Preview: Mizzou Basketball Looks to Extend its Streak in Must-Win Matchup

Conference play has added a new dimension to the 2024-25 season. After suffering a lopsided defeat to No. 2 Auburn last Saturday, the Missouri Tigers bounced back in dominant fashion just three days later with a decisive blowout victory over LSU.

Now, head coach Dennis Gates and his deep roster return to Columbia, aiming to achieve a winning SEC record for the first time in over two years.

These two conference teams are fairly evenly matched on a year-to-year basis, having split their last ten meetings.

Last season, the Commodores defended their home court with a narrow 68-61 victory over the Tigers, marking the closest of Mizzou’s 18 conference losses. The year prior, however, Mizzou edged out Vanderbilt on the road with an 85-82 win.

Home court has consistently played a significant role in this matchup, as games between these teams are typically decided by just a few possessions, with the hosting team often having the edge.

Both teams enter the matchup with 1-1 conference records, each earning their lone SEC victory against LSU. Vanderbilt’s most recent game was a tough contest against No. 14 Mississippi State.

The Commodores arrive with a 13-2 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark on the road. While many of their wins have been dominant, their strength of schedule has been relatively weak before their last contest. Notably, they suffered a surprising and lopsided loss to a much lower-ranked Drake team.

Vanderbilt welcomed a new head coach this season, Mark Byington, formerly of James Madison. Byington guided the Dukes to their most successful five-year stretch in decades. He replaces former NBA player Jerry Stackhouse, who previously led the Commodores from the sidelines.

Offensively, Coach Byington evenly distributes playing time, with an impressive eight players averaging over 20 minutes per game. However, one player stands out as the primary facilitator and leader of the offense.

Jason Edwards is one of two Vanderbilt players averaging double figures in scoring. Despite starting just seven of the team’s 15 games, he leads the Commodores in minutes played, averaging over 17 points per game along with one steal on defense. Edwards is also an efficient shooter, hitting 45% from the field, including over 36% from beyond the arc.

The junior, in his first season since transferring from North Texas, is a capable playmaker but struggles to finish inside the paint. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Edwards can find it challenging to create shots or distribute effectively when tightly defended. For Mizzou to secure a win, their defense must focus on containing him early and often, as Edwards has shown the ability to create opportunities and push the ball down the court on his own when given space.

Edwards was a late addition to Vanderbilt's injury report and is now listed as questionable. His absence would be a significant setback for the Commodores' offense heading into Saturday afternoon’s game.

Vanderbilt's success isn't solely driven by offense; their defensive prowess plays a key role in their victories. The Commodores excel at limiting opponents' opportunities and suppressing overall scoring. They thrive by sticking to their offensive game plan while using strong defense to neutralize key playmakers and take them out of the game entirely.

The Commodores boast two standout defenders. Freshman Tyler Tanner averages over two steals per game, showcasing his ability to disrupt passing lanes, while junior Devin McGlockton anchors the defense with more than eight rebounds and two blocks per game.

Vanderbilt ranks in the top ten for both blocks and steals per game, according to NCAA.com, tied with Mizzou at No. 5 in the country in terms of steals per game.

This matchup shapes up to be the toughest defensive challenge the Tigers have faced this season, making it crucial for multiple players to contribute offensively. If Mizzou can effectively contain Vanderbilt’s key playmakers on defense and find ways to break through their strong defensive setup, they have a solid chance to defend home court successfully.

Mizzou aims for its third conference win and 13th overall victory on Saturday afternoon, with tipoff set for 2:30 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.