Missouri Tigers At Texas A&M Preview & Predictions

The Missouri Tigers travel to College Station, TX on Wednesday to face a Texas A&M Aggie team that is coming off a win over LSU, and has won two straight.

The Tigers do have two mutual opponents in LSU and Kentucky. A&M defeated LSU 67-64 and went back and forth with the Wildcats all the way to the end, only to fall 70-64 in double overtime.

The Aggies’ leading scorer is junior guard Jalen Jones. In Jones’ first year at the school (transfer from SMU) he is averaging 13.8 ppg, and had 18 in their last outing against LSU. It should be noted that Jones wasn’t available in the loss against Kentucky with an ankle sprain.

Jan 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Jalen Jones (12) shoots as LSU Tigers forward Jordan Mickey (25) and forward Jarell Martin (1) defend during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Texas A&M defeated LSU 67-64. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Another transfer, Danuel House (Houston), has emerged as another reliable scorer for A&M. House, a guard, is averaging 13.5 ppg and has been on a scoring tear the past three games. The junior had 25 against Kentucky, 19 versus Mississippi State and 18 at LSU.

Down low, senior Kourtney Roberson is the only non-guard that logs more than 20 minutes per game. He contributes 8.3 ppg, and is second on the team in rebounds (5.3 rpg) to Jones’s 6 per game.

Texas A&M has a glut of guards that are much bigger than Missouri’s.

Jones and House are 6-foot-7, and throw in Alex Caruso (6-foot-5), Jordan Green (6-foot-5), and Alex Robinson (6-foot-1) and the Tigers might have issues matching up. All average at least 21 minutes per game.

The guards may be big, but Roberson is the only presence they’ll have to key on in the front court. Jonathan Williams

Jan 11, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Missouri Tigers forward Jonathan Williams III (3) blocks the shot of Auburn Tigers center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) during the second half at Auburn Arena Missouri defeated Auburn 70-68. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

III, Jakeenan Gant, and Keanau Post should have almost all of the touches in Kim Anderson’s half-court offense.

Mizzou hopes that Teki Gill-Caesar has shaken off some of the rust after his first game back against Tennessee. After missing the last three games, the freshman returned and played nine minutes against the Vols and didn’t score any points.

At 6-foot-6, is Missouri’s biggest guard, and he will be counted on to defend either Jones or House.

Namon Wright (6-foot-5), who scored a team high 13 points last outing, will probably see more minutes to matchup against A&M’s bigger guards.

If the Tigers have a chance to leave Reed Arena with their second conference victory, it will have to be because of their frontcourt. After two sluggish games from Williams, he will be relied upon heavily to take take advantage of the smaller (and fewer) big men that A&M has.

Ultimately, Texas A&M is playing better basketball than Missouri. Also, A&M’s only loss at home was to Kentucky, and they gave UK their best game of the season.

Their guards will give Wes Clark and Keith Shamburger fits. Williams and Post will have better games, but the Aggies pull out a home victory 65-58.

More from Truman's Tales

Home/Basketball