University of Missouri

Three-minute preview: Missouri men’s basketball vs. Illinois

Namon Wright (left) will be in Missouri’s starting lineup Wednesday when the Tigers face Illinois in the 35th Annual Braggin’ Rights Game in St. Louis. Last Sunday, Wright shot over Arizona center Dusan Ristic in a game in Tucson, Ariz.
Namon Wright (left) will be in Missouri’s starting lineup Wednesday when the Tigers face Illinois in the 35th Annual Braggin’ Rights Game in St. Louis. Last Sunday, Wright shot over Arizona center Dusan Ristic in a game in Tucson, Ariz. The Associated Press

Missouri vs. Illinois

P

No.

Missouri

Ht.

Yr.

PPG

F

24

Kevin Puryear

6-7

Fr.

12.1

F

44

Ryan Rosburg

6-10

Sr.

3.9

G

1

Terrence Phillips

5-11

Fr.

9.4

G

12

Namon Wright

6-5

So.

8.8

G

15

Wes Clark

6-0

Jr.

7.7

P

No.

Illinois

Ht.

Yr.

PPG

F

43

Michael Finke

6-10

Fr.

9.8

G

1

Jaylon Tate

6-3

Jr.

2.3

G

5

Jalen Coleman-Lands

6-3

Fr.

8.6

G

21

Malcolm Hill

6-6

Jr.

18.5

G

25

Kendrick Nunn

6-3

Jr.

18.4

▪ WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis

▪ TV/RADIO: ESPN2; KMBZ (98.1 FM)

▪ ABOUT MISSOURI (5-5): The Tigers trail the series 22-12 since the Braggin’ Rights Game was officially established in 1980. That includes back-to-back narrow losses. This is the final chance this season, barring a postseason berth, for Missouri to snap a nine-game losing skid against Power Five foes in nonconference play. The last time the Tigers won the Braggin’ Rights Game, Laurence Bowers, Alex Oriakhi and Phil Pressey each had double-doubles.

▪ ABOUT ILLINOIS (7-5): The Fighting Illini rank 232nd among 351 NCAA Division I teams, allowing 75.3 points per game. Illinois’ defensive issues run deep, including the 306th-ranked opponents’ effective field-goal percentage (54.3 percent). For the second straight game, Missouri’s opponent has a Maverick on the roster: Illini junior center Maverick Morgan. On Saturday it was North Carolina State’s Maverick Rowan.

Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: Missouri men’s basketball vs. Illinois."

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