Manhattan, KS – The seventh-ranked Missouri Tigers put their ranked Kansas State Wildcats in Big 12 action at Bramlage Coliseum.
Frank Haith has yet to experience a loss in Columbia, as his Tigers are one of just four teams left in the country undefeated. Missouri brought a full head of steam into conference play this week and routed the Oklahoma Sooner, 87-49 to move to 14-0 on the season. It marks the first time since the 1981-82 season, that Missouri has opened the campaign with 14 straight wins.
Frank Martin's Wildcats are also off to a fast start and are winners of 11 of their first 13 games. Kansas State lost on December 8th against West Virginia (85-80) in double overtime and then strung together six straight wins before suffering a 67-49 loss at Kansas this week to open up league play.
These two rivals have met a whopping 233 previous times, but only one game separates them, with Missouri holding a 117-116 series advantage, thanks to wins in three of the last five meetings.
Missouri is getting it done at both ends of the court this season, as evidence by its gaudy +25.3 scoring margin. The Tigers lead the nation in field goal percentage (.522) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71), rank second in scoring (86.2), ninth in three-point accuracy (.417) and eighth in steals (9.6 per game). The scoring depth is vast, led by Marcus Denmon's 18.8 ppg. Kim English adds to the perimeter assault with 15.9 ppg and he and Denmon have combined for 85 of the team's 120 three-pointers to date. Ricardo Ratliffe (14.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg) gives the team frontcourt balance, while Michael Dixon (12.6 ppg) has been a valuable asset off the bench. Missouri hit seven three- pointers in the first half alone and finished 12-of-21 from long range in blowing out Oklahoma this week. English and Denmon combined for 43 points and nine of those treys, while Ratliffe and Dixon added 13 points apiece. Missouri shot a sterling 59.3 percent from the floor in the game and outrebounded the Sooners, 38-23.
Kansas State was outmuscled on the boards to the tune of a 50-26 rebounding deficit, as the Wildcats posed little challenge to the Jayhawks in Lawrence this week. It certainly didn't help that KSU shot just 31.6 percent from the floor overall, including a mere 5-of-20 showing from three-point range. Rodney McGruder led the limited offensive output with 15 points. Jamar Samuels chipped in 12, but there was little support elsewhere. The numbers at the offensive end have been much better on the year, as Kansas State is netting 75.0 ppg. It was also a bit of an anomaly on the glass as well, with KSU averaging 40.5 rebounds per game. The team currently has three players averaging double digits in points, led by McGruder's 12.7 ppg. Samuels is next in line at 11.8 ppg and is tops in terms of rebounding (7.0 rpg). Will Spradling rounds out the primary scorers on the roster with 11.3 ppg.
