks will solidify SEC Tournament placements and where teams sit nationally for March Madness. Mizzou's final stretch consists of two road games and one home game against No. 20 Arkansas, but no new tests for the Tigers as they have seen Mississippi State, Oklahoma and the Razorbacks once each so far this season.

Tigers v. Bulldogs: Round 2

Back before Mizzou took down Texas A&M on the road and two top-25 teams at Mizzou Arena, the Tigers were searching for stability. They entered their first matchup against the Bulldogs off their biggest conference loss of the season against then-No. 23 Alabama in the heart of the Crimson Tide, 90-64.

Missouri rebounded against Mississippi State on Jan. 31, surrounded by the warmth of Mizzou fans, getting back in the win column 84-79. Though a win is a win, the score hardly represents the game between the Tigers and Bulldogs the first time around.

With 11:03 left in the second half, sophomore Annor Boateng threw down a dunk off a missed 3-pointer by junior Anthony Robinson II. The next play, he attempted to run it back, but slipped on the floor (a common theme throughout the night) and stayed down. It was later released that he had injured his left knee and would be out the rest of the season.

Boateng's dunk marked a 66-51 lead for the Tigers, but was almost impossible to keep the lead as the momentum they had steadily built up deflated with the sophomore guard's injury.

This time, Missouri will attempt to keep a steady momentum in enemy territory.

The guy to watch from the Bulldogs is still guard Josh Hubbard, who leads the team with 21.6 points per game. He dropped 22 points in the initial loss to Missouri back in January. Jayden Epps was also hot against the Tigers, leading the Bulldogs with 23 points, well over his average of 14.0 ppg.

Mitchell's national stat line

Senior Mark Mitchell continues to prove he is more than a scorer. The 6-foot-9 forward is one of five players nationally to record 475 points, 150 rebounds and 105 assists this season.

He is averaging 17.4 ppg and 5.4 rebounds per game. He recently set a new career-high with nine assists against then-No. 19 Vanderbilt on Feb. 18.

Mitchell enters the matchup against the Bulldogs off a 23-point night against No. 22 Tennessee on Tuesday, following sophomore T.O. Barrett's career-high 28 points.

Sharpshooters going dull?

Graduates Jayden Stone and Jacob Crews have been two key players for Mizzou through conference play - knocking down 3s in big moments and small. Though the two shooters know their roles, they have slowed production from beyond the arc recently.

Stone hit a rut against the Volunteers, shooting 0 for 3 from 3 and going scoreless on the night for the first time this season.

Though Stone stuttered, Crews hasn't made a 3 since the Texas A&M game, going 0-6 in the last four games. Despite the struggles from outside, Crews was able to put four crucial free throws in to secure Mizzou's 73-69 win over the Vols.

Living in ‘Last Four In’

According to Joe Lunardi's Bracketology, the Tigers sit at the top spot of the "Last Four In," meaning they will be playing in the First Four weekend to advance to the first round of The Big Dance as an 11-seed.

Though Mizzou has bounced around between the "Last Four In" and "First Four Out," nothing is set until the final three games against Mississippi State, Oklahoma and No. 20 Arkansas are finished. Even then, SEC Tournament play will be sure to shake things up beyond any bracketologist's predictions.

Mizzou looks to add to its two-game win streak at noon Saturday in Starkville, Mississippi, against the Bulldogs.

Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 10:38 AM with the headline "What to know as Mizzou Tigers men's basketball visits Mississippi St. on Saturday."