Miami (OH) @ Missouri preview
Mizzou Arena
Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2016 ) Miami (OH) 55, Missouri 81
It’s a rematch of last season, but the matchup hardly will resemble it when Missouri hosts Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. Both teams have a totally different look and have enjoyed some early success, thanks to new coaches and an influx of new players.
The Tigers won only eight games last season, but one was an 81-55 rout of the RedHawks in which Kevin Puryear put up 19 points. Puryear is one of two starters who are back from last campaign and surrounded by a talented recruiting class that signed on after coach Cuonzo Martin was hired. Miami coach Jack Owens also brought in a large group of newcomers and starts three freshmen, including two of the team’s top three scorers. The RedHawks are coming off their second overtime win of the season, a 76-73 double-overtime victory at Western Illinois on Saturday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT MIAMI (OHIO) (5-3): Freshman guards Nike Sibande (13.1 points) and Jalen Adaway (11.1, 6.4 rebounds) have sparked the RedHawks at the offensive end. Forward Logan McLane (11.8 points, 6.9 rebounds) is Miami’s top post player and the tallest member of the team at 6-9. The RedHawks have shot a paltry 33.8 percent from 3-point range and struggled to a 66.2 percent clip from the foul line.
ABOUT MISSOURI (6-2): The Tigers are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation, ranking 18th with a plus-9.8 margin. Graduate transfer Kassius Robertson (14.3 points) leads the team in scoring and hits 44 percent from 3-point range, while forwards Jordan Barnett (12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Puryear (11.6, 5.4) have added outside shots to their game. Freshmen Jeremiah Tilmon (9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds) and Jontay Porter (9.1, 6.5) give the Tigers a menacing post presence and have combined for 24 blocked shots.
TIP-INS
1. Robertson has made multiple 3-pointers in six of eight games this season, hitting at least five on three occasions.
2. Missouri committed a season-low nine turnovers in Thursday’s 62-59 win at Central Florida after averaging 16 in its first seven contests.
3. Miami is 8-34 against current SEC teams, including an 0-1 mark against Missouri.
PREDICTION: Missouri 83, Miami 70