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Missouri Basketball: 3 reasons why Tigers can advance in NCAA Tournament

By Justin Wiles

Dec 22, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) dunks against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) dunks against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama Crimson Tide guard Jaden Bradley (0) dribbles against the Missouri Tigers Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama Crimson Tide guard Jaden Bradley (0) dribbles against the Missouri Tigers Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Defensive pressure

Nobody is going to argue that, as a whole, the Tigers have a good defense. The numbers make that pretty clear. Missouri is one of the worst teams in the country when it comes to limiting their opponents’ scoring, giving up 74.6 per game this year which ranks 306th in the country.

One way the Tigers can stay in games while giving up so many points is their ability to force the opposing team into committing turnovers. Missouri totaled 341 steals on the season, averaging 10.3 steals per game which ranked 3rd in the country. There are three different Tigers who have more than 40 steals on the season: Sean East with 44, Kobe Brown with 48, and Nick Honor with 49. But, much like the three-point shooting, the biggest reason for success in forcing turnovers is D’Moi Hodge. Hodge alone accounts for 86 steals this season, breaking the Missouri single-season steals record which was 76. He averages 2.6 steals per game, which ranks 6th in the country.

Missouri uses its quickness to speed up the opposition, forcing them to make quick passes. The Tigers have proven that their ability to force turnovers can keep them in games with some of the best teams in the nation. It’s hard to think that if Mizzou gets matched up with teams from some of the smaller conferences, they won’t have the same success.

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