Tigers await winner of Texas A&M/Texas Tech game
The regular season has ended, but college basketball's thrilling second season is just about to tip off.
The Missouri men's basketball team rode its resurgence all the way to a 25-6 record and a 12-4 conference mark. The Tigers performance in the regular season earned the team a No. 3 seed and a first round bye in this week's Big 12 Championship tournament in Oklahoma City.
Although Missouri does not play until Thursday night, the Tigers will be keeping a close eye on what unfolds during the first round on Wednesday. Missouri will face the winner of No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 11 Texas Tech, two teams scheduled to meet in Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. nightcap game.
In Monday's Big 12 coaches conference call, Missouri coach Mike Anderson discussed the importance of "getting on a roll" in conference tournaments, stressing the importance of each team's debut.
"The first game is the most important game," Anderson said.
Here's a look at what a Texas A&M or Texas Tech matchup would mean for Mizzou:
NO. 6 TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Last time they met: Texas A&M's bench sparked the Aggies to a 22-point lead at halftime, giving the Aggies a 96-86 win against Missouri last Saturday.
Why playing A&M would be good for Missouri: Missouri has twice had opportunities this season to face an opponent they've lost to previously. Missouri lost on the road to Nebraska by five and lost on the road to Kansas State by 16. In rematches, Missouri defeated those two teams by margins of 23 and 20, respectively. That's an average of a 32-point swing in favor of Missouri.
Why does that matter and/or pertain to A&M? Missouri will be less than a week removed from losing to A&M, 96-86, in College Station, Texas. If Missouri approaches the game with the same intensity and shooting percentage as it did against Nebraska and Kansas State, the Aggies could be outclassed in a hurry.
Why avoiding A&M would be good for Missouri: The Aggies proved Saturday that they aren't intimidated by the Tigers. Furthermore, Texas A&M shot the lights out (62 percent from the field), got huge points from its bench (39), and protected the ball much better than Missouri's opponents traditionally do (14 turnovers, despite MU forcing an average of 19). The formula to compete with Missouri is simple: protect the ball and hit your shots. Texas A&M did that in College Station, and if they can do so in Oklahoma City, they'll be a tough out for any team.
Who to watch for: His effectiveness was somewhat limited because of injury in the teams' last meeting, but Texas A&M's lead gun is undoubtedly senior Josh Carter. His reputation is as a sharpshooter who is deadly from the corner and money from the charity stripe. Carter averages 14 points per game.
He said it: "In the first half, we kind of went through the motions. Of course, A&M had a lot to play for and some of that credit goes to them. But we didn't come with the energy we have to have on the road." -- Missouri coach Mike Anderson on his team's last meeting with Texas A&M
The bottom line: Texas A&M is on a hot streak, riding a six-game winning streak in Oklahoma City and inching its way closer to "lock" status for the NCAA Tournament. Although Missouri is certainly capable of paying the Aggies back for last Saturday, as they sit right now, the Aggies aren't going to be an easy out for anyone.
NO. 11 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Last time they met: Texas Tech coughed up the ball 18 times in the first half alone, allowing the Tigers to run away with a 97-86 win at Mizzou Arena.
Why playing Tech would be good for Missouri: Make no mistake, on most nights, Missouri is a far better basketball team than Texas Tech. There's a reason the Red Raiders went 3-13 in Big 12 play.
Why avoiding Tech would be good for Missouri: Now may not be the best time to face the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is a week removed from thrashing eventual conference champion Kansas, 84-65, in Lubbock, Texas. There hadn't been much to build on for Texas Tech coach Pat Knight in his first full season at the helm, but there's no doubt the Red Raiders were able to build quite a bit of confidence from destroying the one of the conference's elite teams.
Who to watch for: Senior Alan Voskuil reintroduced himself to the college basketball world by going 9-of-14 from 3-point range in scoring 35 points to lead Texas Tech to an upset of Kansas.
He said it: "I really thought we hurt ourselves, especially early on. Their defense forces a lot of turnovers, but it shouldn't be that many. We made a lot of dumb passes, a lot of dumb plays and kind of rushed ourselves." -- Texas Tech coach Pat Knight on Missouri and Texas Tech's last meeting
The bottom line: There shouldn't be much debate here - Texas Tech would likely be a much better matchup for Missouri. Red Raider guard John Roberson looked overwhelmed by Missouri's pressure in the teams' last meeting, and it would take another monster effort from Voskuil for Texas Tech to beat Missouri.
Beginning Thursday, TheManeater.com will have full coverage of the Big 12 Championship tournament. Senior Staff Writer Ross Taylor will be filing live analysis, full game stories and videocasts from the Ford Center in Oklahoma City on The Maneater's Big 12 Championship hub for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game.