Mizzou vs. Oklahoma: A Rivalry Renewed with Plenty on the Line
The Missouri Tigers are set to rekindle an old rivalry this Saturday afternoon when they welcome the Oklahoma Sooners to Mizzou Arena. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and while the matchup carries historical weight, it’s also a pivotal moment in the current SEC campaign for both squads.
Tigers Looking to Bounce Back
Missouri enters the weekend with a 13-6 overall record and an even 3-3 mark in SEC play. But after dropping two close ones - a 78-70 loss at LSU followed by a heartbreaking 74-72 defeat to No. 21 Georgia - the Tigers are looking to right the ship.
Mark Mitchell continues to be the engine that drives Mizzou. The junior forward leads the team in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (5.3 boards), while also contributing 3.2 assists per game - second-best on the team. He’s the kind of versatile threat who can shift the momentum of a game in a single possession.
But Mitchell isn’t carrying the load alone. The Tigers have four players averaging double figures, with Jayden Stone (15.0), Jacob Crews (11.6), and Trent Pierce (10.0) all stepping up to provide scoring depth. Anthony Robinson II is the team’s primary facilitator, dishing out 3.7 assists per contest, while big man Shawn Phillips Jr. anchors the paint with a team-best 1.5 blocks per game.
Missouri is putting up 80.7 points per game while allowing 72.3 - a scoring margin that’s been enough to get them 13 wins, but not without some tense finishes along the way.
Sooners Searching for Answers
Oklahoma arrives in Columbia with an 11-8 record and just one win in SEC play (1-5). The Sooners are riding a five-game losing streak, most recently falling to South Carolina, 85-76.
Scoring hasn’t been the issue - they’re averaging 83.5 points per game - but stopping opponents has been a different story. OU is giving up 75.3 points per contest, and that defensive vulnerability has been costly.
Xzayvier Brown leads the Sooners with 16.3 points and 3.2 assists per game, while Nijel Pack (15.2) and Tae Davis (13.2) round out a dangerous trio of scorers. Mohamed Wague brings muscle on the boards, pulling down a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game.
History Runs Deep
This isn’t just another Saturday in January - this is one of Mizzou’s most storied rivalries. Saturday marks the 215th meeting between the two programs, with Oklahoma holding a 116-98 edge in the all-time series. Only four teams - Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Nebraska - have faced Mizzou more.
Since becoming SEC foes, the rivalry has picked back up, with the schools splitting their two matchups last season. The home team won each time, and that bodes well for the Tigers, who are 62-29 all-time against Oklahoma in Columbia. Even more telling: Mizzou is a perfect 6-0 against the Sooners at Mizzou Arena.
Defense Setting the Tone
While the Tigers can fill it up offensively, their calling card in SEC play has been on the defensive end. Through six conference games, Mizzou is allowing just 74.0 points per contest - the best mark in the SEC. And they’re not just limiting points; they’re making every shot a tough one.
Opponents are shooting just 41.1 percent from the field against Mizzou in SEC games - the program’s best figure since joining the conference in 2012. The last time the Tigers were this stingy was in 2017-18, when they held league opponents to 41.8 percent shooting.
Inside the arc, Missouri ranks 30th nationally in 2-point field goal defense, allowing teams to shoot just 46.2 percent - their lowest mark since that same 2017-18 season. That interior toughness has been a major factor in keeping games close, even when the offense has sputtered.
Offensive Key: Hit 73, Win the Game
If there’s one number to circle for Missouri, it’s 73. When the Tigers score at least that many points, they’re undefeated at 13-0.
When they don’t? They’re 0-6.
The formula is clear: push the pace, get buckets, and let the defense do the rest.
In wins, Mizzou is averaging a blistering 87.9 points per game. In losses, that number drops all the way to 65.0. It’s a stark contrast that shows just how critical offensive rhythm is for this team.
Three-Point Shooting: The X-Factor
A big part of that offensive rhythm comes from beyond the arc. Missouri is 10-0 this season when shooting at least 34 percent from three-point range.
But when they fall below that mark? They’re 3-6 - and they’ve lost their last six games when failing to hit that threshold.
The Tigers are shooting 39.7 percent from deep in their 13 wins, compared to just 28.5 percent in their six losses. That’s a massive swing, and it underscores how important perimeter shooting is to this team’s success.
Fortunately for Mizzou, they’ve got the firepower. Jacob Crews, Trent Pierce, and Jayden Stone have all been lethal from long range.
In fact, Missouri is the only team in the nation with three players averaging at least two made threes per game while also shooting 40 percent or better from deep. That kind of spacing opens up everything else - driving lanes, post touches, and transition opportunities.
As a team, the Tigers are shooting 35.9 percent from three - fourth in the SEC and 82nd nationally. When they’re dialed in from distance, they’re tough to beat.
Home-Court Dominance
There’s also the not-so-small matter of playing at Mizzou Arena, where the Tigers have built one of the nation’s strongest home-court advantages. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Missouri is 29-3 at home - the second-best mark in the country over that span, trailing only George Mason’s 31 wins.
This season alone, Mizzou is 11-1 at home, including a 2-1 mark in SEC play. The energy in Columbia has been palpable, and it’s given the Tigers a consistent edge, particularly in tight games.
What to Watch Saturday
This game has all the ingredients: a historic rivalry, two teams with something to prove, and a clash of styles. Oklahoma brings offensive firepower but has struggled to stop anyone. Missouri, meanwhile, has leaned into its defense and thrives when it can control tempo and hit from deep.
If the Tigers can reach their magic number of 73 - and if the three-point shots are falling - they’ll be in great shape to defend their home floor and get back in the win column. But if Oklahoma finds its rhythm early, this one could turn into a shootout.
One thing’s for sure: when Mizzou and Oklahoma get together, history tends to repeat itself - and that usually means drama, intensity, and a whole lot of energy in the building.