Another game, another must win for this Missouri team as they get set to face Vanderbilt tomorrow. With Selection Sunday just under a month away, it’s crunch time for Mizzou as they look to make it six straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. All the attention right now in the state of Missouri in the sport of college basketball is with the St. Louis Billikens, and rightfully so as they are now in the Top 10. However, Mizzou is at the point of their season where they can make some noise.
Missouri (18-7, 6-6 SEC) is coming off back-to-back wins over Arkansas and Tennessee after their most difficult stretch of the season, losing to Kentucky, Florida, and Ole Miss. After those two wins, Mizzou is back on the right side of the bubble conversation and could be taking a big step forward to making the NCAA Tournament, in what has been an underachieving year to say the least.
The SEC has been weak all season, looking like only a two-bid conference as of right now with Florida and Kentucky, but Missouri is looking to become that third SEC team in the field.
With six more games left before the SEC Tournament begins, it’s safe to say Missouri pretty much has to win out to make the dance. Mizzou has a really favorable schedule down the stretch as three of their last six games are at home. However, their toughest remaining game will be on the road at Tennessee, their regular season finale.
Watch for Jabari Brown to lead this team down the stretch if they want to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Brown is making a case for the SEC Player of the Year as he has been on a tear lately, scoring 20 or more points in nine out of his last 10 games. He also saved Missouri’s season back on Thursday night against Arkansas, where he had the game-winning shot with 12 seconds left as Mizzou escaped with the narrow 86-85 win.
Missouri can’t afford any more bad losses, and that test will come tomorrow as Vanderbilt comes to Columbia while Mizzou looks for their third straight win.
