Missouri @ Arkansas preview
Bud Walton Arena
Last Meeting ( Feb 4, 2017 ) Arkansas 78, Missouri 83
Two of the teams hoping to crack the SEC’s upper tier square off Saturday, when Missouri travels to face Arkansas and former coach Mike Anderson. The Razorbacks have won five of the last six meetings between the rivals.
The Tigers overcame a sluggish first half to beat visiting Georgia 68-56 on Wednesday, an impressive bounce-back effort after suffering a heartbreaking, last-second home loss to Florida four days earlier. Arkansas is coming off its first home setback of the season, a 75-54 rout at the hands of LSU, after winning its first eight games at Bud Walton Arena by an average of 22.6 points. The Razorbacks are trying to avoid their first four-game overall losing streak in Anderson’s seven-year tenure. Missouri is looking to win a third straight road game for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ABOUT MISSOURI (12-4, 2-1 SEC): The Tigers have shown good balance, with six players averaging at least seven points, but guard Kassius Robertson and forward Jordan Barnett have emerged as the go-to guys. Barnett (15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds) is averaging 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the Tigers’ last 11 games while Robertson (15.4 points) is producing 17.7 points over his last six contests, and both have been red-hot from 3-point range. Veteran forward Kevin Puryear (9.6 points) has settled into a more complementary role this season while freshmen Jeremiah Tilmon (9.1 points) and Jontay Porter (8.8, seven rebounds, 2.3 blocks) have been outstanding when they avoid foul trouble, giving the Tigers a formidable frontcourt.
ABOUT ARKANSAS (11-5, 1-3): Anderson’s teams thrive on pressure defense and creating turnovers that lead to easy buckets, so the Razorbacks might be able to take advantage of a Missouri backcourt that lacks a proven point guard. It’s no coincidence that the team's top two scorers – guards Jaylen Barford (18.8 points) and Daryl Macon (16.3) – also lead the squad in steals. Freshman forward Daniel Gafford (11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds) has been the most effective big man but will have a tough assignment against the Tigers.
TIP-INS
1. Missouri’s 153 3-pointers rank as the most in program history through 16 games.
2. The Razorbacks are 11-0 when scoring at least 80 points and 0-5 when producing 79 or fewer.
3. With 37 blocks, Porter already ranks third on Missouri’s freshman list, trailing only Arthur Johnson (65) and Johnathan Williams III (57).
PREDICTION: Arkansas 81, Missouri 77