In his first season at Mizzou, former Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin has turned the Tigers (12-5, 2-2 SEC) around after they finished 8-24 last season.
Missouri holds wins over Iowa State, Stephen F. Austin and UCF from its non-conference slate. The Tigers began SEC play with a road win over South Carolina and a home win over Georgia last Wednesday, 68-56. MU's two losses have come by just two points each against Florida and at Arkansas.
Missouri is paced by graduate transfer guard Kassius Robertson, who is averaging 16.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.1 apg. In conference play, Robertson stands as the second-highest scorer with 19.0 ppg, behind only UT's Grant Williams (19.6 ppg).
Senior forward Jordan Barnett has stepped up in a big way for the Tigers this season, posting 15.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg to go along with an impressive 92-percent (48-of-52) shooting percentage from the free-throw line. Barnett, who leads the SEC with 37.0 mpg in conference play, has been crucial down low after ESPN Preseason National Freshman of the Year Michael Porter Jr. went down with a season-ending injury in the first game of the year.
Missouri ranks as one of the best defensive teams in the SEC, allowing just 66.5 ppg in conference play so far to come in at third. The Tigers sit on top of the standings when it comes to long-range shooting, connecting on 45 percent (41-of-92) of their shots from beyond the arc, and in defensive rebounding with 32.5 per game.