TV Schedule: Saturday, January 11, 3:30 pm ET (SEC Network)
Location: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri
Last year, Missouri and Vanderbilt had seasons both programs were eager to forget. The Tigers went winless in conference play and only managed eight wins all season. The Commodores didn’t fare much better, winning four SEC matchups on the way to nine total wins. This season both teams have already exceeded last year's win totals. Missouri finished the non-con with only two losses and a win over Kansas. Vanderbilt made it through non-conference play with only one loss. Both programs are among the most improved in all of college basketball, and when they meet on Saturday, it should be one of the better games of the weekend, which couldn't be said a year ago.
Missouri (12-3, 1-1) is coming off a big win over LSU at home. Mizzou led for nearly the entire game and won 83-67. This was an important win for the Tigers as it was the team's first win in SEC play in 669 days. Tamar Bates had a huge game against LSU, scoring 20 points on 6-9 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. Anthony Robinson II was close behind with 16 points.
Vanderbilt (13-2, 1-1) took on a hot Mississippi State team its last time on the court, dropping the game 76-64. The Commodores played well in the loss but couldn't overcome the Bulldogs strong defense. AJ Hoggard led the Commodores in scoring with 18 points. Grant Huffman and Tyler Nickel also scored in double figures for Vanderbilt.
On the season, Missouri has been one of the more efficient scoring teams in the country, making just under 50 percent from the field. This has, mostly, been a result of Mizzou's ability to score at the basket. The Tigers are making 58.5 percent from inside the three-point arc. Mizzou has also shot the ball well from deep hitting 36.9 percent this season from behind the arc, but how much Missouri relies on the three usually fluctuates from game to game. Mark Mitchell and Tamar Bates lead the team in scoring, each averaging 13.1 points per game. Caleb Grill is adding 11.1 points per game off the bench helping lead Mizzou’s reserves to 40.7 bench points per game which leads the country.
Defensively Missouri has been solid, holding opponents to 68.7 points per game. The Tigers are only allowing opponents to make 41.7 percent from the field this season, but have occasionally given up quite a few threes. Mizzou’s defense likes to pressure the opposing team, forcing turnovers. The Tigers are forcing 15.9 turnovers per game with 10.5 of those coming from steals each game.
Vanderbilt has similar offensive numbers as Missouri. The Commodores are making 47.9 percent from the floor and 59 percent from two. The one area offensively where Vanderbilt has struggled this season is from three. They are making 8.5 per game but are only hitting 32.4 percent from deep. North Texas transfer Jason Edwards leads the Commodores in scoring with 17.1 points per game and has scored at least 10 points in every game this season except for the loss to Mississippi State where he had zero points.
Vanderbilt's defensive numbers look similar to Missouri’s as well, giving up 67.1 points per game. The Commodores are forcing 15.9 turnovers per game with 10.5 of them being steals. Vanderbilt is one of the better shot-blocking teams with 4.6 per game.
This game should be a high-scoring affair between two evenly matched teams. Missouri holds a slight edge offensively, but Vanderbilt holds a slight edge on the defensive end. Mizzou will win this one if it can dominate the paint against an undersized Vanderbilt roster. And for Vanderbilt, it will come down to how well the Commodores can shoot from three. In both losses this season Vanderbilt has shot under 20 percent from deep.
This is a must-win game for both teams as they continue to build towards a NCAA Tournament appearance. Vanderbilt already has a road win in conference play against LSU, but Missouri is undefeated at home and is averaging nearly 89 points at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers are the home favorite and should pick up its second straight conference win over Vanderbilt.