Flawed NCAA Tournament teams are going to end up with bad losses on their resume at some point in the season. It’s just bound to happen. Truth is, the Missouri Tigers are a flawed team that is still more than likely going to end up with an at-large NCAA Tournament berth. Though they had better get busy these next few games.

That’s because Mizzou suffered their worst loss of the season Tuesday night at Georgia — there’s no denying that. A three-game losing streak falling to .500 in conference play puts the Tigers in a tough spot right now. However, Missouri’s resume improved a lot on Thursday night as Wichita State beat No. 6 Houston to give them six Quadrant 1 wins.

But, remember the hopes of Mizzou getting a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament? Forget about it now. The goal for the remainder of this season really should be to avoid that 8/9 game.

Mizzou falls from a five-seed to a six-seed in this latest edition of Rock-M-Tology. The only reason they didn’t drop more is because of the Jeremiah Tilmon factor. Get him back in the lineup and see what happens, because they desperately need him (and a win over South Carolina tomorrow).

TRENDING UP:

• Indiana (12-9): The Hoosiers have won three out of their last four to get back to .500 in conference play. Big win on Wednesday night at home against Minnesota, but can’t afford a slip up on Saturday at home against Michigan State.
• USC (18-3): The Trojans just keep on winning. On a seven-game winning streak to maintain their lead in the PAC-12 standings.
• Florida State (12-3): After their COVID pause, the Seminoles have won back-to-back games, making a statement over Virginia on Monday to climb into second place in the ACC.
• UCONN (10-5): The Huskies have won back-to-back games and have James Bouknight back in their lineup. Big opportunity on Saturday on the road at Villanova.

TRENDING DOWN:

• Florida (10-6): After the win over West Virginia in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Gators have only played twice since January 30th and are 0-2 with a home loss to South Carolina and Arkansas on the road.
• Xavier (11-6): Back-to-back losses to UCONN and St. John’s have dropped the Musketeers to .500 in Big East play.
• Minnesota (13-9): After the loss to Indiana, the Gophers dropped to 0-8 on the road this season.
• Utah State (14-6): The Aggies missed an opportunity to get back into the field with Wednesday night’s loss at Boise State. They’ll play again tonight.

Last Few In

These would be among the last in without their conference’s automatic bid.

• North Carolina (13-7)
• UCONN (10-5)
• St. John’s (14-8)
• Wichita State (13-4)

First Few Out

• Stanford (13-8)
• Maryland (13-10)
• Utah State (14-6)
• St. Bonaventure (10-3)

TOP 16 SEEDS:

1. Gonzaga (21-0)
2. Baylor (17-0)
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Illinois (15-5)
6. Villanova (13-3)
7. Alabama (17-5)
8. Houston (17-4)
9. Oklahoma (13-5)
10. West Virginia (14-6)
11. Iowa (16-6)
12. USC (18-3)
13. Virginia (15-4)
14. Florida State (12-3)
15. Texas (13-5)
16. Creighton (16-5)

BY CONFERENCE:

Big Ten: 9

Big 12: 7

ACC: 6

SEC: 6

Big East: 5

PAC-12: 4

Mountain West: 3

Atlantic-10: 2

Missouri Valley: 2

WCC: 2

American: 2

THE BRACKET:

FIRST FOUR (Assembly Hall):

• North Carolina A&T (8-9) vs Prairie View (7-4)
• North Carolina (13-7) vs St. John’s (14-8)
• Wagner (8-5) vs Grand Canyon (12-3)
• UCONN (10-5) vs Wichita State (13-4)

[REGIONAL 1]

• No. 1 Gonzaga (21-0) vs No. 16 North Carolina A&T/Prairie View
• No. 8 Loyola-Chicago (19-4) vs No. 9 Saint Louis (11-3)
• No. 5 Wisconsin (15-8) vs No. 12 Belmont (23-1)
• No. 4 Texas (13-5) vs No. 13 Siena (8-2)
• No. 6 Oklahoma State (14-6) vs No. 11 Minnesota (13-9)
• No. 3 USC (18-3) vs No. 14 UC-Santa Barbara (14-3)
• No. 7 Louisville (11-4) vs No. 10 Xavier (11-4)
• No. 2 Houston (17-4) vs No. 15 Eastern Washington (10-6)

[REGIONAL 2]

• No. 1 Ohio State (18-4) vs No. 16 Wright State (17-4)
• No. 8 Seton Hall (13-8) vs No. 9 Clemson (13-5)
• No. 5 Tennessee (15-5) vs No. 12 North Carolina/St. John’s
• No. 4 Creighton (16-5) vs No. 13 Western Kentucky (15-4)
• No. 6 Missouri (13-6) vs No. 11 Indiana (12-9)
• No. 3 Oklahoma (13-5) vs No. 14 Texas State (15-6)
• No. 7 UCLA (14-5) vs No. 10 Boise State (17-4)
• No. 2 Illinois (15-5) vs No. 15 James Madison (13-5)

[REGIONAL 3]

• No. 1 Baylor (17-0) vs No. 16 Wagner/Grand Canyon
• No. 8 Florida (10-6) vs No. 9 Colorado (16-7)
• No. 5 Kansas (16-7) vs No. 12 Toledo (17-6)
• No. 4 Florida State (12-3) vs No. 13 Winthrop (18-1)
• No. 6 Purdue (14-8) vs No. 11 LSU (13-6)
• No. 3 West Virginia (14-6) vs No. 14 Abilene-Christian (18-3)
• No. 7 Rutgers (12-8) vs No. 10 Oregon (12-4)
• No. 2 Alabama (17-5) vs No. 15 Colgate (9-1)

[REGIONAL 4]

• No. 1 Michigan (15-1) vs No. 16 South Dakota (11-9)
• No. 8 VCU (16-4) vs No. 9 BYU (16-5)
• No. 5 Texas Tech (14-6) vs No. 12 UCONN/Wichita State
• No. 4 Virginia (15-4) vs No. 13 Liberty (17-5)
• No. 6 Virginia Tech (14-4) vs No. 11 San Diego State (15-4)
• No. 3 Iowa (16-6) vs No. 14 UNC-Greensboro (15-7)
• No. 7 Arkansas (17-5) vs No. 10 Drake (21-2)
• No. 2 Villanova (13-3) vs No. 15 Vermont (10-3)

First Glance At A Final Four:

Gonzaga, Illinois, Baylor, Iowa

Second glance: Gonzaga, Creighton, Baylor, Villanova

Missouri’s inevitable path to destiny:

Indiana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio State, Gonzaga, Baylor..........Sure!