By John Agovino, Associate College Basketball Editor
FACTS & STATS: Site: Taco Bell Arena (12,380) -- Boise, Idaho. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Cornell 0-4, Missouri 18-21. Series Record: Missouri leads, 1-0.
GAME NOTES: First round action of the West Region will take place this afternoon when the third-seeded Missouri Tigers take on the 14th-seeded Cornell Big Red at Taco Bell Arena in Boise. The winner of this game will take on either Marquette or Utah State in second-round action.
This is the second straight appearance for Cornell in the Big Dance, and just the fourth in the school's history. This year the Big Red racked up 21 victories and if the team is able to pull off the upset it would tie a school record for wins in a season.
As for the Tigers, they are putting on their dancing shoes for the first time since 2003, and the 22nd time in school history. Missouri has posted a meager 18-21 all-time record in this event. This year the Tigers were outstanding, amassing 28 victories, which is second most in school history for a single season. Missouri has captured a victory in 10 of its last 12 games and that includes a 73-60 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Championship matchup.
This will be the first matchup between the two schools on the hardwood since 1973. In that lone meeting the Tigers claimed a convincing, 82-45 victory over Cornell.
The Big Red were the top scoring team in the Ivy League and come into the tournament averaging a strong 74.1 ppg, behind 47.7 percent from the floor. Cornell is also connecting on 41.5 percent of its attempts from long range, and 73.4 percent of its shots from the charity stripe. Ryan Wittman is currently pacing the team with 18.5 ppg, and has also dished out 80 assists on the year. Louis Dale has also dished out 80 assists on the season, and is contributing 13.5 ppg. Jeff Foote has dominated play in the paint for Cornell, as the center is netting 11.8 ppg, to go along with a team-high 7.1 rpg and 64 blocks. Cornell has also done well defensively though, and has progressed at that end of the court throughout the season. The Big Red are holding opponents to just 64.3 ppg, on a pedestrian 41.3 percent shooting effort, and an even worse 30.7 clip from behind the arc.
Much like their counterpart, the Tigers have been ferocious at the offensive end of the floor, averaging a sensational 81.1 ppg, while shooting an equally impressive 47.2 percent from the field. DeMarre Carroll has been the top option on the year for Missouri, as the big man is posting 16.8 ppg, to go along with a team-best 7.3 rpg. Leo Lyons, who is shooting 41.7 percent from behind the arc, is contributing 14.2 ppg on the year, and is pulling down 6.0 rpg as well. While the Tigers' play offensively is impressive, the team's efforts at the defensive end of the floor have been even better, as Missouri is holding opponents to just 66.5 ppg. Teams are shooting 41.5 percent against Missouri and an even worse 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers play a pressure style defense and it has worked for the most part, as the team is forcing 18.8 turnovers per contest, and while collecting an impressive 359 steals.
The Tigers are too tough at both ends of the floor and should have no trouble getting past the best the Ivy League has to offer. Look for Missouri to run right through the Big Red and into the second round.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Missouri 88, Cornell 62
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