The last time the Missouri Tigers took down a conference opponent was in March 2023. That game was in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, the Tigers beat Tennessee 79-71. Since that game Mizzou has lost 19 straight against SEC teams, the semifinal game against Alabama in that same conference tournament, and then all 18 league games last season.
This season, things feel different. Missouri is entering the SEC slate with only two losses and a huge win over rival Kansas. But the Tigers played one of the easiest non-conference schedules in college basketball, so it’s still somewhat unknown just how good this year's team is.
To open SEC play, the Tigers hit the road to take on No. 2 Auburn. Not exactly the ideal opening game to league play, but it will be a great opportunity for Missouri to get another season-defining win. Auburn is one of the best teams in the SEC and the country, so things won’t be easy for Mizzou but there is a path for an upset win. Here are three keys to upsetting No. 2 Auburn on the road.
1. Win the turnover battle
Missouri is at its best when getting steals and forcing turnovers. The Tigers are one of the top teams in college basketball in getting steals, just over 10 per game. Mizzou has recorded 10 or more steals in seven of 11 games this season. The Tigers also excel at forcing turnovers this season as well. Missouri has forced at least 12 turnovers in every game with a season-high of 22 forced turnovers against Mississippi Valley State and Kansas. Mizzou won both of those games. Auburn on the other hand only turns the ball over 8.8 times per game, with only four games in which it turned the ball over more than 10 times. Missouri will need to get some extra possession to be Auburn and a great way to do that is by forcing turnovers.
2. Get to the free throw line
Mizzou is second in the country in attempted free throws per game with 29.2 and leads the nation in made free throws with 21.2. That’s 21 points per game scored with the clock stopped, which will be huge against an Auburn team that is holding opponents to less than 65 points per game. The only downside for Mizzou at the line is that they are only making 72 percent of those shots, but the sheer volume of attempts helps make up for this. Auburn has struggled when it comes to sending opponents to the line. Auburn’s opponents are attempting nearly 20 free throws per game, which should only help Mizzou. Making the most of scoring opportunities with the clock stopped will be crucial for Missouri to pull the upset.
3. Find a way to slow down Johni Broome
If you’ve been paying attention to college basketball, you know that Johni Broome has been a monster on both ends of the court. This season, Broome is averaging 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Broome scored two points while playing against Georgia State in only two minutes. Broome has also grabbed 10 or more rebounds in nine games, with a season-high of 20 rebounds against Ohio State. Broome accounts for nearly a quarter of Auburn’s shots this season.
And while the rest of Auburn’s roster is good enough to win without its star, taking away their primary scoring option will only make things easier for Missouri. This will likely mean throwing multiple defenders at Broome, which also means going deeper into the bench. It will be a tall task, but it is necessary for Mizzou to walk away as a winner.