Missouri will look for its third-straight victory when it takes on No. 12 Kansas State in the Paradise Jam championship game on Monday night.
The Tigers scored an impressive win over Oregon State on Sunday, with Cuonzo Martin’s team getting to the free-throw line 28 times.
Meanwhile, Kansas State is picking up where it left off last season by jumping out to a 4-0 start.
Let’s run through what to watch for in this matchup.
Game Details
- Missouri (3-1) vs. No. 12 Kansas State (4-0)
- Location: Virgin Islands Sport and Fitness Center – St. Thomas, VI
- Game Date: Nov. 19
- Game Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Watch: FloHoops
Players to Watch
Kevin Puryear (Missouri)
We’ve talked about Puryear needing to play with more consistency after some early struggles, but he’s responded with back-to-back quality performances for the Tigers.
The 6-7 senior has scored 17 points in each of the past two games, and his overall experience is going to be invaluable for a Missouri squad that’s still building chemistry.
Jordan Geist (Missouri)
Another senior that stepped up in a big way against Oregon State was Geist, who finished with 21 points and went 12 of 15 from the charity stripe.
With backcourt experience a concern for this team entering the season, Geist’s ability to play at a high level while limiting turnovers will be crucial to Missouri’s success this season.
Barry Brown (Kansas State)
There are plenty of options for Bruce Weber to choose from with this balanced Kansas State team, and it’s Brown that’s leading the way thus far from a scoring standpoint.
The 6-3 senior struggled i going just 3 of 11 from the field against Penn, but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the most reliable scorers on the roster.
Dean Wade (Kansas State)
After missing key games down the stretch last season due to injury, Wade has returned to form by averaging 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds through four games.
His versatility on both sides of the court should be one of the main reasons why Kansas State has a shot at dethroning Kansas in the Big 12 this season.
Key Stats
Missouri was a bit better offensively in the win over Oregon State, but there are still concerns for Martin’s group when it comes to finding offense on a consistent basis.
The Tigers are 273rd nationally in 3-point percentage (29.1 percent) and 277th in effective field-goal percentage (45.6 percent), so there is plenty of room for improvement.
Unfortunately, that improvement may not come against a Kansas State defense that is fourth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency after finishing 21st in that category last season.
However, the Wildcats have ran into their own shooting issues through four games, making just 20.3 percent of their shots from beyond the arc and 60.0 percent of their attempts from the free-throw line.
Something else worth keeping an eye on is the experience factor, with Kansas State holding a distinct advantage as one of the more experienced teams in the country.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Kansas State -7.5
- Over/Under: 130
- KenPom Projection: Kansas State, 75 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Kansas State, 67.9 percent chance to win
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Missouri in the matchup against Oregon State, but the Tigers were able to put together a solid performance.
There seem to be some glaring concerns entering this one, as Kansas State’s defensive prowess and overall experience are two strengths that could make things difficult on Missouri.
Weber has a roster filled with hard-nosed players that will create havoc defensively, and that could mean trouble for the Tigers’ backcourt.
It was good to see Missouri bounce back from the somewhat ugly win over Kennesaw State, but Kansas State just feels like a bad matchup.
I’ll take the Wildcats to pull away late to earn the tournament championship.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 36-8
Game Prediction: Kansas State 68, Missouri 59
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