Head coach Dennis Gates has kept his team competitive in the SEC, the toughest conference in the NCAA this season. Despite a strong start in conference play, the Missouri Tigers have dropped its last two games and face a must-win situation on Wednesday night.
Mizzou sits at 17-6 overall and 6-4 in the SEC, currently ranked seventh in the conference. Their inability to close out games against No. 4 Tennessee and No. 10 Texas A&M resulted in back-to-back losses.
Saturday afternoon’s heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M marked Mizzou’s first home defeat of the season after starting 15-0.
Now, the Tigers must shift their focus to the Sooners, who have struggled recently and are also on a two-game losing streak. While Oklahoma's 16-7 record is respectable, their 3-7 mark in SEC play and just one road win all season highlight their struggles.
Mizzou has been strong both in SEC play and at home, suggesting they have a great chance to defend their home court—if they take care of business.
Oklahoma’s resumé isn’t particularly strong, featuring just one ranked win—a one-point victory over No. 24 Michigan. They’ve suffered lopsided losses to No. 3 Alabama, No. 10 Texas A&M (twice), No. 1 Auburn, and No. 4 Tennessee, with none of those games being particularly competitive.
Their most impressive win came in a dominant 97-67 rout of Vanderbilt, a team that has spent multiple weeks in the top 25 this season. While the Sooners have shown flashes of strong play, their consistency has been lacking—especially in a conference as competitive as the SEC.
Head coach Porter Moser, who took over after the 2020-21 season, has experienced plenty of ups and downs in his tenure. He has reached the 20-win mark just once, but this season presents a strong opportunity to achieve that milestone again.
An interesting trend in Moser’s tenure at Oklahoma is that early regular-season success hasn’t always carried over. Despite reaching as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25 multiple times, he has yet to lead the Sooners to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Sooners last earned an NCAA Tournament bid in the 2020-21 season, when they were eliminated in the second round. That drought appears likely to continue unless they're able to captivate some sort of magical run.
Moser found NCAA Tournament success during his tenure at Loyola Chicago, leading the Ramblers to a memorable Final Four run as a No. 11 seed in the 2017-18 season before falling to Michigan. His track record proves he can coach a winning team—if the Sooners can find a way to put it all together.
Oklahoma wins games through its offense, led by a key duo. However, when they struggle, the Sooners have trouble relying on their defense, as they lack consistent playmakers who can generate steals, block shots, or defend the perimeter effectively against any opponent.
Their biggest threat is senior Jason Moore. The Alabama native, now in his second season with the Sooners after two underwhelming years at Georgia Tech, is a scoring threat from all over the court.
He averages just under 18 points and six rebounds per game. His shooting efficiency is elite, hitting over 52% from the field and 43% from three while taking the majority of the team’s shots.
He is limited as a passer, however, averaging less than one assist per game. As a score-first forward, he is highly effective when his shots are falling, but when they aren’t, he becomes prone to turnovers.
In five of Oklahoma’s seven losses this season, Moore has committed at least three turnovers—an area Mizzou’s aggressive defense can look to exploit.
Apart from Moore, true freshman Jeremiah Fears is a strong second option for Oklahoma’s offense. The 6-foot-4 guard from Chicago averages 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game, showcasing his all-around skill set.
Fears is efficient, shooting 45% from the field, but most of his production comes inside. He shoots under 30% from three and rarely attempts them. At his size, this limitation can reduce his overall impact in a game.
He makes up for his lack of three-point shooting on the defensive end, leading the team with nearly two steals per game. As one of only two Sooners averaging more than one steal per night, he plays a key role in their defensive efforts.
Wednesday night presents a prime opportunity for Mizzou to capitalize on a team far less competitive than its recent opponents.
As long as they stay focused, there’s no reason Mizzou can’t secure its 16th home victory of the season. Tipoff is set for Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.