Missouri and Texas sit on the NCAA Tournament bubble during the stretch run of the Southeastern Conference season.
The Tigers (17-7, 7-4 SEC) have won three straight conference games. So have the Longhorns (15-9, 6-5), for the first time since moving over from the Big 12.
The showdown Saturday night in Columbia, Mo., is critical for both teams.
“I mentioned it after the South Carolina game that there are guys in our locker room who have never won three conference games in a row,” Longhorns coach Sean Miller said after Texas defeated Ole Miss 79-68 on Feb. 7. “They did that for the first time. It’s those small steps that can build a strong foundation for a program.”
Missouri coach Dennis Gates has settled on his seven-man rotation during the current upturn, starting guard T.O. Barrett over Anthony Robinson II at point guard and Trent Pierce over Jacob Crews at forward.
Center Shawn Phillips Jr. remains the team’s X-factor. He made the decisive plays at both ends of the court in the final seconds as the Tigers scored an 86-85 upset at Texas A&M on Wednesday.
He converted an alley-oop drunk on Missouri’s final possession, then blocked a last-second Aggies shot at the rim.
“I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can. Just always being there for the guys and controlling myself emotionally as well,” Phillips said. “But you know, it’s all about staying consistent. So, the next game’s on Saturday. We’ve gotta go to the crib and do it all over again.”
Phillips averages just 19.6 minutes per game due to his persistent foul trouble, both personal and technical. Keeping him on the court will be essential to Missouri’s chances.
“Man, he’s been aggressive,” Pierce said. “He’s a hard worker, he plays hard. He’s been getting rebounds and blocks. And that’s what we need, inside protection, and he brings that. I’m proud of him for that.”
Missouri’s Jevon Porter averaged 17.4 minutes in 12 games before sustaining a leg injury. Luke Northweather also played extensively in nonconference play before falling out of the rotation. Both are 6-foot-11 forwards.
So Texas will create a matchup challenge for the Tigers with center Matas Vokietaitis, who scored 27 points in the victory over Ole Miss. He averages 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Longhorns point guard Jordan Pope encountered foul trouble against the Rebels, but backup Simeon Wilcher played 23 effective minutes. Wilcher stepped up to hit the clinching 3-point jumper as Texas executed its offense late.
“The margin in separation in a game is literally single plays,” Miller said. “For what we’re trying to accomplish in the SEC and in the bigger picture for March, it comes down to big plays.”
