NCAA Basketball Prediction: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Missouri Tigers
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
by Mike Stewart
No. 3 Missouri Tigers comes in as the hottest team in the Big 12, winning five consecutive games. Oklahoma State Cowboys will try to avoid losing for the sixth time in seven conference road games.
The last loss for Missouri came against the Cowboys, on Jan. 25 in Stillwater. In the 79-72 upset, Oklahoma State shot 60 percent from the field, led by LeBryan Nash and Brian Williams, who combined for 49 points.
- Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Missouri Tigers
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
TV: ET, ESPN2
The Tigers have opened as 16-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-13): The Cowboys have been excellent at defending the 3-pointer (third in conference, 30 percent), and that could come in handy against a Missouri team that leads the Big 12 in shooting from behind the arc (39 percent). Oklahoma State is last in the conference in field goal accuracy (41 percent), but could get a break facing the Tigers, who are ninth in field goal percentage defense (43 percent).
Missouri Tigers (23-2): The Tigers are the top shooting team in the Big 12 (50 percent) and they haven’t slowed down during a five-game winning streak. Including knocking down 51 of 98 shots (52 percent) against Oklahoma and Baylor, the Tigers have hit 49 percent during the streak (122 of 250). Missouri is last in 3-point percentage defense (35), but shut down Baylor, forcing the Bears to miss 13 of 17 attempts. Four of Missouri’s season-high 14 made 3-pointers against Baylor came from Phil Pressey, who caught fire after not hitting a single 3-pointer the previous five games.
1. The game could come down to the free throw line, where both teams have been excellent. Missouri leads the Big 12 at 76 percent, and the Cowboys are second at 75 percent.
2. Missouri junior Michael Dixon has been strong coming off the bench in all 25 games (averaging 12.4 points, 3.0 assists), but in the last four games he’s upped his output, averaging 16.2 points and five assists.
3. Missouri leads the Big 12 in assists and five players average at least 1.6, led by Pressey, who is second in the conference at 5.8.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Tigers 88, Cowboys 55.
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brian williams - lebryan nash - michael dixon - missouri tigers - mizzou arena - oklahoma state cowboys - phil pressey
