Just when it looked like Mizzou men's basketball had found its rhythm, the Tigers hit another bump in the road. That Jan. 7 win over Kentucky - a rare and historic road victory - felt like a turning point.
It was the kind of game that can recalibrate a season, especially in a conference as cutthroat as the SEC. But since that high point in Lexington, Missouri has stumbled, dropping three of its last four SEC contests.
Now, with February looming and the heart of conference play heating up, the Tigers are trying to steady the ship. Their next opportunity? A Saturday showdown against Oklahoma at Mizzou Arena - a venue that’s been a fortress for them over the past two seasons.
Let’s talk about that home dominance. Coming into Tuesday night’s game against Georgia, Mizzou had gone 29-2 at home since the start of last season.
That kind of record doesn’t just happen. It’s a testament to the energy in Columbia, the confidence this team plays with on its own floor, and the way they feed off the crowd.
Both of those two losses came in SEC play last year, but this season? Until Tuesday, they’d been perfect at home.
Then came No. 21 Georgia and head coach Mike White, who brought a disciplined, battle-tested squad into Columbia and walked away with a 74-72 win - a result that snapped Mizzou’s home streak and added another frustrating chapter to an up-and-down conference stretch.
It wasn’t for lack of fight. The Tigers went toe-to-toe with a ranked opponent and had their chances late.
But in a game decided by narrow margins, Georgia made just enough plays to escape with the win. For Mizzou, it’s a missed opportunity to build momentum - and a reminder that in the SEC, nothing comes easy, not even at home.
Now the focus shifts to Oklahoma. If Mizzou wants to stay in the hunt and keep postseason hopes alive, defending home court is non-negotiable.
The Tigers have shown they can rise to the occasion - that win in Lexington is proof. But they’ll need to recapture that edge quickly, because the margin for error is shrinking by the game.