While the women await their destination, Cuonzo Martin begins the offseason in earnest

Folks, we’re going to need you to sit down for just a second. Take a deep breath. Because we’ve got some bad news.

That is, of course, unless you’re talking about the men. The women, who will look to move past the first weekend of the tournament for the first time in almost 20 years, will find out their seeding tonight. They’re hoping to avoid anything below a four or five seed, which seems possible if the selection committee is willing to overlook losses to some of the SEC’s bottom-feeders.

ESPN’s Charlie Creme currently projects the Tigers as a No. 5 seed in Corvallis, Ore. facing Boise State in the first round, with Oregon State potentially waiting in the second round.

It’s been an up-and-down year for the Tigers, but Missouri will enter tournament play on a high-note, with Sophie Cunningham playing some of the best basketball of her career.

While you’re waiting to hear where Robin Pingeton’s Tigers will end up, be sure to take some time and VOTE SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM FOR THE CHERYL MILLER AWARD!

Back to the men: Cuonzo Martin’s squad may be out of it this year, but he doesn’t anticipate them being down for long.

Asked after Thursday’s loss if Mizzou will be equipped to make the NCAA Tournament next year, he didn’t back down from setting high expectations, with one qualifier.

“I think if we’re healthy, with what we have returning, guys you are bringing into your program, you got a chance to be as good as anybody” in the SEC, he said.

We’ve yet to (officially) hear about Jontay Porter’s NBA draft decision, but with Porter and Ronnie Suggs potentially going back to walk-on status, Martin could have two more scholarships to play with. We’ve yet to see what he’ll do with them, but we did get a better look at Martin’s future plans after the program extended an offer to three-star center Eddie Lampkin out of Katy, Texas. He’s sporting offers from Georgetown, Texas A&M and TCU.

We’ll be on women’s basketball tournament coverage as it continues this week and (hopefully) the next. We’ll also start basketball postseason coverage in the coming weeks.

And for all you NCAA Bracket heads out there, JOIN THE ROCK M NATION BRACKET CHALLENGE!

Yesterday at Rock M

• Weekend Recap: Missouri baseball swept by No. 10 Arkansas
• Join Rock M Nation’s 2019 Bracket Challenge!

More Links:

• Garrick Hodge at the Columbia Daily Tribune listed every Missourian involved in the NCAA Tournament. Also at the Trib, Cameron Teague-Robinson gives a detailed look inside the Elite Eight run from Mike Anderson’s 2009 squad.
• PowerMizzou had quite a Sunday for content: Mitchell Forde talked to freshman corner Chris Shearin; Gabe DeArmond aggregated the site’s spring football coverage from Week 2; Sean Williams broke down the commitment of 3-star OL recruit — and St. Louis area star — Drake Heismeyer; and, for premium subscribers, Williams also spoke with a Mississippi high schooler about a recent visit to campus.
• Dave Matter profiled Albert Okwuegbunam, who is seeking to make the most of what will likely be his last year in Columbia.
• On the diamond, the men struggled in their opening SEC series, getting swept by Arkansas. The women, however, clinched a big-time series victory over No. 8 Georgia. Watch the walk-off here:

• Missouri hadn’t been involved seriously for a long time, but one-time target (and recent state champion) Isiaih Mosley announced he’ll be joining Dana Ford’s team in Springfield, Mo.