What a win it was Wednesday night for head coach Dennis Gates and Mizzou. Mark Mitchell scored a career high, Caleb Grill couldn't miss from deep, and the rest of the squad found ways to contribute on both ends of the court.
In the end, they dropped 110 points on the No. 4 team in the nation, making a statement to anyone who still doubted the Tigers' legitimacy. Finally, they’re being viewed as legitimate threats in next month’s NCAA Tournament.
However, the danger of coming off a victory like this is that teams like Arkansas pose the threat of hosting a trap game.
Despite the dominant win, it's important that Coach Gates doesn't let his team overlook any competition. Especially within the SEC, where anyone can beat anyone, staying focused is key.
Despite Mizzou's 20-6 overall record and 9-4 mark in the conference, they still have a losing road record, sitting at 3-4 so far this season.
Mizzou was defeated by unranked Texas on the road in January, despite having just taken down No. 2 Florida beforehand.
This matchup is strikingly similar, as Mizzou is facing an inferior opponent on the road after recently defeating a top-ranked SEC rival.
The Razorbacks enter the game with a 15-11 record, including a 4-9 mark in conference play, but they have a respectable 11-4 record at home.
Arkansas has dropped three of its last four contests and is 4-8 overall since facing the Tigers in mid-January.
The last time these teams faced off, Mitchell and Grill led all scorers with 17 points each. Tamar Bates, Tony Perkins, and Trent Pierce also scored in double digits.
MIZZOU DOMINATES ARKANSAS AND WE ARE NOW 4-1 IN CONFERENCE PLAY!! MIZ🐯pic.twitter.com/Ryd5YJexBp
— Mizzou4Life (@MizzouMan_) January 19, 2025
Clearly, nothing has changed since then for one of the top offenses in the country.
The Razorbacks struggled to generate any offense, as their biggest threat on both ends of the court, junior Adou Thiero, had a rough outing overall.
He led the team in minutes, shooting 5-11 from the field, but failed to convert a three and committed multiple personal fouls. Additionally, he recorded a season-high four turnovers.
Mizzou will look to replicate the game plan, focusing on keeping the Kentucky transfer in check throughout the evening.
Again, it's crucial that Mizzou doesn't overlook a team like this. The Razorbacks have already faced the Tigers once this season and now come in with the advantage, hosting the hottest team in the NCAA.
It’s a very similar Arkansas team, one led by legendary head coach John Calipari, the winningest coach in NCAA history, to the one Mizzou faced last month.
The team features one true threat in Thiero. If Mizzou can continue to defend him the way they did last time, they shouldn’t have too much trouble.
Sweeping a team in a season is rare, especially in powerhouse conferences like the SEC this year. If any team can pull it off, even on the road, it’s the Tigers this season.
Mark Mitchell and the rest of Mizzou head to Fayetteville to face the Razorbacks on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. The Tigers will be aiming for their tenth conference win of the season, a feat they've accomplished only twice in the past 12 seasons.