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Hey, Drake.
One year after a winless conference season, Missouri basketball is back in the Big Dance.
The Tigers’ turnaround became official Sunday when Mizzou learned it will be a 6-seed and face Drake in the Round of 64 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The game will take place Thursday, March 20, in Wichita.
On the other side of the pod, 3-seed Texas Tech and UNCW will face off for a spot in the second round. The announcement was made during the Selection Sunday show on CBS. Missouri held a live watch party at Mizzou Arena during the show.
Whoever wins two games in Wichita will travel to San Francisco for the Sweet 16 as part of the West Regional.
The tipoff time for Mizzou’s first-round game will be announced later Sunday by the NCAA.
More: Can your picks survive March Madness? Join our Survivor Pool to find out
The Tigers are only the third high-major team ever to rebound from a winless conference season and make the NCAA Tournament field the next year. Iowa State managed the feat in 2020-21. Maryland did it in 1987-88.
And after a 0-19 SEC season in 2023-24, Mizzou has done it in 2024-25.
Mizzou (22-11) had several signature wins on its résumé in the 2024-25 season. The Tigers beat then-No. 1 Kansas in the Border War in December, a top-five Florida team on the road in January, and secured a third top-five win of the season over Alabama in mid-February at Mizzou Arena.
But after building a résumé that was competing for a top-four seed in the tournament, Missouri’s season entered somewhat of a lull.
The Tigers lost three straight games to close the regular season before beating Mississippi State on Thursday and falling against Florida on Friday in the SEC Tournament. Mizzou has now lost five of its past seven games entering March Madness.
Mizzou played without All-SEC forward Mark Mitchell against the Gators, as the forward sat out with a right knee injury. After the game, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates said it was his choice to sit Mitchell, who wanted to play.
It seems likely that the Tigers’ leading scorer will return to play in the Big Dance, meaning MU should enter the tournament at full strength.
More: Can Missouri basketball still hang with the best? Tigers gear up for NCAA Tournament
More: Can Florida loss be Missouri basketball’s last lesson? Where MU stands after SEC Tournament
Gates has often mentioned that this team has Final Four ambitions this season.
Now, the Tigers are officially getting their shot to prove that’s not just talk.
The road starts with Drake.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri’s March Madness opponent is Drake in 2025 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
One year after a winless conference season, Missouri basketball is back in the Big Dance.
The Tigers’ turnaround became official Sunday when Mizzou learned it will be a 6-seed and face Drake in the Round of 64 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The game will take place Thursday, March 20, in Wichita.
On the other side of the pod, 3-seed Texas Tech and UNCW will face off for a spot in the second round. The announcement was made during the Selection Sunday show on CBS. Missouri held a live watch party at Mizzou Arena during the show.
Whoever wins two games in Wichita will travel to San Francisco for the Sweet 16 as part of the West Regional.
The tipoff time for Mizzou’s first-round game will be announced later Sunday by the NCAA.
More: Can your picks survive March Madness? Join our Survivor Pool to find out
The Tigers are only the third high-major team ever to rebound from a winless conference season and make the NCAA Tournament field the next year. Iowa State managed the feat in 2020-21. Maryland did it in 1987-88.
And after a 0-19 SEC season in 2023-24, Mizzou has done it in 2024-25.
Mizzou (22-11) had several signature wins on its résumé in the 2024-25 season. The Tigers beat then-No. 1 Kansas in the Border War in December, a top-five Florida team on the road in January, and secured a third top-five win of the season over Alabama in mid-February at Mizzou Arena.
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But after building a résumé that was competing for a top-four seed in the tournament, Missouri’s season entered somewhat of a lull.
The Tigers lost three straight games to close the regular season before beating Mississippi State on Thursday and falling against Florida on Friday in the SEC Tournament. Mizzou has now lost five of its past seven games entering March Madness.
Mizzou played without All-SEC forward Mark Mitchell against the Gators, as the forward sat out with a right knee injury. After the game, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates said it was his choice to sit Mitchell, who wanted to play.
It seems likely that the Tigers’ leading scorer will return to play in the Big Dance, meaning MU should enter the tournament at full strength.
More: Can Missouri basketball still hang with the best? Tigers gear up for NCAA Tournament
More: Can Florida loss be Missouri basketball’s last lesson? Where MU stands after SEC Tournament
Gates has often mentioned that this team has Final Four ambitions this season.
Now, the Tigers are officially getting their shot to prove that’s not just talk.
The road starts with Drake.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri’s March Madness opponent is Drake in 2025 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
