The No. 14/16 University of Missouri men’s basketball team kicks off March with a crucial SEC matchup against Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on SEC Network. The Tigers enter the game with a 21-7 overall record and a 10-5 mark in SEC play, their best 15-game conference start since joining the SEC in 2012-13. Mizzou is coming off a dominant 101-71 victory over South Carolina, their largest SEC win in 12 years, and ranks seventh nationally in scoring offense (84.3 points per game) and 15th in scoring margin (+13.4).
Leading the charge for the Tigers are Caleb Grill and Mark Mitchell, each averaging 13.7 points per game, followed closely by Tamar Bates at 13.2 points. Josh Gray leads the team with 5.1 rebounds, while Anthony Robinson II dishes out a team-high 3.5 assists per game. Mizzou’s offense has been on fire lately, averaging 93.0 points over their last five games while shooting 53.4% from the field. They’ve scored over 100 points twice in their last three games—a feat they hadn’t achieved in any of their first 226 SEC games.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is riding a wave of momentum after back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, including No. 12 Texas A&M. The Commodores are 19-9 overall and 7-8 in SEC play, led by Jason Edwards’ 17.2 points per game. Devin McGlockton adds 10.6 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds, while A.J. Hoggard leads with 4.6 assists per game. Vanderbilt averages 79.8 points per game but allows 73.3 defensively.
In their earlier meeting this season, Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt 75-66, with Mitchell leading the way with 19 points. Historically, the Tigers hold a 10-8 edge in the series, though Vanderbilt has won seven of nine matchups in Nashville.
Mizzou’s offense has been a highlight this season, ranking seventh nationally in scoring and posting their highest field goal percentage (48.9%) since 2011-12. Bates is having a historic shooting season, on pace to become the first Tiger to join the 50-40-90 club (50% FG, 40% 3PT, 90% FT). Mitchell has also been stellar, averaging 20.0 points over his last five games, including a career-high 31 points in a win over No. 4 Alabama.
With three games left in the regular season, the Tigers are one win away from matching their best SEC record (11-7) and are poised to make a strong push heading into March Madness. Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt is another opportunity to solidify their standing as one of the SEC’s top teams.
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