With the calendar inching closer to March, Missouri and Texas find themselves walking the tightrope of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Every possession matters now, and Saturday night’s clash in Columbia feels like a proving ground for two programs trying to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
Missouri Heating Up at the Right Time
The Tigers (17-7, 7-4 SEC) are riding a three-game SEC win streak, and they’ve done it by tightening the rotation and leaning into a new identity. Head coach Dennis Gates has made some pivotal adjustments, notably elevating guard T.O.
Barrett into the starting point guard role over Anthony Robinson II and giving forward Trent Pierce the nod over Jacob Crews. It’s a seven-man rotation now, and it’s clicking.
The engine behind Missouri’s recent surge? Center Shawn Phillips Jr., who’s proving to be the ultimate swing piece.
He was the difference-maker in the Tigers’ thrilling 86-85 upset win at Texas A&M on Wednesday, delivering a game-sealing alley-oop dunk and then swatting away the Aggies’ last-gasp shot at the rim. That’s how you close out a game.
Phillips, though, continues to battle foul trouble-both personal and technical-which limits him to just under 20 minutes per game. When he’s on the floor, Missouri’s defense takes a leap.
When he’s not, they feel it. Keeping him out of foul trouble might be the single biggest key to Missouri’s postseason hopes.
“He’s been aggressive,” said forward Trent Pierce. “He’s a hard worker, he plays hard.
He’s been getting rebounds and blocks. And that’s what we need-inside protection-and he brings that.”
Texas Finding Its Footing in the SEC
On the other side, Texas (15-9, 6-5 SEC) is starting to look like a team figuring things out in its first year in the Southeastern Conference. The Longhorns have also won three straight in conference play for the first time since making the jump from the Big 12, and head coach Sean Miller sees it as a sign of growth.
“I mentioned it after the South Carolina game that there are guys in our locker room who have never won three conference games in a row,” Miller said after Texas’ 79-68 win over Ole Miss. “They did that for the first time. It’s those small steps that can build a strong foundation for a program.”
That foundation is being built around center Matas Vokietaitis, who’s coming off a dominant 27-point showing against Ole Miss. He’s averaging 15.3 points and 6.8 boards per game and presents a serious matchup issue for Missouri, especially with the Tigers’ frontcourt depth still a question mark.
Missouri has been without 6-foot-11 Jevon Porter, who averaged 17.4 minutes across 12 games before suffering a leg injury. Luke Northweather, another 6-foot-11 forward, played a significant role in nonconference play but has since fallen out of the rotation. That leaves Phillips as the primary interior presence-and again, that makes his availability all the more crucial.
Backcourt Battle Could Tip the Scale
Texas also got a boost from its bench in the win over Ole Miss. Starting point guard Jordan Pope ran into foul trouble, but freshman Simeon Wilcher stepped in and delivered 23 meaningful minutes. He capped his night with a dagger three-pointer late in the game, a shot that sealed the win and underscored his poise.
As Miller put it, “The margin in separation in a game is literally single plays. For what we’re trying to accomplish in the SEC and in the bigger picture for March, it comes down to big plays.”
Saturday night’s matchup is filled with those kinds of moments waiting to happen. Two teams, both fighting for relevance in a crowded SEC and a crowded NCAA Tournament bubble, both riding momentum, both with something to prove.
For Missouri, it’s about continuing to build chemistry with a tightened rotation and keeping their defensive anchor on the floor. For Texas, it’s about sustaining their recent form and letting their size and depth do the talking.
Come tip-off, expect a battle. Because for both programs, the road to March starts now.