The Shootaround: Feb. 4
The MU men's basketball team is a few days removed from Saturday's 89-72 win over Baylor, but the Tigers hope to keep the good times rolling tonight, as they face the No. 16 Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
The Tigers enter the game as four-point underdogs, but it's safe to say there's a whole lot of momentum riding on 40 minutes of basketball in Austin. Much like Missouri a week ago, the Longhorns were stunned by Kansas State on Saturday. Kansas State rode Denis Clemente's 44 points - a Frank Erwin Center record - to a road win, proving the 'Horns fallible on their home court. Missouri looks to build on the momentum generated by the 17-point win over Baylor, a team that entered last Saturday's game receiving votes in both major polls. A road win against Texas in an ESPN2-televised game tonight could jumpstart the Tigers for a stretch of two games in three days, as the Tigers travel to Iowa State on Saturday (where Hilton Coliseum magic has never been kind to Missouri) and then back home to Mizzou Arena for a Big Monday tilt with Kansas, which is currently undefeated in conference play.
After the win against Baylor, Missouri players and coach Mike Anderson alluded to what the Kansas State loss meant for the Longhorns' date with Missouri. Anderson noted that the Kansas State loss could light a fire under the Texas players heading into a much-hyped home showdown, much the same way it the Kansas State loss ignited Missouri before its soldout game against Baylor.
Missouri currently sits a half game up on Texas for third in the Big 12. A road win tonight against a nationally ranked Texas team would likely solidify Missouri among the conference's top teams, and add a vital piece to Missouri's still-developing NCAA Tournament resume.