Auburn finds itself at a crossroad while in the middle of a three-game losing streak that has dropped the team outside the Top 25 for the first time in 22 weeks.
With a matchup against Missouri coming up, the Tigers have another chance to bounce back and salvage the rest of the season.
Here are some players to watch and keys to victory for Missouri vs. Auburn.
Players to watch
Mark Smith (Mizzou):
After missing Saturday’s game against LSU, it was announced by head coach Cuonzo Martin that Mark Smith is expected to play against Auburn.
This news is not good for the Tigers as Smith knocks down the 3-ball at an elite level. His 47.5 percent average on 3-pointers leads the Southeastern Conference, leads all Power 5 players in the country and places him sixth overall in the nation.
If Smith gets hot, he has the chance to take advantage of a Auburn defense that just gave up 92 points to Mississippi State'S offense.
Jeremiah Tilmon (Mizzou):
Until Austin Wiley returns, whoever Auburn is playing, their big man will get a lot of the attention.
That is also the case with Jeremiah Tilmon. Tilmon has displayed his ability to dominate the paint after a successful freshman campaign.
Tilmon currently leads the Tigers in field-goal percentage for players that have taken over 30 shots this season.
With the Tiger defense reeling and Auburn without its biggest player down low, Tilmon could be primed for a big game.
Jared Harper (Auburn):
Auburn needs a win and needs it bad. This is the time when the team’s leader goes out there and wills this team to win.
Jared Harper has been playing pretty well over the losing stretch but has not had the great games that he is capable of.
Last season, Harper had 21 points, six assists and three steals and Auburn scored 91 points on Missouri.
He needs to repeat that performance or muster up a better one at a time that Auburn needs him most.
Keys to victory
Auburn:
Missouri is one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the conference but struggles inside. Auburn needs to have an overall better performance defensively — especially at running shooters off the 3-point line.
Missouri:
Missouri needs to take advantage of the inside shots that Auburn will give them, especially in the paint where Auburn can’t seem to stop fouling shooters.
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