MISSOURI vs. ILLINOIS
When • 7 p.m. Where • Scottrade Center
Series • Illinois leads 31-16. In St. Louis, Illinois leads 24-12; Illinois 75, MU 66, Dec. 21, 2016
TV, radio • ESPN2, KTRS (550 AM)
Records • MU (10-2), Illinois (8-5)
1. Will Braggin’ Rights atmosphere rattle rookies?
On Saturday, Cuonzo Martin will experience a first in his 46 years on the planet: The East St. Louis native has never attended a Braggin’ Rights Game — yes, even though he nearly attended Illinois for college. But when it comes to the holiday rivalry game, Martin figures ignorance is bliss. For four players in Mizzou’s rotation, Saturday’s game will be their first taste of the MU-Illinois game. Martin didn’t plan to overwhelm his players with a history lesson on the game’s rich traditions.
“I think the beauty sometimes is not even saying (anything) because what happens is added pressure,” Martin said. “I can’t say this game is this magnitude and also say we prepare for each game the same. Now all of a sudden it’s, ‘Coach, what are you saying? That game is more important than that game?’”
Maybe it’s not more important, but Braggin’ Rights is certainly different, with a packed house of 22,000-plus expected with both fan bases equally represented. Mizzou players don’t expect the atmosphere to affect their composure, mostly because they’ve already played in a similar environment in October’s charity exhibition against Kansas in Kansas City.
“One side would score and everyone would go nuts,” MU guard Kassius Robertson said. “ The other side would score and everyone would go nuts. I’m imagining it’s kind of the same. I hope it is because the Kansas game was a whole lot of fun, even though we lost.”
Illinois first-year coach Brad Underwood has watched the annual clash on TV most years but will experience his first as a coach on the sideline. “I coach basketball to be part of games like this,” he said.
2. Can Barnett dazzle
the home crowd?
Last year, Mizzou’s Jordan Barnett had no trouble finding tickets for friends and family who wanted to see him play in his first Braggin’ Rights Game. This year? “I couldn’t get any extra tickets,” he said. That’s a shame for Barnett’s supporters. A year ago, Braggin’ Rights was Barnett’s second game he played for the Tigers after becoming eligible to join his teammates on the floor. The University of Texas transfer from CBC had a forgettable outing, scoring just four points in 15 minutes. Lately he’s become MU’s most potent scorer, averaging 18.7 points in the last seven games. For the season, he’s shooting 41.2 percent from 3-point range. On Saturday, he brings his shooting streak into his hometown. “It almost seems like he’s not missing at all,” forward Kevin Puryear said. “This is his last go-around, so his approach to games is different. You’ve been seeing the results on the floor.”
3. Will Mizzou handle
Illinois’ pressure?
Pressure defenses have proven to be Mizzou’s kryptonite this season. West Virginia’s full-court press caused a Mizzou meltdown in Orlando last month when Martin’s team blew a 16-point lead. Again Tuesday, Stephen F. Austin blitzed MU in the backcourt, swarming especially hard against ball screens, and forced MU into a season-high 21 turnovers. Mizzou has faced the nation’s three leading teams in defensive turnover percentage — SFA, West Virginia and St. John’s — and now play No. 11. The Illini’s opponents turn the ball over on 24.7 percent of their possessions, which means the Tigers have to handle the ball with vigilance when Underwood turns up the heat, whether it’s Blake Harris or Jordan Geist or Terrence Phillips handling the ball at point guard. “It still goes back to us taking care of the basketball, making sound decisions, understanding where you need to be,” Martin said.
4. Whose preferred style
sets the pace?
Saturday’s game features two teams that play at different paces. Illinois ranks No. 37 in adjusted tempo, averaging 74 offensive possessions per game. The Tigers play a few steps slower, averaging 66.9 possessions, which ranks No. 304. Only seven high-major conferences teams play slower. That doesn’t mean Mizzou can’t play at a brisk pace. As long as Martin’s ball-handlers avoid careless turnovers, the Tigers have the guards to match the Illini’s stride, plus two agile big men in Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter who can run the floor like guards.
5. Can TALLER Mizzou capitalize inside?
Speaking of big men, does Illini have the size and inside muscle to challenge the Tigers? Martin will employ a rotation that features 6-11 Porter, 6-10 Tilmon, 6-10 Reed Nikko and 6-7 Puryear in the frontcourt. Leron Black, Underwood’s 6-7 forward, is Illinois’ best inside scoring threat (13.9 points per game). Michael Finke, a 6-10 forward, is Illinois’ tallest regular and best rebounder (6.1) but spends most of his time on the perimeter on offense. Somehow, the undersized Illini still crash the offensive glass as well as anyone, ranking sixth nationally in offensive rebound percentage. Mizzou’s size, though, figures to be an advantage. Inside the 3-point arc, the Tigers shoot 57.1 percent, up from 45 percent last year, before the Tigers added Tilmon and Porter.