Missouri Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

No. 19 Kentucky Looks to Continue on ‘Uptick’ vs. No. 15 Missouri

No. 19 Kentucky has navigated a season full of injuries, including the recent loss of guard Jaxson Robinson to season-ending wrist surgery. Yet, as they enter their regular-season finale against No. 15 Missouri on Saturday in Columbia, Mo., head coach Mark Pope believes the Wildcats are finally finding stability at the right time.

Kentucky Finding Stability Amid Challenges

The Wildcats (20-10, 9-8 SEC) have had to adjust on the fly all season, but Pope is encouraged by what he’s seeing from his team heading into March Madness.

“I think we’re on the uptick,” Pope said. “I think we have a vibe for the first time. It feels like we are going to have the same guys out on the floor Saturday as we did (Tuesday), as we did on last Saturday, which we haven’t had that in almost two months.”

Kentucky regained guard Lamont Butler (12.0 PPG, 4.5 APG) in late February, helping solidify an attack that includes leading scorer Otega Oweh (16.0 PPG), Koby Brea (11.0 PPG), and center Amari Williams (10.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG).

Though Robinson’s injury is a tough blow, Pope says his team is focused on maximizing what they have.

“The guys are devastated for Jax and really sad for us because he is such a massive part of this team,” Pope said. “At the same time, resolved that we know what we have today and we are going to try to find a way to win with what we have.”

The Wildcats showed just how dangerous they can be in their 95-64 blowout win over LSU on Tuesday, where Oweh led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds. Now, they face a big challenge against a Missouri team that is dominant at home.

Missouri Struggling but Tough at Home

Missouri (21-9, 10-7 SEC) has had a stark defensive drop-off late in the season, losing three of its last four games. The Tigers were overmatched in a 96-84 road loss to Oklahoma on Wednesday, falling behind by double digits for much of the game.

“(The Sooners) wanted it more,” said Caleb Grill, Missouri’s leading scorer at 14.3 PPG. “They were fighting more. They were more desperate. We weren’t desperate. Last couple of games we’ve played, we’re playing teams that, you have to win — if you don’t win, season’s over. And we’re not coming out with the same level of intensity as other teams.”

Missouri’s biggest concern has been its defense. The Tigers have allowed 92 or more points in four of their last five games, struggling to contain teams that attack the paint and move the ball well.

“We’re fouling too much,” Grill said. “We’re not guarding, keeping people in front of us right now. We’re not rotating proper rotations. You put that all together and you ain’t keeping anybody out of the paint. You aren’t stopping anybody.”

The challenge doesn’t get any easier against a Kentucky team ranked third in Division I in scoring, averaging 85.6 points per game.

Offensive Firepower on Both Sides

While Missouri’s defense has struggled, its offense remains potent.

The Tigers have scoring depth, with Mark Mitchell (14.1 PPG) and Tamar Bates (13.1 PPG) leading the starting unit, while Grill provides a scoring punch off the bench. Seven different players have led the team in scoring this season, making them hard to defend when they find rhythm.

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What’s at Stake?

For Kentucky, a win would solidify their NCAA Tournament seeding and provide momentum heading into the SEC Tournament.

For Missouri, defending its 18-1 home record will be key, as a loss could jeopardize its standing in the SEC and NCAA Tournament projections.

With both teams looking to make a statement before postseason play, expect a high-scoring, fast-paced battle in Columbia as Kentucky looks to stay hot and Missouri fights to protect its home court.