Missouri just posted the most decisive road victory over a ranked opponent in school history.
Now the No. 15 Tigers take a trek into a supremely tough venue as they battle No. 4 Tennessee in Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday night at Knoxville, Tenn.
The Tigers (17-4, 6-2 SEC) have been huge surprises in a formidable conference and have won six of their past seven games.
One of the most impressive victories was Saturday’s 88-61 dismantling of then-No. 14 Mississippi State in Starkville.
It was the biggest road win over a ranked team for the Tigers since a 13-point victory (85-72) over Kansas State on March 3, 1956.
Standout guard Caleb Grill was impressed with the one-sided whipping of the Bulldogs.
“I think that was the best basketball we can play,” Grill said. “Just how we were able to move the ball and make shots, and we were getting open looks from everybody. And everybody stepped up and played well.”
The Tigers shot 55.0 percent from the field and made 15 of 32 3-point baskets. Grill knocked down six 3-pointers off the bench and scored 20 points.
It was Grill’s second straight effort of 20 or more points and his fifth of the season. It marked the fourth time Grill has made six or more treys this season.
“That’s something that we’ve seen already in practice,” Tigers coach Dennis Gates said of Grill’s marksmanship. “That’s why he always has the opportunity to shoot it. I want these guys to play with confidence, and that’s what he was doing, just playing with confidence, and his team rewarded him with open shots.”
Grill (team-best 49 3-pointers) ranks second nationally in 3-point percentage (49.0). He averages 13.2 points, second on the Tigers behind Tamar Bates (13.5). Mark Mitchell (12.8) is Missouri’s third-leading scorer.
Tennessee (18-4, 5-4) hopes to have floor leader Zakai Zeigler (knee) and big man Igor Milicic Jr. (flu-like symptoms) in the starting lineup after both players missed Saturday’s 64-44 home wipeout of then-No. 5 Florida.
Zeigler injured the knee late in the first half of a 78-73 home loss to then-No. 12 Kentucky on Jan. 28. He returned to play in the second half but was unable to practice Thursday and Friday and coach Rick Barnes said Zeigler underwent an MRI exam on Friday night that displayed no structural damage.
Zeigler and Milicic were both formally ruled out Saturday, leaving the Volunteers with just seven scholarship players against the Gators.
Zeigler insists that will be the lone game he misses.
“I’m good,” Zeigler said. “I’ll be back next game. Simple as that.”
Tennessee got along well without either player while avenging a 73-43 loss in the first matchup with Florida on Jan. 7 at Gainesville.
Florida made just 24.5 percent (13 of 53) of its attempts in the rematch and was a measly 14.8 percent (4 of 27) from behind the arc.
“I think it felt great for us,” Volunteers forward Jahmai Mashack said of the convincing victory. “I think going into the game, you know, I think a lot of people kind of counted us out, just because of the people that were down.
“… We knew how tough we had to play. We knew what Florida did to us when we were there, and we knew how we were coming into this game.”
Chaz Lanier leads Tennessee with a 17.9 scoring average as well as 79 3-point baskets. Zeigler averages 12.3 points and a team-leading 7.4 assists. Jordan Gainey averages 11.0 points and Milicic contributes 10.4 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per outing.
The Tigers have won three of the past five meetings, including a 72-67 home victory last season.
–Field Level Media
