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First Monday of 2022 isn’t kind to Mizzou Hoops

Mizzou Links for January 4, 2022.

By Josh Matejka

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Beat the undefeated No. 1? No ranking for you!

If I told you there was a basketball team that was 12-2, with two losses to top-15 level teams and a win over the consensus best team in the country, what would you think? You’d think that team would be ranked, right? At the very least, somewhere in the top 20-25 range?

Well, you’d. Be. WRONG!

Turns out, beating your undefeated rival down to 8 players (not including your best player) doesn’t count for much in basketball these days — what is this world coming to?! Despite last week’s dramatic win, Mizzou still hasn’t cracked the Top 25 of the Associated Press poll. They’re knocking on the door, but not quite in the doorway.

Missouri, bolstered by its victory over South Carolina last Thursday with just eight active players, went from receiving no votes last week to just missing the AP Top 25.

Missouri (12-2, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) beat the Gamecocks (13-1, 1-1) by a score of 70-69 in overtime on a last-second layup by Lauren Hansen. South Carolina, which rebounded with a victory on Sunday, still received 22 of the 30 first-place votes from a national media panel to stay the top choice in the poll.

The problem here is Mizzou’s weak non-conference schedule, which is clearly hurting their perception in some voters’ eyes. Mizzou ranks just 44th in NET, which is actually a spot lower than they ranked last week (which I don’t get, but whatever).

Not everyone is still underrating the Tigers, though. RPI (Rating Percentage Index) currently has Missouri as the country’s 10th (!!!) best team according to their on-court results.

In a bit of positive (meh, maybe it’s just neutral) news, Missouri’s postponed game against Vanderbilt has been rescheduled to later this month.

On the men’s side of things, it’s definitely worse. As if struggling to a 6-7 start wasn’t enough, Mizzou will now be knocked out for at least another 5 days due to positive COVID-19 cases in the program.

The Tigers’ game on Wednesday against Mississippi State has been postponed due to coronavirus protocols being enacted within MU after a positive test.

There was no makeup date announced for the matchup against the Bulldogs. Missouri’s next scheduled game is Saturday at home against Alabama.

It’s a tough blow for the Tigers, who will now go about 10 days between games, which will make it tough to regain momentum for a date with No. 15 Alabama. Though if it were up to Cuonzo Martin, Wednesday’s game might not be off at all?

Not even going to touch that one. I’m sure the comments section will dissect it enough without my unnecessary commentary.

Yesterday at Rock M

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