NCAAB Game Preview - Missouri at Xavier
Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:00 PM EST

Evans
67
KY
64
F
CenAR
54
Duke
105
F
UND
66
Gonz
97
F
Mem
74
Oreg
82
F
Denv
56
UtSt
97
F
MtStM
46
Wash
56
F
Mizzu
58
Xav
63
F(OT)
Aub
70
USA
69
F
Pitt
71
RobM
57
F
Crei
69
Mich
79
F
PaulQ
59
Alc
111
F
(N/A)
43
Leh
80
F
Bridg
40
Radf
91
F
(N/A)
45
UMassL
88
F
W&M
80
Woff
79
F
(N/A)
67
Merrim
97
F
How
50
ND
79
F
Amer
67
GrgWas
65
F
Lamar
56
Duques
66
F
Chat
74
Troy
68
F
MD-ES
55
Longw
85
F
(N/A)
63
Hamp
95
F
NCAT
64
WCU
90
F
MsVl
81
W MI
91
F
UNH
61
StJon
74
F
StBon
65
Sien
78
F
Campbl
76
UNCW
81
F(OT)
David
58
UNCC
71
F
NE
71
UMass
80
F
Hartfo
62
Maris
51
F
DelSt
74
Manh
85
F
SCSt
39
Lib
65
F
N AL
65
Ind
91
F
Citad
86
UGA
95
F
(N/A)
49
E MI
101
F
(N/A)
43
E KY
129
F
NoKY
69
CoCar
68
F
AF
69
Army
57
F
ECU
62
App
68
F
Fairf
68
HolyC
63
F(OT)
(N/A)
52
LaTec
98
F
Furm
91
ChaSo
47
F
Rice
80
NWSt
74
F
Norf
55
Miss
68
F
ChiSt
34
E IL
98
F
NOrl
64
SMU
77
F
ASU
56
Hou
84
F
JackSt
79
Tul
88
F
Lipsco
78
TNSt
79
F
UL
65
TCU
98
F
NIU
52
IaSt
70
F
(N/A)
60
InWor
86
F
Valpa
89
SIU-E
76
F
(N/A)
53
WIMil
103
F
ORU
67
Tuls
74
F
CBU
54
Tex
67
F
PVAM
48
TxSt
75
F
Clev
53
MOSt
73
F
Copp
76
LoyIL
72
F
N TX
43
Ark
66
F
Minn
56
Butl
64
F
(N/A)
55
JSU
125
F
WriSt
85
TNTec
80
F(OT)
(N/A)
38
N CO
104
F
LongB
58
Stan
86
F
(N/A)
70
UtVal
101
F
NMSt
50
UTEP
65
F
Murr
63
Tenn
82
F
Mia-FL
79
UCF
70
F
Fres
66
USD
72
F(OT)
PacOR
81
Seatt
115
F
SDSt
66
USC
84
F
WaSt
62
SCla
70
F
Pepp
94
CSNor
82
F
TexAr
73
Nev
80
F
(N/A)
52
UCIrv
98
F
UNLV
75
Cal
79
F(OT)
Okla
77
OrSt
69
F
No. 21 Xavier expecting tough test from Missouri
Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:27 PM

No. 21 Xavier coach Travis Steele appreciates a sound defense. That includes the sounds of defense.

"You can always hear a good defense," Steele said. "Obviously you can see a good defense. But (you) should be able to hear a good defense. Hear them talk. Hear them communicating."

Hear this -- the 2-0 Musketeers have limited their opponents to 39.3 percent shooting from the field as they prepare for Tuesday's home game against Missouri (2-0), whose defensive numbers are even more impressive. The unbeaten Tigers have held their first two opponents to 32.2 percent.

Xavier started slowly in its 81-63 victory over Siena on Friday, perhaps the reason that despite two victories it dropped two spots in the Top 25. The Musketeers trailed for the first 10 minutes before recovering, limiting the Saints to 37.5 percent shooting and a 4 of 19 effort from 3-point range.

"I didn't think our guys were initially ready to go," Steele said. "Our defense got a lot better. Our talk, our energy was different. We have to be able to put 40 minutes together."

Team leaders Naji Marshall and Tyrique Jones had 20 points apiece against Siena, and 6-foot-9 freshman Zach Freemantle had seven points and six rebounds off the bench. Freemantle has 18 points and 11 rebounds in his first two games, and he credited Jones with helping him prepare for the step to the next level.

"He kills me in practice," Freemantle said. "He throws his body into me. It just makes me a lot stronger and gets me ready for the physicality of college basketball. He's been a huge teacher, Just little things, like foot placement on post defense, footwork, all the moves. He tells me all the stuff I need to know."

The Musketeers were without guard Paul Scruggs against Siena and appear unlikely to have him against Missouri. Scruggs, who averaged 12.3 points a game last season, had 12 points against Jacksonville before suffering a knee injury when he took a hard fall after a collision with Marshall. He is a preseason honorable mention all-Big East selection.

"Hope to have him sooner rather than later," Steele said.

Missouri has beaten Incarnate Word and 2019 NCAA Tournament team Northern Kentucky in its first two games, outrebounding each by at least 10.

Guard Mark Smith, who missed the final seven games of the 2018-19 season because of a foot injury, had 19 points and four 3-pointers in the 71-56 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday after being held scoreless against Incarnate Word.

"I never worried about Mark's shot, I really didn't, because of the time he puts into it," said Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin. "The biggest thing for me with Mark was not trying to get seven or eight months back in two days. Just let the game come to you."

Smith, a 6-foot-5 junior, had 11 double-figure scoring games last season, four with at least four 3-pointers.

"I feel a lot quicker," Smith told the school's radio network. "It's just good to have that mental stability, knowing if you roll it, nothing is going to happen. Last year if I rolled it, I would be out for a little bit. It just feels great to be 100 percent now."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Missouri  
Xavier  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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