After a cupcake non-conference schedule, Missouri was struggling early on in their SEC games. Despite impressive wins against Florida and Kentucky, the Tigers dropped three of their next four, and were in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. Now, though, Dennis Gates and Mizzou have won six of their last eight since their 26-point loss to Alabama, and almost certainly secured a spot in the field of 68 after their demolition of Mississippi State.
The Tigers' 88-64 win over the Bulldogs virtually cemented their spot in the NCAA Tournament, something that as of even a few weeks ago was very much in the air.