13 Years in the Making

2010 seems like a lifetime ago. Break your heart by Taio Cruz with Ludacris was on top of the US billboard charts. Barack Obama was president of the US. Mike Anderson led his Missouri Tigers to an 86-78 win over the 7-seed Clemson Tigers in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That was the last time Mizzou won an NCAA tournament game. JT Tiller, Zaire Taylor, Marcus Denmon, Kim English, and Laurence Bowers were on that Tigers team. 5 names that will remain important to Mizzou fans of the same age as me who were shaped by this team and many others. This Mizzou team 2022-2023 is as special to me as the 2011-2012 and 2008-2009 teams. Are they as good as those teams? Not really what I’m saying. Time will tell if they are as good; however, the win over Utah St was 13 years in the making as the Tigers now await a 15 seed in Princeton. The last time the Tigers faced a 15 seed was the infamous Norfolk St in 2012. The only thing keeping the Tigers from the Sweet Sixteen is a boogeyman seed and what could be a Cinderella team. Before the tournament started, I saw the Tigers bowing out in the Sweet Sixteen or Second round. So far, I’m right. Hopefully, a Sweet Sixteen and further awaits the Tigers.