Missouri vs. Kansas: Smothering Jayhawks Defense Will Take Down No. 3 Tigers

The No. 3 Missouri Tigers and No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks will duke it out for the top spot in the Big 12 standings in what will be arguably as promising a game as any for college basketball fans this season.

Yet, as well as the Tigers have played this season, it will be the Jayhawks that rise to the occasion and handle Missouri on their home floor.

The Tigers are an offensive powerhouse this season, averaging just under 80 points per game, a mark that ranks No. 9 in the nation. The team is led by senior Marcus Denmon in the scoring department this season, averaging 17.8 points on 46 percent shooting from the floor.

As impressive as this offense has been throughout the course of the season, it will be the the Jayhawks that will prevail in this conference rivalry showdown.

Kansas comes into this game playing its strongest basketball of the season.

Just how impressive have these Jayhawks been?

The Jayhawks are winners of its last five games, winning at the No. 6-ranked Baylor Bears, at Kansas State and at Texas A&M. Three of the five wins have come by double digits, with no team coming closer than six points in any of the final scores.

Yet, it's the Jayhawks defense that has been pushing them through, allowing less than 60 points in four of the five victories.

On the season, Kansas is ranked No. 7 in opponents' field-goal percentage and ranked No. 33 in opponents' points per game. For a team that has struggled to put forth consistent offense each game, defense has been the savior for the ball club.

Center Jeff Withey has been leading the troops in this regard, dialing up 27 blocks in the last five games. The stretch included back-to-back games with at least seven blocks.

Against their conference rival Missouri Tigers, the Jayhawks will carry this momentum defensively and dismantle one of the better offenses the nation has.