Missouri at Vanderbilt: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

Key players coming off successful nights in big wins ahead of Missouri at Vanderbilt.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at 9 p.m. EST
Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Network

Vanderbilt welcomes Missouri to Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday after big wins for both teams.

The Commodores (12-10, 4-6 Southeastern Conference) pushed LSU out of the AP Top 25 Saturday in Nashville with their 75-66 win. It marks coach Jerry Stackhouse’s second-ranked win of his collegiate coaching career.

Stackhouse attributes the win to the impact of transfer guard Rodney Chatman, who made a career-high six 3-pointers in his first 20-point game of the season.

"“Nothing against our guys, but just over the last two years we hadn’t put a lot of wins in the column.” Stackman said. “Sometimes to get over that hump, you have to have an influx of winners in there, and that’s Rodney.”"

Chatman’s performance overshadowed Scotty Pippen Jr., who has been the SEC’s leading scorer this season but was held to just seven points in Vanderbilt’s match with LSU.

Missouri (9-13, 3-6 SEC) also picked up a win on the road Saturday as they defeated Texas A&M 70-66. The Tigers came into College Station heavily unfavored, given less than a 10% chance to win in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

The team was aided immensely by Kobe Brown, who has been largely inconsistent this season for Missouri. Brown’s 21 points, including two made free throws in the final 10 seconds, pushed the Tigers over the edge to start the two-game road trip with a win.

Coach Cuonzo Martin has previously stated that he doesn’t necessarily need 30 points every night, but expects at least double digits. However, despite reaching that expectation for the first time since their mid-January win over Ole Miss, it was Brown’s off-the-ball performance that Martin sought to praise on Saturday night.

"“His game isn’t necessarily 21 points,” Martin said. “It could be the other stuff: the assists, the rebounds, defending, moving the ball, switching five ways. All those things he brings to the table because he is one of the only guys in college basketball who you could flow through him at his size.”"

Martin is correct to say that Brown’s game doesn’t have to be defined by scoring, as we’ve seen many Tigers step up in close matchups over the past couple of weeks. However, it is important to reiterate that Brown has to contribute something in order for Missouri to be successful.

Additionally, defense along the perimeter has been a concern for the Tigers since their 80-66 loss against UMKC. Missouri has allowed opponents to shoot 35.6% from the arc, which is one of the worst percentages in Division I men’s basketball.

In order to truly compete with the Commodores, the Tigers will need to resolve this issue immediately. If not, we will see Chatman flex his season 44.4% 3-point shooting percentage.