Missouri basketball vs Miami prediction: Our pick for 2026 NCAA bracket first round Missouri basketball will face Miami in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with the matchup set for Friday night at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Tigers, ranked No. 10, will take on the seventh-seeded Hurricanes, marking a return to the tournament for Mizzou after a three-game losing streak. The game will serve as a de facto home game for Missouri, given the location. Miami, led by first-year head coach Jai Lucas, has transformed into a top-tier team this season, finishing third in the ACC and securing a spot in the Big Dance. The Hurricanes’ turnaround from a seven-win team last year has been remarkable, with their offensive prowess standing out. They rank among the nation’s best in scoring in the paint, trailing only Florida and Gonzaga in that category. Miami also excels in offensive rebounding, grabbing 37% of second-chance opportunities. Missouri, meanwhile, will need to overcome its recent struggles to make an impact. The Tigers’ effective field goal percentage is nearly on par with Miami’s, but their defensive efficiency ranks 167th nationally when adjusted for opponents. A key weakness for Miami is its poor performance against 3-point shooting, allowing opponents to convert 35.4% of attempts—a troubling stat for Missouri’s perimeter shooters. The Tigers will need to capitalize on this gap, particularly with players like Jayden Stone or Jacob Crews hitting from beyond the arc. The matchup between Malik Reneau and Mark Mitchell is expected to be a defining moment. Both players, standing 6-foot-9, average around 18 points per game and share similar shooting percentages from three-point range.#st_louis #enterprise_center #missouri_basketball #miami_basketball #jai_lucas
