Prior to each Mizzou hoops game this season, we will get Tiger fans set with The Starting Five. In this feature, we'll give you the anticipated starting lineups for each team, break down keys to a Missouri win and offer up a prediction.
Here is the breakdown of tonight's game against Mississippi State.
OFF THE BENCH: Tyson Carter has started 16 games and averages nearly ten points per, but Peters has recently been in the starting five in his place. Xavian Stapleton averages 6.4 points and Eli Wright grabs three rebounds per game in just 17 minutes. Those eight will get the bulk of the minutes with E.J. Datcher seeing some spot duty.
OFF THE BENCH: Kevin Puryear is the first sub. He's picked it up a bit offensively lately and is still the team's third leading scorer at 9.5 per game and third leading rebounder with 4.7. Without Terrence Phillips, Geist will see the lion's share of the minutes at point guard along with Robertson. Cullen VanLeer and Reed Nikko will see action, though likely not the combined 28 minutes they saw last time out if things are going well.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Wake up the freshman bigs. Missouri simply can't win with Tilmon and Porter playing the way they have been. Porter was scoreless at Texas A&M and had five points against Auburn. Tilmon fouled out of the A&M game, then upped the ante with four fouls in a scoreless seven minutes (but three turnovers) against Auburn. They don't have to be all-stars, but the way this team is constructed, Missouri absolutely has to get more out of them.
2. Rebound on defense. The Tigers have been crushed on the offensive glass in the last two games. They were beaten 46-38 by the Aggies, including ten offensive boards. Auburn only got eight offensive rebounds, but turned them into 21 points. Missouri got 13 offensive boards and had only eight second chance points in that game. The Bulldogs have some size, going 6-10, 6-11 up front. Three starters average at least six rebounds per game and Holman and Ado each get more than two per game on the offensive glass. Mississippi State is +4.5 in rebounding margin while Mizzou is +6.5.
3. Get back to defense. It's always been Cuonzo Martin's calling card. Both Martin and Geist said after the Auburn game that Missouri wasn't good enough to win games offensively. That's especially true in games they give up 91 points. Mississippi State can run if they want, averaging 74 points per game, but it won't be anything near what Auburn did.
TIP TIME INFORMATION
TIPOFF: 7:30 p.m. Central
TELEVISION: SEC Network/WatchESPN
RADIO: The game will be broadcast on the Tiger Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, click here.
THE BOTTOM LINE
After the way Missouri has played the last two games, picking them to win a road game might be silly. But eventually the Tigers have to start seeing some shots drop (we think). The Bulldogs are just 2-5 in the league, but both wins have come at home. If the Tigers can come out on top, they should get the ship turned back in the right direction. If not, it doesn't get any easier with a road game at Alabama and Kentucky coming to Mizzou Arena next week. Call it a sentimental pick in hopes that the season remains interesting down the stretch.
PREDICTION: Missouri 70, Mississippi State 68
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jordan Geist scores 15 and dishes out five assists to earn the nod.
