2008 Woodie Awards
The Seiner View
Tigers lead fans on again
Brad Seiner
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Just two weeks ago, the Missouri Tigers basketball team beat Kansas at Mizzou Arena and sent 'Tiger Nation' into a frenzy. It looked as if Mizzou would be a team to watch for the remainder of the Big 12 season.
At 3-1, the Tigers found themselves in second place behind the almighty Texas Longhorns. Few thought the Tigers would catch and pass Texas for the top spot in the rankings, but a second or third place finish seemed possible.
Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Oklahoma State all fell off the charts while Colorado and Kansas State were battling Mizzou for positioning.
The joyous feeling didn't last too long for Tiger fans though. Mizzou is the best team in the world at playing up or down to their competition. The Tigers seem to play well against top teams, ones in which they should lose, and then stumble against lesser foes. Does Sam Houston State ring a bell?
Major fallout
After the Kansas thriller at Mizzou Arena, the Tigers hit the road to face the surging Wildcats of Kansas State. Sure, the Wildcats are playing much better this season and have an improved chance of making the 'Big Dance,' but a lopsided loss for Mizzou isn't called for.
If the Tigers are to be considered a dominant Division-I basketball program, they can't let things like this happen. If there were an Espy for the "Let Down of the Year," Mizzou would be perennial winners.
The loss sent the Tigers looking for answers, but with the defeat occurring on the road, and the standings not changing too much, there was no need for panic. If they could beat Iowa State at home, they would be back in the driver's seat.
What happened instead defied all logic. Mizzou had played well at home this season, but came out flat, and soon Mizzou Arena was more like a church instead of the rowdy place it was two weeks ago. A 24-point defeat sent the Tigers fading quickly.
Then last Saturday, against Nebraska, the Tigers fell for the third straight time, again by double digits. With the loss, the Tigers find themselves 3-4 in the Big 12 and 10-8 overall, falling to the bottom just as fast as they found themselves toward the top.
Downward spiral
After riding the second place bandwagon and looking like a team headed for March Madness, the Tigers are ninth in the Big 12 and need wins just to make the NIT.
With the upcoming schedule looking more like an impossible mission, the Tigers will be lucky to have a .500 record this time next week. With a match-up against Texas last night, and a road game in Lubbock, Texas against Texas Tech Saturday, the Tigers could be out of the picture all together.
Due to deadlines, I couldn't see the outcome of the Tigers game against the Longhorns, so if they did beat Texas, you can call my bluff. We'll see what happens.
As a matter of fact, I hope you have that opportunity.
At 3-1, the Tigers found themselves in second place behind the almighty Texas Longhorns. Few thought the Tigers would catch and pass Texas for the top spot in the rankings, but a second or third place finish seemed possible.
Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Oklahoma State all fell off the charts while Colorado and Kansas State were battling Mizzou for positioning.
The joyous feeling didn't last too long for Tiger fans though. Mizzou is the best team in the world at playing up or down to their competition. The Tigers seem to play well against top teams, ones in which they should lose, and then stumble against lesser foes. Does Sam Houston State ring a bell?
Major fallout
After the Kansas thriller at Mizzou Arena, the Tigers hit the road to face the surging Wildcats of Kansas State. Sure, the Wildcats are playing much better this season and have an improved chance of making the 'Big Dance,' but a lopsided loss for Mizzou isn't called for.
If the Tigers are to be considered a dominant Division-I basketball program, they can't let things like this happen. If there were an Espy for the "Let Down of the Year," Mizzou would be perennial winners.
The loss sent the Tigers looking for answers, but with the defeat occurring on the road, and the standings not changing too much, there was no need for panic. If they could beat Iowa State at home, they would be back in the driver's seat.
What happened instead defied all logic. Mizzou had played well at home this season, but came out flat, and soon Mizzou Arena was more like a church instead of the rowdy place it was two weeks ago. A 24-point defeat sent the Tigers fading quickly.
Then last Saturday, against Nebraska, the Tigers fell for the third straight time, again by double digits. With the loss, the Tigers find themselves 3-4 in the Big 12 and 10-8 overall, falling to the bottom just as fast as they found themselves toward the top.
Downward spiral
After riding the second place bandwagon and looking like a team headed for March Madness, the Tigers are ninth in the Big 12 and need wins just to make the NIT.
With the upcoming schedule looking more like an impossible mission, the Tigers will be lucky to have a .500 record this time next week. With a match-up against Texas last night, and a road game in Lubbock, Texas against Texas Tech Saturday, the Tigers could be out of the picture all together.
Due to deadlines, I couldn't see the outcome of the Tigers game against the Longhorns, so if they did beat Texas, you can call my bluff. We'll see what happens.
As a matter of fact, I hope you have that opportunity.