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What to know/How to watch: Mizzou hosts VMI

Kyle McAreavyby: Kyle McAreavy4 hours agoKyle_mcareavy
USATSI_25726298
Missouri Tigers guard Anthony Robinson II (0) reacts as he leaves the court in the second half of a first round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Drake Bulldogs at Intrust Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Missouri Tigers host Virginia Military Institute at 3:30 p.m. at Mizzou Arena looking to bounce back from a lackluster home-opening win on Friday. Here are some basics to know for the Mizzou matchup.

Basic Game Info

  • Where: Mizzou Arena
  • When: 3:30 p.m.
  • TV: SECN
  • Radio: Tiger Radio Network

VMI (2-0) team stats (from 2024-25. I’ll start using 2025-26 stats in the next game’s edition)

  • Record: 15-19, 7-11 Southern Conference
  • Points per game: 73.3 (195th in country)
  • Points allowed per game: 73.1 (212th in country)
  • Shooting percentages: 42.6/32.5/76.1 (295th/266th/46th in country)
  • Shooting percentages allowed: 44.4/33.9/65.4 (212th/211th/1st in country)
  • Rebounds per game: 34.7 (210th in country)
  • Rebounds allowed per game: 36.2 (287th in country)
  • Turnovers per game: 12.0 (214th in country)
  • Turnovers forced per game: 12.6 (121st in country)
  • Blocks per game: 2.6 (290th in country)
  • Shots blocked per game: 3.1 (138th in country)

Mizzou (2-0) team stats (from 2024-25 season)

  • Record: 22-12, 10-8 SEC
  • Points per game: 83.6 (ninth in country)
  • Points allowed per game: 73.6 (232nd in country)
  • Shooting percentages: 48.2/36.7/73.0 (26th/44th/141st in country)
  • Shooting percentages allowed: 44.5/33.6/75.4 (223rd/186th/335th in country)
  • Rebounds per game: 34.0 (252nd in country)
  • Rebounds allowed per game: 32.8 (74th in country)
  • Turnovers per game: 10.9 (98th in country)
  • Turnovers forced per game: 14.1 (42nd in country)
  • Blocks per game: 2.6 (290th in country)
  • Shots blocked per game: 3.5 (252nd in country)

Players to know

TJ Johnson, Forward

After spending a freshman season at Lipscomb, TJ Johnson transferred to VMI last season and immediately joined the starting lineup.

In 35 games last season, he averaged 12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while also knocking away 46 steals.

In the Keydets’ season opener against JWU-Charlotte, the 6-foot-7 forward had 19 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists in 25 minutes played.

Then against Southern Indiana, he produced 32 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals. He was 11-of-20 from the field Friday. And he is 6-of-17 from 3 this season.

He doesn’t match up height wise in the post with the Tiger forwards or centers, but Johnson has the talent to stretch the floor and can cause some major issues for the Tigers if he’s able to get his hand in passing lanes on defense.

Tan Yildizoglu, guard

I don’t want to type Tan Yildizoglu’s name very often because sooner or later, I’m going to get a letter wrong. So, let’s get this out of the way.

Last season, the guard from Istanbul was third in the SoCon with 3.9 assists per game and set a school record with 15 assists in a game against Washington College, when he produced a double-double with 10 rebounds. But he had just two points in that game to go with four steals.

He started 33 games last season with averages of 85 points and 3.5 assists. He also poked away 35 steals.

In the Keydets’ first two games, he produced a double-double of 10 points and 11 assists, then a 12-point, five-assists, three-rebound performance in Game 2.

Be on the watch for any passes he throws, because he has a moderate chance to end up matching the Tiger team total in assists if Mizzou plays the way it has the first two games.

Click here to discuss the matchup between Mizzou and VMI in our story thread.