It's Officially Over........

[ozark trout fisher]

That is to say, Mizzou's 5 season tournament run. It is particularly brutal, for having come within about 10-15 minutes of reversing that. For those who didn't get to follow the game as it happened (pretty much everyone, given the early weekday tipoff) that sounds like an odd thing to say, as the Gators won by 23. But as late as around the under 12 timeout, this was a one possession game, and tied at the half. Missouri just got worn out and let Florida run away with it. Chances are, this was a simple play-in/play-out game for Mizzou.

Technically, today's move into the RPI top 50 (because losing to Florida by 23 points actually HELPED that figure, illustrating how dumb that metric is) keeps them in the bubble mix. And CBS sports had us in the bracket before the game.

But they're out. I'm about 98% sure of this.

Though it's not official, Missouri will almost certainly have a home NIT game (at least one, anyway) at some point next week.

Yeah, I plan to go, and call me a sucker if you want. But at least NIT tickets are about 1/2 to 1/3 of the usual price, so there's that. I hope we can get an interesting first round opponent, at least. And more importantly, I hope they play like they actually care. Yes, even NIT games matter in evaluating Haith.

[Quillback]

I watched the game yesterday, and you're right, it was a good game until the last half of the 2nd half. I was beginning to think Mizzou might take it down to the end and have a shot at winning. Hard to say if the selection committee will go with 4 SEC teams or 3. If they decide that they take 4 SEC teams, it will probably come down to choosing AR or Mizzou. So I believe there is still a faint chance of one of them making it. I'd say Mizzou as they have beaten the Hogs twice.

[Quillback]

Thinking about it a little more, I could see where GA might slip in as the #4 SEC team, especially if they beat KY.

[ozark trout fisher]

I think if the SEC gets #4 it's going to (probably) be Arkansas. I don't think the committee is going to worry too much about head to head. If I'm right, the Hogs have better wins than Mizzou across the board, and their losses aren't really any worse. I know they had two bad games to end the season, but overrall they've played better late-season, which should matter. Their RPI is in very dangerous territory though. If I was on the committee they'd definitely be above Mizzou (though I'm not sure if that would put them in.) But that may have more than anything to do with my frustration right now. I saw a quote from one of the "bracket experts" that said all year most teams fanbases were begging him to put their team into the bracket, but Missouri's fanbase was the only one arguing why we SHOULDN'T be there. It would be tough to paint a more accurate picture than that. At the end of the day, the Missouri vs. Arkansas resume comparison really could matter. They are the first two teams out in the CBS sports projection. Both probably stay out for good, but it's not a lock.

Frankly, I'm kinda glad that Missouri probably won't get in as an 11-12 seed and a huge underdog. We've gotten crushed in the first round every year for the past 3. Maybe we can win a couple tournament games this year, even if its the wrong tournament.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My take is that going into the NCAA knowing the chances of advancing very far wouldn't be near as interesting as going to the NIT where the chances of advancing and making a run are much better.

OU will probably go to the big one, but won't likely advanced very far without some favorable match ups. I would rather see them in the NIT.

[ozark trout fisher]

My take is that going into the NCAA knowing the chances of advancing very far wouldn't be near as interesting as going to the NIT where the chances of advancing and making a run are much better.

OU will probably go to the big one, but won't likely advanced very far without some favorable match ups. I would rather see them in the NIT.

Yeah, I agree with you on the first point.

OU is definitely a lock for the NCAAs. Probably a 6-8 seed. They'll have a good chance to win a game, maybe two if the matchup is right.

[Quillback]

I just can't get excited about the NIT, but if somehow it leads to another Hogs/Mizzou matchup I'd probably watch that game.

[Mark]

I think this season officially puts Haith on the hot seat.

[ozark trout fisher]

Yes, it does. Expectations depend on whether Brown/Clarkson come back. If even one of the two is in a Mizzou uniform, it's tournament or bust, I think.

By the way, (IMO) Clarkson would be making a big mistake by taking off early. He's got great potential, but he needs to work on shooting, driving to the left, decision, making, and defense. That's a lot to expect to be able to handle during a few summer league games. And a big leap of faith to decide that NBA executives will look past that and give him a shot.

I could see the case for Brown declaring, though. He's probably a second round pick, but I'm not sure he has as much room to rise.

[Quillback]

Some Brown draft info from NBA draft.net:

The leading scorer in the entire SEC conference, Brown has been on a tear of late knocking down 3 or more three pointers in each of his past 8 games going 29 of 50 (58%). He's shooting 47% from 3 on the year and doing so on a high volume of makes, averaging 3 per game. Brown struggled to live up to the expectations in his first two seasons after being a McDonald's All American, but has really found his game and become a force playing alongside point guard Jordan Clarkson.

Brown is expected to leave after this season according to sources and is now considered a bubble first rounder for the 2014 draft. He has been a model of consistency scoring in double figures in every game this season. His measurements will likely be a critical factor as he appears to be closer to 6'4 than 6'5.