It’s prove-it week for Missouri basketball: Why OU sport could also be most necessary of MU’s 12 months – Columbia Day by day Tribune

Get proper again on observe? The Tigers can start making travel plans.
Let final week’s two losses linger, and permit a 3rd straight to slide? The longer term will get just a little extra tense.
It’s prove-it week for No. 22/21-ranked Missouri basketball, which fell six spots in both major national polls after an 0-2 week. The Tigers acquitted themselves effectively in each losses, which is the explanation they didn’t fall out of the rankings altogether. 
Now, Missouri (17-6, 6-4 SEC) has a lot larger fish to fry.
There’s no disgrace in a four-point loss at No. 4/4 Tennessee, particularly when the Volunteers put collectively their greatest 3-point capturing evening of the season (by greater than 14 proportion factors). Texas A&M has gained 5 of its previous six video games, and a clutch, late shot from Wade Taylor IV to down Mizzou was sufficient to earn the Aggies a consensus top-10 rating.
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Extra:Behind the scenes of Wade Taylor’s game-winning 3 as Texas A&M beat Missouri basketball
The 2 losses are near-imminently salvageable. You would even promote the stance that by going 2-0 towards ranked Ole Miss and Mississippi State within the two earlier video games, the Tigers are precisely the place they have been anticipated to be, which continues to be within the hunt for an SEC Match double-bye and on tempo for a sweat-free Choice Sunday because the NCAA Match contributors are revealed.
Relying on Wednesday’s end result towards Oklahoma, that every one might change.
To evaluate the gravity of the upcoming sport, let’s look ahead just a little.
After internet hosting the Sooners, Mizzou travels to Georgia. Then, No. 1/2 Alabama visits Columbia subsequent Wednesday. Then, it’s again on the street to Bud Walton Area for a sport towards the all of the sudden intriguing Arkansas Razorbacks.
Think about the ramifications if Missouri doesn’t beat OU on Wednesday, a sport that suggestions off at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Area.
That may be a three-game dropping streak. It’s additionally a three-game dropping streak with two SEC street video games and a house tilt towards the potential unanimous No. 1 (relying how Saturday’s 1-2 conflict between the Tide and Auburn unfolds) group within the nation instantly on deck.
Might you paint the image the place all of these turn into losses, and the slide turns into six? With the best way Missouri has been enjoying, it is most unlikely. However on this league, it’s not unattainable.
If that form of ghastly streak transpired, the Tigers would wish to seek out, at minimal, two wins from their last 4 video games within the common season to be in consideration for a March Insanity berth. You would preemptively wave goodbye to a bye, single or double, within the SEC Match, too.
That, clearly, is the Doomsday Button.
Now, let’s flip the image and undertake a sunnier lens.
If the Tigers beat Oklahoma on Wednesday, all is effectively in Mid-Missouri. 
With seven wins in convention play in hand, they might head into the stretch of UGA, ‘Bama and the Hogs needing simply one other win to be ok with their March prospects. 
By beating the Sooners, Mizzou would transfer into the weekend no worse than seventh within the SEC standings, which might be on tempo for a first-round bye in Nashville.
The three groups that presently are a sport behind MU within the convention standings play No. 1 Auburn, No. 3 Florida and No. 5 Tennessee on both Tuesday or Wednesday. That gives some potential respiration room within the race for the highest eight seeds — however solely with a win over Oklahoma.
Completely different image, isn’t it?
The excellent news for Missouri is that dropping streaks have been a uncommon species this season in Columbia. Earlier than Saturday’s late loss towards the Aggies, Mizzou had bounced straight again from each defeat.
Mizzou Area, till Saturday, additionally has been a fortress. The Tigers are 15-1 on their dwelling courtroom this season.
Extra:How can Missouri basketball guard Anthony Robinson II break midseason rut? Staying on the court.
Oklahoma (16-7, 3-7) performed Tennessee on Saturday, falling 70-52 on their dwelling ground in Norman and trailing by as a lot as 28 factors in a sport that was by no means shut. The Sooners are 1-4 on the street this season and in want of a speedy turnaround to make the event.
The Tigers’ rematch towards their previous Massive 12 foe was already an necessary sport for Mizzou and its NCAA Match hopes.
Now that the ante has been upped, it is a must-win.
“The ironic factor about this convention, you possibly can play effectively and nonetheless lose a sport,” Gates stated Saturday after falling towards the Aggies. “That is how good this convention is. We misplaced our final two video games by a complete of seven factors to 2 top-10 groups. One on a final second shot, final second 3. How significantly better would you like our guys to play? I would like them to proceed to construct on and proceed to get higher and never concentrate on the previous, however study the teachings and transfer ahead. As a result of that is what’s necessary on this convention.”

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