Is Mizzou Basketball back?!

The short answer depends on what your memories of Mizzou basketball are. For someone like myself, I remember the days of games deep into March, of winning the Big 12, of beating Kansas, of being the number two seed, and being upset by Norfolk State the game that ruined college basketball for me. Older generations will remember Norm Stewart trying to kill Kansas in many ways and vice versa. “Never spend a dime in Kansas” Is a saying of Norm’s that Ben and I took to heart when we went to the Mizzou K-State game this past year. Back to the main question is Mizzou basketball back? Well as of writing this Mizzou will be ranked #20 heading into their match-up against number 9 Arkansas. As the tigers have knocked off ranked Illinois and Kentucky both of whom in convincing fashion.

The only blemish for the Tigers has been the loss to Kansas this year. This year's 12-1 start is the best since the 2013-2014 season when the Tigers went the same record, but only had one win over a ranked opponent in UCLA. For two ranked wins with one or fewer losses, you have to go back over a decade ago to 2011-2012 with wins over #18 Cal and #25 Illinois. Those Tigers would end up 30 and 5 winning the Big 12 in their final year in the Big 12 and would be upset by Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Now am I saying that this Missouri team will be that good? No, at least not yet because at the end of the day as we say on Earning Our Stripes these are the same old Tigers who will probably end up like many others just like them. An 8 or 9 seed in the tournament and lose in the first round. Now I do have something for this team I have not had since 2017-2018. And that is Hope. This team makes me want to watch them. Kobe Brown is a future Mizzou legend if he continues to play like this. Dennis Gates has given this team and fan base something to cheer and root for. Here is hoping he and Drinkwitz can turn Mizzou into a powerhouse in their respective sports.