Isn’t this fun?

To root for not one, but TWO teams that are currently on bracket watch in this way-too-early conference season? Blah, blah, blah, it’s early. This too fun to not follow, so let’s enjoy it and take a looksie.

A week after the women’s team found themselves on the 11-seed line as a “last 4 in”/play-in game, they have now been rewarded as one of the “last 4 byes” and a 10-seed in Charlie Creme’s new bracketology.

Here’s who else is on that side of the bracket right now:

I will keep you updated throughout the season on the Tigers’ bracket movements, as it appears it will come out on my Links nights!

Speaking of voting and all that kinda stuff, at media day, Head Coach Robin Pingeton was asked about her team not receiving one single voting point in the new AP poll. Watch below, from ABC17’s Nathalie Jones.

Pingeton said the win over Auburn was not MU’s prettiest game of all time, but sometimes physicality is what gets it done in the SEC. They’ll face their next test in Tuscaloosa on Thursday at 6pm, facing off against the Crimson Tide.

As for the men, Mizzou’s general level of awesomeness and success against teams in the Top 25 (formerly in the T-25?) is surely the reason for the Tigers’ NO. SIX SEED in Joe Lunardi’s new bracket (released Jan. 3). They are up from a 9-seed after the Illinois win.

And here’s a snapshot of their section of the bracket.

According to Lunardi’s rationale, he originally had Missouri as the overall no. 20 seed, but ultimately moved them to the 6-seed line. Pretty, pretty, cool. Too high? Maybe. But love to see it just the same.

Again, I will plan on updating everyone on this from now until tourney time since it’s coming out on Tuesdays!

This is certainly interesting regarding Mizzou’s matchup in Fayetteville tonight. Per Haslam’s analytics:

And while we’re looking at stats, might as well take a long loving look at this, too. We can always count on Rock M’s @datamizzou for the good stuff! This is honestly incredible.

On to the Links. MIZ! Time for a Hog Roast!

Check out the pregame primer at MUTigers.com.

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Dan Keegan presents his football-specific new year’s resolutions: 2023 New Year’s Resolutions for Missouri Football
• Josh is back with a new edition of The Revue: Dennis Gates defying the odds with these upstart Tigers in an adaptation of Creed.
• Parker covered the return of defensive lineman Trajan Jeffcoat, who announced he will play in 2023
• Matt-Squared’s new edition of The Verdict covers a Big Blue beatdown
• Parker shared his view on Missouri basketball’s five most pivotal games remaining on the schedule

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More Links:

Hoops

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Mizzou basketball’s prolific offense faces Arkansas’ elite defense in prime SEC showdown (Dave Matter)
• PowerMizzou: Watch the new PowerMizzou Live: featuring Drew & Gabe | The sports psychologist who helped Missouri bounce back (King)
• Sports Illustrated: NCAA Transformation Committee Recommends Expanding March Madness Fields (Ross Dellenger) [below is a good twitter thread that goes along with it]

• Make sure you give a listen to the new Mizzou, That’s Who podcast, as Tucker, Gabe & Maggie chat with the man of the hour, Kobe Brown. Really good listen. Maggie (w/ a valiant effort) tries to get him to say whether or not he’ll return next season.

• Columbia Tribune: How Dr. Joe Carr’s impact is helping Mizzou basketball peak entering 2023 (Chris Kwiecinski) | Check out these photos from Madeline Carter from Gates’ first season at the helm. My faves are the one with CY yelling and with Tre holding DG back.
• KC Star: Another step for the Missouri Tigers: Doing battle as a ranked team at Arkansas (Blair Kerkhoff)
• The Athletic ($$): Noted Mizzou Hater, Seth Davis, tells us “Not so fast!” on the Tigers as a Buy, but you should Hold on to the stock. He’s just not convinced, though I will say he did say some nice things.
• Per Dave Matter, the Tigers once again get a good announcing crew this evening in Dave Neal and Pat Bradley.
• In awesome news, the women’s game against South Carolina has been moved to the main ESPN channel. It will be a tough, tough matchup (just like last year). LFG, Ladies!

• Congrats to former Tiger, Boogie Coleman! Great win by Ball State!

Football

• PowerMizzou: Newcomer Profile: Sam Williams (Jarod Hamilton)
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Mizzou football’s remade defense couldn’t overcome team’s stagnant offense in 2022 (Dave Matter) | Memorial service and celebration for Demetrious Johnson (David Carson) | Photos from the service— please look over. They are lovely and what a turn out for an incredible human being!
• Good point, Dan. We may not think that much of Eli’s coaching at times, but he largely stopped the transfer portal hemorrhage, and that is damn commendable.

• Great video from Luther

• Bon voyage, Elijah Young. Mizzou Nation wishes you the best at your next destination!

Other Mizzou Sports

• FIVE DAYS TIL GYMNASTICS!! Well, technically as of today, it’s four. On Sunday, the preseason no. 9 nationally ranked Tigers hit the mat in Champaign at 2pm on B1G+ to take on the Illini.

Missouri’s home opener is about one week later (Friday, Jan. 13 @6pm), against the Georgia Bulldogs. Season tickets are only going to set you back about $35 and it’s well worth the investment (I tell myself) to see a team that returned literally everyone, AND brought in a kick-ass recruiting class.

• Ummmm…. WOW. Also, softball starts next month and my writing schedule is going to become a lot heavier.

• Just a reminder from DG on the week’s events:

Mizzou in the Pros

• From CBS Sports’ Rotowire, regarding DRUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Smith:

On January 2, Smith recorded 24 points (10-20 FG, 1-7 3PT, 3-4 FT), six assists, five rebounds and five steals in 40 minutes of Sunday’s 123-110 win over Ontario. Smith put together a strong two-way performance, logging 24 points on 50 percent shooting while leading the Skyforce in steals with five. Through three regular season games, Smith has averaged 23.3 points,7.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 steals across 39.6 minutes per game.

On January 1, Smith recorded 28 points (10-18 FG, 5-11 3PT, 2-2 FT), six assists, four rebounds, four steals and a block in 40 minutes of Saturday’s 99-95 loss to Ontario. Smith put together an incredible two-way performance, posting game-high totals in both points and steals. In seven showcase appearances, Smith has averaged 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 31.0 minutes per game.

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