Missouri basketball v3.0 under Kim Anderson gets its first shot to show real improvement this weekend in Orlando. The Tigers left on Tuesday for the Tire Pros Invitational, an event that was moved to Florida from Puerto Rico over the summer due to concerns about the Zika virus.
The Tigers opened the season on Sunday night with a 99-44 win over Alabama A&M. All due respect to the Bulldogs, but kenpom.com ranks them 350th out of 351 Division One basketball teams in the first week of the season. The only things that were going to be learned about Missouri in the opener would have been extremely bad news.
But the tests are about to get a lot tougher for this Tiger team. Mizzou opens the tournament in Orlando against 7th-ranked Xavier on Thursday. It marks the third season in a row the Tigers and Musketeers have matched up. Xavier won in Columbia two years ago 74-58. The Tigers hung tough in the rematch last season in Cincinnati for about 30 minutes, but fell 78-66.
"Now it gets real," freshman Willie Jackson said. "Now it really matters. Like (Alabama A&M) mattered, but now it's gonna show what Mizzou's about. I think we're ready."
"It's a confidence booster. We're so young, playing together and seeing the ball go through the basket like that (before) going to play a top ten team in Xavier," sophomore Cullen Van Leer said. "Last year we played them pretty tight and hopefully we can go down there and give them a little run for their money."
The Musketeers struggled in their opener, beating Lehigh 84-81. But Xavier looked much more the part of a top ten team on Monday, hammering Buffalo 86-53 in its final tuneup before heading for Florida.
Round two of the Tire Pros Invite will bring a matchup with either Davidson or Clemson. Both of those teams are 1-0. Davidson beat Appalachian State, while Clemson picked up an opening win at Georgia.
"I think it's a chance to grow," Anderson said. "It's a great tournament. It will be a great test for our guys. Certainly the first game will be a great test. Hoping we'll come out and be prepared and play well and see what happens."
Below is a look at the field in Orlando. Click here for the tournament bracket.
Xavier Musketeers
This Year: 2-0
Last Year: 28-6 (14-4 Big East)
Coach: Chris Mack (8th season)
Game Time: 12 noon Thursday
Clemson Tigers Davidson Wildcats
This Year: 1-0 This Year: 1-0
Last Year: 17-14 (10-8 ACC) Last Year: 20-13 (10-8 Atlantic 10)
Coach: Brad Brownell (7th season) Coach: Bob McKillop (28th season)
Possible Game Time: 11:30/1:30 Friday Possible Game Time: 11:30/1:30 Friday
Northern Iowa Panthers Arizona State Sun Devils
This Year: 1-0 This Year: 2-0
Last Year: 23-13 (11-7 Missouri Valley) Last Year: 15-17 (5-13 PAC-12)
Coach: Ben Jacobson (11th season) Coach: Bobby Hurley (2nd season)
Possible Game Time: 11/1:30/4/6:30 Sunday Possible Game Time: 11/1:30/4/6:30 Sunday
Oklahoma Sooners Tulane Green Wave
This Year: 1-0 This Year: 1-1
Last Year: 29-8 (12-6 Big 12) Last Year: 12-22 (3-15 American)
Coach: Lon Kruger (6th season) Coach: Mike Dunleavy (1st season)
Possible Game Time: 11/1:30/4/6:30 Sunday Possible Game Time: 11/1:30/4/6:30 Sunday
