As Missouri battles to make the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68, perhaps the most important number it needs to pay attention to is 332.

That is where the Tigers currently sit, out of 361 Division I teams, in free-throw shooting percentage as coach Dennis Gates’ team faces South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.

Missouri (15-7, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) has made just 67.4% of its shots from the free-throw line, making the team dead last in the SEC. That includes an atrocious 34.8% (8-for-23) showing in a 90-64 setback at Alabama last month.

The Tigers rebounded in an 84-79 victory over Mississippi State last week, making 75.8% (25 for 33) of their free throws, including 10 of 12 in the final two minutes to hold off the Bulldogs.

It is not the sexiest statistic, but it could end up making the difference as Missouri tries to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“That’s good coaching. I was able to telepathically get into their brain right there on the line and start whispering, ‘Calm down, calm down.’ And you just saw a swish. So, the coaching. I’ll take that today,” Gates said.

Mark Mitchell led Missouri with 19 points and seven rebounds in the triumph over Mississippi State. T.O. Barrett added 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Trent Pierce, who made 19 starts last season but missed this year’s entire nonconference schedule, started for the first time in nine appearances this year and made two early 3-pointers on the way to 13 points.

Mitchell leads the team with 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games. Jayden Stone is averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds.

The Tigers are just 1-3 on the road in the conference, but in South Carolina, they are facing a spiraling squad poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine years. The Gamecocks have lost four straight and eight of 10.

South Carolina has dropped two straight and four of five at home and lost its last outing 84-75 at Texas on Tuesday despite jumping out to an early lead.

“We did a lot of right things that allowed us to be in a position to win the game. … Our first responsibility was to do enough right things that when it got to game-winning time, you were right there to win the game,” Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris said. “It stings to be in that position and then in the last 2 1/2, 3 minutes, not be in a position to win the game.”

Meechie Johnson scored a career-best 35 points while shooting 12 of 21 from the field and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. Elijah Strong added 12 points.

Johnson leads the team with a career-best 16.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. He is averaging 22.6 points over his last seven games.

“Meechie has had a good year. He’s been getting better at his one-on-one attacking,” Paris said. “So he’s been doing that a lot more, I’d say, in the last few games, especially getting to the rim and finishing strong. That’s been a point of emphasis for him to try to improve.”

–Field Level Media

As Missouri battles to make the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68, perhaps the most important number it needs to pay attention to is 332.

That is where the Tigers currently sit, out of 361 Division I teams, in free-throw shooting percentage as coach Dennis Gates’ team faces South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.

Missouri (15-7, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) has made just 67.4% of its shots from the free-throw line, making the team dead last in the SEC. That includes an atrocious 34.8% (8-for-23) showing in a 90-64 setback at Alabama last month.

The Tigers rebounded in an 84-79 victory over Mississippi State last week, making 75.8% (25 for 33) of their free throws, including 10 of 12 in the final two minutes to hold off the Bulldogs.

It is not the sexiest statistic, but it could end up making the difference as Missouri tries to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“That’s good coaching. I was able to telepathically get into their brain right there on the line and start whispering, ‘Calm down, calm down.’ And you just saw a swish. So, the coaching. I’ll take that today,” Gates said.

Mark Mitchell led Missouri with 19 points and seven rebounds in the triumph over Mississippi State. T.O. Barrett added 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Trent Pierce, who made 19 starts last season but missed this year’s entire nonconference schedule, started for the first time in nine appearances this year and made two early 3-pointers on the way to 13 points.

Mitchell leads the team with 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games. Jayden Stone is averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds.

The Tigers are just 1-3 on the road in the conference, but in South Carolina, they are facing a spiraling squad poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine years. The Gamecocks have lost four straight and eight of 10.

South Carolina has dropped two straight and four of five at home and lost its last outing 84-75 at Texas on Tuesday despite jumping out to an early lead.

“We did a lot of right things that allowed us to be in a position to win the game. … Our first responsibility was to do enough right things that when it got to game-winning time, you were right there to win the game,” Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris said. “It stings to be in that position and then in the last 2 1/2, 3 minutes, not be in a position to win the game.”

Meechie Johnson scored a career-best 35 points while shooting 12 of 21 from the field and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. Elijah Strong added 12 points.

Johnson leads the team with a career-best 16.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. He is averaging 22.6 points over his last seven games.

“Meechie has had a good year. He’s been getting better at his one-on-one attacking,” Paris said. “So he’s been doing that a lot more, I’d say, in the last few games, especially getting to the rim and finishing strong. That’s been a point of emphasis for him to try to improve.”

–Field Level Media

Two of the biggest names rumored to be on the move remained with their teams as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant did not change uniforms before the NBA trade deadline expired Tuesday.

While Antetokounmpo did not express a desire for a trade publicly, and the Milwaukee Bucks did not say they were shopping for a new home for their star, there were plenty of interested suitors reported as the deadline neared.

Morant, whose relationship with the Memphis Grizzlies has reportedly been strained, also was rumored to be on the move but now stays with his original team for the time being.

Teams reported to be interested in acquiring Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP, included the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Miami Heat.

None could come up with a reported steep asking price that included elite young talent, multiple first-round picks, or both.

Antetokounmpo, 31, remains on top of his game in his 13th NBA season, all with the Bucks, scoring 28.0 points with 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 30 games this season. In 889 career games (824 starts), he is scoring 24.0 points with 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

In each of the past nine seasons, Antetokounmpo has finished at least in the top seven of MVP voting.

Multiple reports indicated that as of three hours before the deadline, the Bucks were no longer taking offers for their top player.

Teams with reported interest in Morant, a two-time All-Star, included the Sacramento Kings, Timberwolves and Heat, with the Kings and Heat reportedly showing heavy interest as recently as Wednesday. According to an ESPN report, no team made what was deemed to be a “serious offer.”

Morant, 26, is currently out of action through the upcoming All-Star break with an elbow injury. He has played in just 20 games this season, scoring 19.5 points with 8.1 assists.

In seven seasons with the Grizzlies, Morant has scored 22.4 points with 7.4 assists in 327 games (325 starts).

By not making a move at the deadline, both the Bucks and Grizzlies will be the center of attention for potential offseason trades of their stars.

Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million in the first season of a three-year, $175.4 million contract, while Morant is making $39.4 million in the third season of a five-year $197.2 million deal.

–Field Level Media