USC-Missouri basketball: How, what to watch for as Gamecocks try for 3rd straight win
South Carolina (12-8, 4-3 SEC) hosts Missouri (10-10, 2-5) on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m. SEC Network will broadcast.
USC-MISSOURI STORYLINES
1. Welcome to February
The Gamecocks ended January with four wins in five games, setting up a next month full of potential.
The combined SEC record of South Carolina’s nine February opponents is 28-35, good for the league’s second easiest slate. Starting things by beating Missouri — and its 1-5 road record — would give USC its first three-game win streak since the season’s first three games.
2. Can the points continue to pile up?
South Carolina is favored to win this game, sure, but the Tigers are capable of their second win in last three trips to Colonial Life Arena.
Mizzou boasts the SEC’s second-ranked scoring defense, giving up fewer than 63 points per game. It was that side that sparked its best performance of the season, a 63-56 win in December over an Illinois team now ranked 19th nationally.
South Carolina’s been on an offensive tear recently, averaging a tad under 80 points and shooting better than 48% over its last five games.
“They don’t get out of the way defensively,” USC coach Frank Martin said of the Tigers on his “Carolina Calls” radio show. “You just don’t get easy opportunities against them. You have to figure out a way to turn them over. You have to make sure that you contest their shots and when they miss, you have to get some of these long rebounds and then you got to get out in the open court and be aggressive with those opportunities and you have to convert.”
3. Lawson’s surge
For the second time in three games, South Carolina could get an SEC opponent down an important player. Missouri’s Jermemiah Tilmon — a three-year starter averaging nine points, four rebounds and a block a game — has been out with a foot injury, but is a “game time decision” for Saturday.
These are blows the Gamecocks have been fortunate to mostly avoid this season. Instead, they’re just waiting for consistently from their most valuable players.
A.J. Lawson is back in good form. The reigning All-SEC freshman selection and NBA Draft prospect is averaging 14.2 points and shooting 56.4% over the last four games, effectively shaking off an early slide to SEC season.
MISSOURI
Coach: Cuonzo Martin (231-161 in 12 seasons overall; third season at Missouri — 45-40)
Projected starters: G Mark Smith (10.9 ppg), G Dru Smith (11.8), G Javon Pickett (7.7), F Reed Nikko (3.6), F Mitchell Smith (4.8)
Last game: Beat Georgia 72-69 on Tuesday at home.
KenPom ranking: 96 (No. 136 in offense efficiency, No. 84 in defense efficiency)
NET: 86
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (258-168 in 13 seasons overall; eighth season at USC — 141-114)
Projected starters: G A.J. Lawson (14.0), G Jermaine Couisnard (10.4), F Justin Minaya (7.9), F Keyshawn Bryant (7.8), C Maik Kotsar (9.3)
Last game: Beat Arkansas 79-77 on Wednesday in Fayetteville.
KenPom ranking: 91 (No. 115 in offense efficiency, No. 76 in defense efficiency)
NET: 75
Game info
Who: Missouri (10-10, 2-5) at South Carolina (12-8, 4-3)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV channel: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Series: Missouri leads 6-5
Last meeting: March 2, 2019 — Missouri 78, South Carolina 63
KenPom prediction: South Carolina 72, Missouri 67
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 12:10 PM.
