The Missouri Tigers visit Phog Allen Fieldhouse for big Monday. The heated rivalry will air on ESPN at 8:00pm. Mizzou is 18-5, but splitting their conference games posting a 4-4 record. Yesterday they had a redemption win over the Colorado Buffaloes with an 89-73 home win. They lost on the road to the Buffaloes on January 8th 89-76. With recent conference losses to Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M, the Tigers will be fighting hard to make up some conference ground against the Jayhawks in a game that always polarizes the fan bases.
One of the more productive players on the court for the Tigers is junior forward Ricardo Ratliffe. Ratliffe, a prized recruit for the Tigers, is second on the team in Points Per Game with 11.7 and he leads the team with Rebounds Per Game at 6.8. At 6-8, 240 pounds, Ratliffe has solid size and length, something that will be needed for the Tigers if the plan to neutralize the Morris twins and Thomas Robinson who has been playing some of his best ball. Also in the interior is junior forward Laurence Bowers. At 6-8, 210 pounds, he’s a bit light but still manages 5.7 Rebounds Per Game. Bowers shoots 51% from the field, while Ratliffe shoots 58%. Both players are productive but both will have their hands full with the size and length of Kansas.
The leading scorer on the team junior guard Marcus Denmon. Denmon averages a team leading 16.7 Points Per Game at 49%, and he shoots 45% from 3-point land. Expect him to take anywhere from 4 to 7 3-point shots against Kansas to try to open up the passing lanes for a Mizzou team that tends to move the ball around very well. Sophmore guard Mason Dixon averages 10.4 Points Per Game and 4.1 Assist Per Game. Dixon is a 42% shooter.
