Going into tonight's game against Illinois in St. Louis, surprising Missouri (11-0 and ranked 9th) leads the nation in scoring (87.9/game); shooting (52.6%); and margin of victory (27.7).
The Tigers have won the last two Braggin' Rights games but trail the all-time series 14-27. Michael Dixon, Mizzou's superb 6th man, says he doesn't plan to lose to the Illini, "ever".
Frank Haith, in his first year at the helm at Missouri, has sold the undersized and undermanned Tigers on a philosophy much different than that of the departed Mike Anderson. The 2011-12 Tigers run a solid half-court offense and half-court defense, having abandoned Anderson's frenetic "40 minutes of hell" style of play.
Whereas the full-tilt style of the past few years caused some problems for opponents, the system was ultimately neutralized as opposing coaches found ways to break down Anderson's strategy with easy back-door opportunities when Mizzou overplayed the passing lanes.
Partly out of necessity (Missouri will dress just nine players tonight) but primarily out of coaching philosophy, Haith's system still relies on Mizzou's quickness at the guard position, but the defense is much more fundamentally sound. MU is sixth nationally with 10.4 steals per game, leading to easy scoring chances that have vaulted the Tigers to the top of the offensive stats.
MU's undersized Tigers have handled all comers in Haith's first year at the helm. But the Illini (11-1) are ranked 25th and have more size and depth than any team the Tigers have faced this season. Illinois' only loss of the season was to UNLV (21st), victor over North Carolina. Illinois edged Cornell, 64-60, Monday in Bloomington.
Marcus Denmon is being mentioned by some pundits as an All-American candidate. The senior guard, an All-Big 12 selection last year, leads four Tigers in double-digit scoring with 19.6 per game; and he gets his points in every way imaginable: three-pointers (45.8%), free throws (91.7%), drives to the basket and within the scope of Haith's structured half-court offense. His tough-as-nails floor game includes solid defense and rebounding (5.3/game), usually against bigger matchups.
Ricardo Ratliffe has benefitted from Haith's coaching, as well. The 6-8 senior "center" is among national leaders in field goal percentage (76.9), and his post play is vastly improved, boosting his rebounding numbers (7.2/game). It helps that Phil Pressey has a year's experience and also benefits from the half-court sets Haith favors. Matt Pressey, "Flip's" older brother, has been starting and adds more than five boards and eight points a game.
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Haith's system has been Kim English, out of the funk of Anderson's dog house. When Laurence Bowers went down with a season-ending knee injury before the season started, English was forced to play out of position and take on the role of "power forward" instead of his accustomed spot as roving gunner. Listed at 6-6, English has played heady defense against bigger players, has shown a new-found willingness to battle on the boards and gets his 16 points a game within the context of the offense.
Dixon is first off the bench and, after a career high 30-point outburst against William & Mary, averages 12.6 points and 2.3 steals per game. His contributions aren't all in the stats, though. His energy on defense often leads to turnovers and fast break opportunities.
Steve Moore also brings some fire off the bench and has been steady, if unspectacular, when he comes in to spell Ratliffe.
Bruce Weber's Illini have been great on defense, too. They are giving up only 57.7 points a game (23rd) while holding opponents to just 38.5% from the field.
In a game that usually has a bit of a tournament feel but seldom follows form, Mizzou is a 7-point favorite. Should the Tigers make it three in a row over Illinois and win at Old Dominion next week, they could go into their final Big 12 Conference season with the program's best record in 30 years.
