A new starting five supplied the Tigers some rejuvenation, but questions about its durability and overall depth will persist as the season enters the home stretch.

The Tigers had chances after a poor start, but shaky reserve minutes, missed tweaks, and lost possessions exposed how thin their margin remains.

The Tigers leaned on floppy action, got just enough from its bench, and played with the discipline needed to separate from Auburn.

Missouri’s starters held up, but turnovers, bench minutes, and defensive execution cracks turned a manageable game into a loss.

The Tigers’ defense dictated shot quality, erased ball screens, and squeezed Kentucky all night — ushering in a late collapse was earned, not accidental.

Smarter pick-and-rolls, selective zone looks, and Jacob Crews’ spacing carried Mizzou to win in its SEC opener.

The Tigers finally looked steady, executed the scout, and avoided the lineup pitfalls that have dogged it all season — a welcome step before Braggin’ Rights.

A Border War blowout exposed Missouri’s spacing and rotation issues, showing again why the jumbo lineup keeps faltering against high-major opponents.

The Tigers dominated from the jump, but defensive focus and ball-handling slipped again. The lineup breakdown shows why it mattered.

MU dominated with improved spacing, unselfish passing, and more cohesive lineups—key steps as the Tigers refine their identity.