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 Texas A&M.
OFF THE BENCH: Billy Kennedy is no stranger to having a limited bench this season and he will again on Tuesday. J.J. Caldwell was dismissed from the team and Jay Jay Chandler is indefinitely suspended. Neither of those two has played much of late, but graduate transfer Duane Wilson aggravated an ACL injury against Kentucky on Saturday and is done for the season. The Aggie bench will consist entirely of 6-7 wing Savion Flagg and 6-10 center Tonny Trocha-Morelos, who combined for 23 minutes against Kentucky. Trocha-Morelos killed Mizzou in the first matchup, but the Aggie starters all played at least 31 minutes against the Wildcats this weekend. Look for more of the same on Tuesday night.
OFF THE BENCH: Jordan Geist doesn't start, but for all intents and purposes, he's the fifth starter on this team. He'll get the majority of the minutes with Robertson in the backcourt. In the last two games, Geist has averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and four assists with just two turnovers. In fact, during Mizzou's four-game winning streak, Geist has 18 rebounds, 12 assists and just five turnovers. Jontay Porter has been in double figures in all four of Mizzou's wins and the Tigers are 12-0 when he scores at least ten points. He had probably his worst game of the season last time against the Aggies. Reed Nikko is providing some front court insurance while Porter and Tilmon battle fouls. Nikko is giving Cuonzo Martin about ten minutes a game over the last seven.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Survive inside. Same as it was the first time these two teams played. A&M dominated that matchup. Robert Williams and Tyler Davis combined for 24 points and 23 rebounds, but the key for the Aggies was 14 points off the bench from Tonny Trocha-Morelos. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter had just nine points and ten rebounds. Porter went scoreless and Tilmon fouled out. Missouri's probably not winning this matchup straight up. But if the Tigers can just keep it respectable, they've got a shot.
2. Take (and make) good shots. The Tigers' biggest problem is not getting shots because they turn the ball over. The Aggies don't really force turnovers. Mizzou had just eight in College Station. But the Tigers shot 27.8% and made only 15 field goals all day. Mizzou will need more than the four three-pointers it made in that game, but perhaps even worse, it shot just 11-36 from two-point range. Missouri missed a month's worth of close range looks in that game. The Tigers will win this game if they can shoot better than 40%. Kassius Robertson went just 1-for-11 that game. He has scored at least 16 in every game since and topped 20 in five of the six. Missouri will need that out of him again.
3. Jump out early. This is a game where Missouri needs a good start. If the Tigers are struggling early and let A&M settle into the game it wants to play, it won't be all that pretty. Plus, we know the issues the Tigers have had late in games. They're going to need a cushion in this one. As we've said about so many games this season, Missouri can't win it in the first half...but the Tigers can lose it there.
TIP TIME INFORMATION
TIPOFF: 6:00 p.m. Central
TELEVISION: ESPNU/WatchESPN
RADIO: The game will be broadcast on the Tiger Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, click here.
THE BOTTOM LINE
THE BOTTOM LINE: Completely torn on this one. A&M is a terrible matchup for the Tigers. The game in College Station was the blueprint for the Aggies to beat Mizzou and the big men haven't shown much of an ability to stay on the floor and outplay a talented frontcourt. Plus, the Aggies are playing very well right now, probably a couple wins from being a virtual tournament lock. But so are the Tigers. It isn't always pretty, but Missouri has won four in a row and has played its best basketball of the season over the last two weeks. Mizzou Arena should be charged up. Is the home court enough to carry the Tigers to a win that would all but put them in the NCAA field?
PLAYER OF THE GAME: If Mizzou is going to win, either it's a frontcourt player or Kassius Robertson has one of the best games of his season. We'll go with the latter. Robertson enters legitimate SEC player of the year talk with 24 points.
THE PICK: Missouri 64, Texas A&M 61
