Mizzou vs. Colorado State: What to watch for in the NCAA tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Out of the four games at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., the last contest of the night between Missouri and Colorado State will be the closest match-up.  The battle between the No. 8 and 9 seeds in the tournament's Midwest region tips off at 8:20 CT, and there will be several key elements to watch for.

Playmakers

Look for the match-up between MU guard Phil Pressy and CSU guard Dorian Green.  Both are major contributors to their teams' production. Both Colorado State Coach Larry Eustachy and Missouri Coach Frank Haith said in a news conference Wednesday whoever wins between those two players will likely win the game.

Battle on the Boards

Both teams come into the game as two of the tournament's top rebounding teams, so look for a physical battle underneath.

"We know there's going to be a battle, so we're just going to have to play with the toughness that we've never played with before," Missouri Forward Laurence Bowers said.

The Final Minute

There's no telling what's going to happen, but if you're looking for a dramatic finish, this game has a good chance of delivering. The Tigers have struggled to close out games this season, especially away from Columbia, Mo. Watch for the intensity and a decision making during the final plays of the game.