COLUMBIA, Mo. — It’s been hard enough for teams to unlock No. 4 Alabama’s smothering defense and outscore the Crimson Tide’s prolific attack.
As Missouri discovered Saturday on Norm Stewart Court, it’s much harder — perhaps impossible — with your best player watching from the bench.
Two days after Kobe Brown was named to the midseason watch list for national player of the year, Tigers coach Dennis Gates scratched his senior forward from Saturday’s showdown with Alabama, hoping the day off would help heal his sprained ankle.
With Brown, maybe the Tigers still don’t unseat Alabama from the SEC throne.