COLUMBIA, MO. • Saturday’s absence of Jeremiah Tilmon left a huge hole in the middle of Missouri’s starting five, but for the fifth straight game the Tigers dealt with a shortage of firepower on the perimeter, too. Sophomore guard Mark Smith hasn’t played since spraining his left ankle in the game’s final minute at Arkansas on Jan. 23, leaving the Tigers without one of the nation’s elite 3-point shooters.
For a team that struggles to score inside and still relies on points from the 3-point arc, Smith’s injury has changed the entire complexion of Cuonzo Martin’s offense.