Game Thread: A jam-packed afternoon of Missouri basketball awaits

Just when you thought you were out...

Over the final two weeks of February, Missouri dropped four contests in a row and dipped to a season-low three games below .500. Then Torrence Watson happened. The former four-star recruit didn’t meet most fans’ expectations over the first few months of the season, but he had a solid performance in a Feb. 26 loss at Mississippi State before truly breaking out to spark the Tigers’ current two-game win streak. The freshman averaged 18.5 points and shot 52 percent from the field, including 47.4 percent beyond the arc, in sparking victories over South Carolina and Georgia. Missouri has also leaned on Jordan Geist during the win streak; he has averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 assists in the two victories.

Geist and Kevin Puryear will have an opportunity to extend this run in their final game at Mizzou Arena on Saturday against Ole Miss, who beat the Tigers in Oxford to begin the aforementioned four-game skid. The pair will be honored alongside walk-on Adam Wolf and medical retiree Cullen VanLeer in a senior day ceremony. John Brown’s No. 50 will be retired at halftime. And I daresay a win against the Rebels might just put Missouri on the fringe of the NIT conversation heading into the SEC Tournament. This is going to be an interesting afternoon of basketball.

Oh wait, you thought I was done? Columbia’s jam-packed basketball afternoon will continue at 4 p.m. when the Mizzou women play in their first ever SEC Tournament semifinal, a rematch with No. 5 Mississippi State. The Tigers defeated No. 13 Kentucky, the fourth seed, 70-68 in overtime in yesterday’s quarterfinal. Another victory might be enough to catapult Missouri to a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament, meaning the team would host a regional and its first two possible games. Oh, and Sophie Cunningham is three points from becoming Missouri’s all-time leading scorer. So yeah, big day in Columbia.

The Details — Men’s game

Opponent: Ole Miss Rebels (19-11, 9-8 SEC)

Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

Where: Mizzou Arena; Columbia, Mo.

Is Mizzou Receiving Top 25 Votes? Nope.

What Does Vegas Say? Mizzou, -2.5

What Does ESPN’s Basketball Power Index Say? Ole Miss, 52.2%

Where To Watch: SEC Network

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

Twitter: @MizzouHoops

Facebook: Mizzou Men’s Basketball

The Details — Women’s game

Opponent: No. 5 Mississippi State Bulldogs (28-2, 15-1 SEC)

Time: 4 p.m. CT

Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena; Greenville, S.C.

Is Mizzou Receiving Top 25 Votes? Yes. (2)

Where To Watch: ESPNU

Twitter: @MizzouWBB

Facebook: Mizzou Women’s Basketball

The Review

Recap — Men’s | Tigers blow out Georgia 64-39

Study Hall — Men’s | Mizzou 64, Georgia 39

Postgame Thread — Women’s | Mizzou women beat UK 70-68

Links | A basketball doubleheader for your Saturday

Five Questions

1. Will Torrence Watson finish as one of the Tigers’ top three scorers again?
2. Do Jordan Geist and Kevin Puryear combine to score more or less than 26.5 points?
3. How long does it take Sophie Cunningham to break the Mizzou scoring record?
4. Will the MU women commit more or less than 16 turnovers?
5. Predict the scores!