The Missouri Tigers have made their second-consecutive NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2012 and 2013 season when Mizzou had gotten to the big dance for five years straight starting in 2008.
The Tigers got a favorable situation handed to them on selection Sunday, being awarded the 10 seed in St. Louis, allowing Missouri to have somewhat of a home atmosphere for the beginning of the tournament.
Their matchup with the No. 7 seed in the West bracket, the Miami Hurricanes, isn’t exactly a favorable matchup for the Tigers and here’s why.
The Miami Hurricanes are a very rounded team that is led along by a couple of standouts. The Hurricanes average 16.1 assists per game, the 59th most in the country and fifth most in a loaded ACC conference. They also shoot quite effectively as a team, ending the season at a clip of 50.1%, the twelfth best mark in the nation and very best in the ACC.
This resulted in an overall record of 24-7 and 13-5 conference record, not including the conference tournament.
The team is also quite efficient, averaging just 15.5 fouls per game, the 36th least in the country, while averaging a rebound margin of +7, tied for the 11th best mark in the country. This has helped Miami to score 81.9 points per game, the 52nd most in the nation, while obtaining a scoring margin of +10, the 30th best in the nation. This fierce rebounding attack is led by center Ernest Uedh Jr. who is tied for the 23rd most rebounds per game with an average of 9.3 boards an outing.
The fiery offense is led by forward Malik Reneau who leads the team with 18.8 points per game,is tied for 29th most field goals in the country with 223 and has the 44th most points with 622. Reneau achieves these marks through his very effective shooting, ending the regular season with a field goal percentage of 54.9%.
Alongside Reneau is fellow forward Shelton Henderson who shoots at an even more impressive clip of 56.3%, the 43rd highest mark in the country. Guard Tre Donaldson runs the offense at the top of the key very well with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.7, the 50th best mark in the nation.
This team presents a very interesting matchup for the Tigers, as both teams run their offenses mainly through their forwards, or in other words, through very physical play. It’ll be a key matchup between Reneau and Mizzou’s Mark Mitchell.
Personally, I think it’s this matchup, which team can control the paint the most and who is able to hit the most shots in crucial moments that will come out on top. Give me the Tigers to win 74-68 and to move on to round two and take on the winner of No. 2 seed Purdue vs. No. 15 seed Queens on Sunday.