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COLUMBIA, Mo. 鈥� The two Missouri men鈥檚 basketball players who have become so adept at adapting made 鈥淪portsCenter鈥� this morning. Their link-up from the Tigers鈥� third win over an opponent ranked in the top five this season made the top five plays of the night in sports.

And it wasn鈥檛 the type of play you鈥檇 necessarily expect from guard Caleb Grill and power forward Mark Mitchell. But that鈥檚 the point: The duo who combined for 56 points in Wednesday鈥檚 takedown of No. 4 Alabama are adding to Mizzou鈥檚 potential by adding to their arsenals.

With 7:22 to go in the first half of the game, and MU leading 35-21, the Tigers were running a fairly typical-looking offensive set. Guard Tamar Bates stood in the right corner, closely guarded even off ball. Forward Trent Pierce space on the opposite wing. Mitchell was the only MU player inside the 3-point line, lurking on the weak side. Point guard Tony Perkins held the ball up at the right wing, looking for a way to dish it. Grill was trying to shake himself loose up top, near the midcourt logo.

That鈥檚 how teams defend Grill these days, now that most members of the Southeastern Conference are acutely aware of how dangerous his jumper can be. Only one high-major player in the nation is averaging more than six 3-point attempts per game and making more than 45% of them 鈥� and he wears No. 31 for Missouri.

Opponents鈥� scouting report on Grill dictates never, ever, ever helping off of him 鈥� even when he doesn鈥檛 have the ball. To leave that defensive assignment would be leaving him open, and that usually means a swishing 3-pointer.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more grabbing and holding and things like that,鈥� Grill said this week. 鈥淪o just having to switch up how I prepare for games. I鈥檝e been having to change different ways of how to get open, rather than what I was used to before.鈥�

Among the recent developments in his game are nicely angled, well-timed cuts 鈥� the kind of moves that resemble a crafty slot wide receiver in football.

On the possession in question, Grill went for one, opting to blow by his defender into the cavernous lane ahead of him. Perkins leaned to bounce the ball to Grill, who had a step of separation by the time he caught it with a head of steam.

Mitchell鈥檚 defender stepped over to help, vacating his assignment to keep Grill from laying in the rock unimpeded.

Leaving Mitchell open on the left side of the floor is perhaps passable in the eyes of some opponents. He鈥檚 below the national average in finishing at the rim from the left blocks but above average from the right side of the basket. The Crimson Tide were giving Mitchell access to his weaker side.

But as soon as the help defender stepped up to Grill, he curled the ball into his right hand and swung it behind his back and out to the left, where Mitchell was still lurking. A silky behind-the-back pass from the 3-point shooter. Casual.

Mitchell took a short drive into the paint, coming to a jump stop in traffic. Three 鈥橞ama players flooded the paint. Two bit on a pump fake. One came down on his shoulder, fouling him.

Mitchell, with his back to the basket and momentum carrying him behind the backboard, lobbed the ball up over his shoulder, off the glass and in. And-one.

In his past three games, the Duke transfer has set two career highs in scoring. Nearly 60% of his shots have been at the rim, and he鈥檚 made 82% of them 鈥� a mark that, if extended, would put him in the 96th percentile nationally at rim finishes.

Mitchell has long been the desired offensive focal point of this Missouri team. Sure, Grill鈥檚 shooting is a priority and Bates鈥� creation can win games. But the Tigers have consistently wanted this to be the system: The perimeter players have a gravity to keep the interior open, and Mitchell has the gravitas to take care of business down low.

He鈥檚 back in business thanks to some adjustments of his own.

鈥淚 got some easy ones early to get me going,鈥� Mitchell said of his 31 points against Alabama. 鈥淎nd then I think I鈥檝e just adjusted to the way teams are playing me. I had a little stretch there 鈥� teams kind of adjusted. You know, I鈥檓 a downhill driver, that鈥檚 my best strength, and teams have been taking that away. So now, (I鈥檓) just picking and choosing.鈥�

And though Mizzou鈥檚 depth is also among its prized assets 鈥� and will be key to any postseason run 鈥� it鈥檚 the emerging star power the Tigers have that also bodes well for March. Those stars, like Mitchell and Grill, can adjust, will adjust and have adjusted to be ready for what鈥檚 to come.

MU鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball renaissance is a personal one for some of these players.

鈥淗e鈥檚 gotten back to his old self, and he鈥檚 allowed me and our staff and his teammates to push him,鈥� Gates said of his power forward. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better, (more) versatile player out there I would rather have than Mark Mitchell.鈥�