It’s GAMEDAY. Deep breaths.

Does anyone else feel sick? I feel kinda sick. The anticipation of waiting til 12:40pm CT is going to be the end of me. I don’t know what to do with myself (besides get some work done, of course. I’m a great employee; ask anyone).

It was 2021.

Mizzou Athletics

This was the “celebration” when Mizzou heard its name called for their 8/9 matchup against Oklahoma, which took place March 20. That was 726 days ago. Kobe was on that roster. He had 8 points on 3-8 shooting in 29 minutes against the Sooners. He’s the only Tiger (or former Tiger) still playing for the postseason from this roster.

There’s Javon, who just ended his CBB career without a postseason berth (surprisingly, I thought they’d be in the NIT) at SLU. And Druuuuuuu. He spends his time in NY either playing with the Nets or their G-League team in Long Island. Tilly is playing for the Raptors’ G-League team. Mitch and Mark are overseas. Ed is looking for another new team after a year at Idaho State. X is/was at New Mexico St for his final season, which ended their season early because of all that unpleasantness. PB bides his time in Santa Clara, while Torrence is at Elon. This might have been their last years? I’m not sure.

I loved this team that, much like the current squad, the metrics despised. I even interviewed former SID RJ Layton about them in Dec. 2020.

So much has changed.

Madeline Carter | Columbia Tribune

It’s a new era. And that begins today (or this morning if you’re on the west coast). I’m ready to leave work at noon (thanks, best boss ever) and head to a yet-to-be-decided watering hole to enjoy myself, no matter the result. It’s been 4745 days since Mizzou has won an NCAA tournament game. I’m ready for that drought to end.

Who’s ready to dance?

UPDATED (amazing video):

The Trib’s Chris Kwiecinski took a look at why Mizzou can — and can’t, but we’re focusing on the can — reach the Final 4 for the first time in program history. Per his article, the 7-seed has made it all the way before. In 2014, UConn beat no. 8 seed Kentucky in the final, though it’s not a common occurrence (only four 7-seeds have made the F4). As for why, YOU KNOW WHY. You’ve witnessed it many times this season.

Tigers fans need no diagram as to how this MU team can go far in the NCAA Tournament. Many have seen it firsthand at Mizzou Arena.

Simply enough, if Missouri catches fire the Tigers are hard to stop. Ask Iowa State, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU how that all worked out for them.

MU averages just over nine 3-pointers per game. That level of consistency from the perimeter rises when Missouri is on a roll when it turns defense into offense and offense into a slew of points in a very short amount of time.

Winning in March is about catching fire at the right time. Missouri has done that so many times this season against teams that are in the NCAA Tournament. It can happen again.

Who’s ready for some magic? Let’s ride with this ragtag bunch of Mid Major misfits to the end.

If you’ve got some free time this morning before the game, listen to Dennis Gates, Jarrett Sutton, Dave Matter, and the Utah State PBP guy chat. Great stuff.

One more thing... I’d be remiss not to mention the women’s team, who will face head coach Robin Pingeton’s former school, Illinois State, at Mizzou Arena at 7pm in the WNIT. Really hoping they get a win here and advance. Lauren will have a preview out at some point today.

ON TO THE LINKS!!! M-I-F’ing-Z!

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Yesterday at Rock M... SO MUCH CONTENT

• Parker insists on covering football at a time like this (JK): Drinkwitz previews spring game and recaps the progress from the spring
• Sam tells you how to tune in for the big game: Missouri vs Utah State Basketball GameDay: info, where to watch, predictions
• Time for an extensive film lesson with the Matts: The Verdict: Utah State’s pace and positional flexibility pose a stiff test for Mizzou
• Hoops isn’t the only NCAA postseason going on: 2023 NCAA Championship Wrestling: Mizzou Tiger Style Preview
• Breaking down the South Region and the path ahead for Mizzou
• This is a fun one from Dan: Important Numbers for Mizzou Hoops & Football
• Professor Stava’s history lesson: A look at No. 7 seeds vs No. 10 seeds in the NCAA Tournament
• Tigers win 2 on Specs-tacular pitching against Illinois (this is my Links post, but I recapped softball so check it out)
• IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Because it’s in reference to something I did for Rock M, I’ll mention it here. The president of the student chapter of AWSM (Association for Women in Sports Media) came by to see me Wednesday AM because she’d made the connection that she’d read my work for the site, and wanted to tell me her group had cited my column on WBB in their strat comm research paper! (Links to tweet about it) Floored. I’m floored.

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More Links:

Hoops

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Matter & Ben Fred asked in a new Eye on the Tigers pod if Mizzou can be kings of Sacramento | With D’Moi Hodge rising, Mizzou basketball will beat Utah State in March Madness (Benjamin Hochman) | How Dennis Gates’ NBA-inspired, five-out offense made Mizzou basketball a March Madness threat (Dave Matter) | Mizzou basketball players share their favorite March Madness memories (Matter) | Mountain West pride on the line for Utah State basketball vs. Mizzou in March Madness (Matter)
• Tom Hart (Columbia native) the homer. You love to see it.

• Columbia Missourian: Missouri prepares for its NCAA Tournament clash with Utah State (Jaden Lewis) |
• The Athletic: I don’t agree with the Missouri brewery choice (Flor Blanca Mexican Lager from Broadway Brewery), but this is a clever idea just the same. They assigned a beer to each team in the NCAA bracket. Obviously, the only correct answer here is Logboat Brewing.
• Kansas City Star: How Mizzou’s turnaround hinged on Kobe Brown’s momentous decision not to enter portal (Vahe Gregorian)
• Columbia Tribune: What Mizzou women’s basketball wants to prove against Illinois State (Chris Kwiecinski) | How Mabor Majak embodies a Mizzou core value as a key post reserve in March Madness (Kwiecinski) | Simplest element could be key to NCAA Tournament win over Utah State (Matt Stahl)
• PowerMizzou: Hear everything Missouri said on Wednesday | Hear everything Utah State said on Wednesday | Missouri’s staff keeping the Tigers ready in March (Drew King) | Tigers look to end tourney drought, continue to connect to the past (Gabe DeArmond) | Listen to PowerMizzou Live from Sacramento (Gabe & Drew) | Utah State confident it’s tested, ready for Mizzou (DeArmond)
• This is interesting, if not a bit unsurprising. We know the Tigers are prone to runs of their own as well as giving up runs. JUST GET TO 70.

• From enemy lines:

• Happy sigh

• Hear from Southeastern14’s Blake Lovell and new Mizzou intern Rory Whetstone as they chat about Mizzou’s chances in the NCAA Tournament.

• This reminds me of the relationship between Zo and Javon. This is great. We are so lucky to have had these two men leading our team.

Football

• Spring game cancellation news (for fans, anyway, which honestly defeats the entire purpose of the game): Matt Stahl, Columbia Tribune | Dave Matter, STL Today | Wendell Shepherd Jr, Missourian
• This is super cool video work from KC’s Let it Fly Media

• Saturday Down South examined the March Madness bracket through the lens of college football on Instagram.

• This is gonna be cool.

Diamond Sports

• BASEBALL: I listened to the end of this one in the car, so I can report on it myself! This one got a bit too interesting there at the end for my liking. While Bieser Ball launched their most home runs since 2008 in a game (6), things got a bit close there at the end as Tiger pitcher Tony Neubeck allowed a leadoff walk, and then two batters later allowed a two-run moonshot to CF to make it a 2-run ballgame. A single and very untimely error by Luke Mann put the go-ahead run at the plate, but Neubeck was able to strike out the final batter to preserve the dub, 10-8. You can read the full recap at MUTigers.com.

Per Sammy:

• Listen to the postgame with Coach Bieser and Hank Zeisler.

• Up next, a weekend tilt against Tony Vitello and his Vols squad in some frigid temps. Per Rock M Nation insider Trripleplay, a rumor:

• Wow. Super League, much?

• SOFTBALL: Sweet victory x 2. We love to see a Braggin Rights win. How bout some highlights?!?

• Maddie Gallagher.... oh my god

Other Mizzou Sports

• SWIM & DIVE: Mizzou women have kicked off their NCAA Championships

• TRACK & FIELD: Indoor season: check. Outdoor season: coming.

• TIGER STYLE: Brothers in Arms: Zach and Rocky Elam’s path to Missouri wrestling (Adam Ryerson, Missourian) | Welcome, Jarrett!

• CHEERS WILDLY

• VOLLEYBALL: Back in action this weekend with a new coach at the helm

NBA/G-League Corner

I don’t have time for this section this week. I’ll make it a regular occurrence again starting next week.

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