Arkansas at Missouri

Both these teams will come into this game undefeated, and we'd have to say Arkansas is the most tested team. The one thing that Arkansas hasn't done yet is play in someone else's building. This will mean the top two scorers, both guards for Arkansas, will face a frenetic hostile environment for the first time. Arkansas has shown its youth as they have averaged 18.2 turnovers a game, and have not played a true road game yet. First year coach Mike Anderson brings his high pressure, fast paced style to Missouri from UAB. The fact they are 7-0 is testiment that things have already changed here. Last year they opened with a loss to Sam Houston St. at home on the way to a 12 win season. Anderson took over a UAB team that was 13-17 and in his first year turned it around to 21-13, and proceeded to earn three NCAA tourney berths in four years. The top two returning scorers from last year, are not the top players this year, which indicates things have been upgraded. Sheffon Hannah, a Juco transfer has been a big surprise. He is the Tigers leading scorer, and is averaging 6apg, along with 4 steals a game. Matt Lawrence has really come on strong. Last year he scored just 1.5 ppg in limited duty, but has been a double digit scorer this year at 10.4 ppg. The Tigers were the worst perimeter shooting team in the Big-12 last year, but are hitting over 50% this year, and a sizzling 44% from behind the arc. Anderson's pressing defense is forcing an average of 22 TO's a game, and turnover prone Arkansas, with 1st year guards, may be in trouble here. We will lean on the improved Tigers, and Coach Anderson's pressure defense.