Mizzou pulled off a crucial victory this week, getting themselves back into the NCAA Tournament conversation with a win over Vanderbilt. While a victory at Bud Walton Arena would have been a fantastic bonus, it wasn't in the cards against a strong Arkansas team.
Winning at Bud Walton is notoriously tough, especially when the Razorbacks are firing on all cylinders, as they are this season. Despite hopes that Arkansas might be fatigued from their double-overtime clash with Alabama, the Razorbacks showcased why they're one of the top teams since Mizzou joined the SEC.
According to KenPom.com, which tracks team performance back to 1997, this Arkansas squad is among the best since their National Championship runner-up days in 1995. With Coach Eric Musselman previously leading them to back-to-back 18th finishes, and now under John Calipari sitting at 17th, they're a force to be reckoned with.
Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi didn't penalize Mizzou for the loss, underscoring the challenge of winning on the road against a top-20 team. The focus now shifts to the remaining games, where going .500 could secure Mizzou a tournament spot.
Key matchups include a road game at Oklahoma and home games against Tennessee and Arkansas. Securing wins in these Quad 1 matchups would bolster their resume significantly.
Missouri's path is clear: aim for a 22-9 overall and 12-6 SEC record for a solid tournament position. Consistency remains the key, but if they replicate their performance against Arkansas, more wins are likely.
Elsewhere, Tennessee continues to impress with a road win over Vanderbilt, marking their fourth straight victory. Meanwhile, Mississippi State is struggling at 5-9 in the conference, with a tough schedule ahead.
Looking ahead, Missouri needs to focus on going 1-1 this week to stay on track. A perfect 2-0, including a Q1 win over Tennessee, would alleviate pressure for their road trip to Oklahoma and the return game against Arkansas.
In other SEC action, Florida dominated Ole Miss, Tennessee edged Vanderbilt, Alabama outlasted LSU, Auburn narrowly defeated Kentucky, Texas A&M took down Oklahoma, Georgia bested Texas, and South Carolina triumphed over Mississippi State.
Current SEC Standings:
- Florida 12-2
- Alabama 10-4
- Arkansas 10-4
- Tennessee 10-4
- Texas A&M 9-5
- Texas 8-6
- Missouri 8-6
- Vanderbilt 8-6
- Kentucky 8-6
- Georgia 7-7
- Auburn 6-8
- Mississippi State 5-9
- South Carolina 3-11
- Oklahoma 3-11
- Ole Miss 3-11
- LSU 2-12
Missouri's journey continues, and with a few strategic wins, they could be dancing in March.