51șÚÁÏ

It’s rare that a game’s X-factor can also be a game’s best player, but that’s the case for Mizzou in, well, its biggest game.

Will Mark Mitchell’s banged-up right knee be sturdy enough?

And will Mitchell have any rust, considering his last full game was 12 days prior?

Because for all that’s made about Drake’s slow tempo and valiant rebounding and winning pedigree, if Mizzou’s Mitchell plays to his capabilities — especially at his recent clip — the Tigers should survive and advance.

On paper, No. 11 seed Drake is a good matchup for the 6-foot-8 Mitchell — the Bulldogs don’t have much size (their tallest guy is also 6-foot-8), and Mitchell is superb at getting to the line. But on paper, No. 11 seed Drake isn’t a good matchup for No. 6 Mizzou overall. A lot to be worried about with the 30-3 Arch Madness champions of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

But Mark Mitchell, man.

The dude is different. In the eight games before his injury in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Mitchell averaged exactly 20 points per game while shooting 57.8% from the floor.

He scored 31 points (31!) in the win against No. 4 Alabama.

“He got a lot of work done in the paint (this season), on the dribble,” Dennis Gates recently told reporters — Thursday’s game marks the Mizzou coach’s second trip with the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament. “He was able to get in the lane, drive and kick. Those decision-making opportunities allowed his usage rate to move up. That’s where I truly believe there’s no other system in this country that allows a Mark Mitchell to showcase the things he’s showcased, especially with the teammates and their skill sets as well between the lines.”

I remember interviewing Mitchell by phone last April, shortly after the Duke forward transferred to Mizzou. He was quite a get for Gates. Not just a McDonald’s All-American but the high scorer in the McDonald’s All-American Game. A five-star recruit for the Blue Devils, it wasn’t like he was buried on the bench — he averaged 11.6 points per game and 6.0 rebounds last season as a sophomore. But as Mitchell mentioned on the phone that day: “I love Duke, but I’m excited to bring a new element of myself to Mizzou and take my game to another level.”

It almost sounded too good to be true. But Mitchell has, indeed, ascended.

He’s just the Tigers’ third transfer in his first year to make an All-SEC team. He leads Mizzou with 14.1 points per game. And only 12 other players in the country this year have accomplished these stat totals, along with Mitchell: 450 points, 125 rebounds, 60 assists, 30 steals and 25 assists.

“The things I saw him improve on most,” Gates said, “was understanding spacing, playing with the ball in his hands — like he did in high school — putting him in situations where he’s guarding and defending guys bigger and smaller, but also where guys bigger and smaller are defending him. Making sure he’s not pigeon-holed to arriving or spacing in just one area, the block and the top of the key. Now he can move and arrive half-court, corners, wing, middle third of the court, top of the key or ball in his hand dribbling up. That gives him an advantage because he’s such a cerebral and versatile player. I do know he’s very unselfish.”

As for Mitchell getting to the line, well, the Tigers are 6-3 in games Mitchell made six or more free throws.

Overall, he’s second in the SEC (and ranked 30th nationally) with 207 free-throw attempts. Heck, his 6.5 attempts per game are the most by a Missouri player since ... Jabari Brown — 11 years ago.

OK, but what about the wounded knee?

Mitchell hurt it during the SEC tourney game against Mississippi State, which Mizzou won, and he sat out for precautionary reasons in the game against Florida, which Mizzou lost. On Wednesday afternoon in Wichita, Kansas — the site of Thursday’s 6:35 p.m. game — Mitchell wore a pad on his right shin, per the Post-Dispatch’s Eli Hoff. Mitchell told reporters he doesn’t have any restrictions.

So here we go.

Tourney time.

And time for Mark Madness.

“He’s a humble human being, great basketball player,” Gates said. “I’m thankful for what he has done and what he’ll continue to do. The big picture is: We have this next phase ... the NCAA Tournament. For us, we’re going to take it a step at a time. He had a wonderful body of work. We’re proud of him — and now let’s see what he does.”