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Mizzou basketball welcomes Butler to Kansas City

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Xavier Pinson #1 of the Missouri Tigers goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on November 12, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Xavier Pinson #1 of the Missouri Tigers goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on November 12, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Mizzou basketball takes on an undefeated Butler team that already has two common opponents with the Tigers.

Mizzou basketball is in Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic for the next two days. The Tigers play against the Butler Bulldogs tonight while Stanford and Oklahoma meet on the other side of the bracket. The winners of these two games meet up Tuesday for the classic title while the losers will play on the consolation side.

The Bulldogs and the Tigers are evenly matched, as are the Sooners and the Cardinal. It should make for a great two days of basketball. Here’s a look at tonight’s matchup for Mizzou:

Records: Butler 5-0; Mizzou 4-1

Where: Sprint Center

Time: 6 p.m.

How to watch: ESPNU

How to listen: TuneIn

Live stats: mutigers

Line: Missouri -1 courtesy of the Action Network

Over/under: -110 courtesy of the Action Network

Last year’s record: Butler 16-17; Mizzou basketball: 15-17

Butler gives Mizzou one of the most evenly matched opponents of the season.

The two teams each played five games and have similar records paired against each other. Butler is undefeated while the Tigers enter 4-1 with an overtime loss to No. 18 Xavier. Both Butler and Missouri played two teams in common with each other, and the score lines were quite similar.

Butler defeated Wofford 80-61 while Mizzou topped the Terriers 75-56 — each won by 19. Butler also beat Morehead State 68-50 and the Tigers knocked the Eagles off 70-52 — each won by 18. This game looks to be a defensive battle. Butler is eighth in the nation in points allowed (53.4) while Mizzou is 12th (53.8).

Expect a close game that comes down to the wire. The Bulldogs have several different players they can turn to for buckets, including Bryce Nze and Sean McDermott. Mizzou has two go-to guards in Dru and Mark Smith. Both defenses will be tested tonight.

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