The Tigers have spent a majority of this season on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament. But after winning three-straight, including an impressive win last night over Texas A&M, the bracketologist are starting to make note of Missouri's rise.
After the win over the Aggies, Missouri jumped up to 57 in the NET rankings, and have now found themselves included in ESPN's Joe Lunardi's latest bracket projection. He now has the Tigers just sneaking in as the last team to make the tournament.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 12, 2026
Tigers are back on the right side of the bubble after latest win
The Tigers are on a nice little run here as winners of four of their last five. They sit at 17-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC play, and are now on track to make the Big Dance barring an epic collapse down the stretch. With last night's win, the Tigers likely only need to win three of their remaining seven games to ensure a tournament berth.
The Tigers are peaking at the right time and they've been finding heroics from a new player on a night to night basis it seems. Against the Aggies, it was center Shawn Phillips Jr. who put down the go ahead dunk and sealed the win with a blocked shot on the other end. But from Mark Mitchell to T.O. Barrett to Trent Pierce, the Tigers have had guys step up exactly when Dennis Gates has needed them to.
Missouri will now take on Texas on Sunday, who is another team living life on the edge of the bubble as Lunardi also has them lumped in the 'Last Four In' group. A Missouri win would not only boost their own chances at a tournament bid, but it will also knock down a 15-9 Texas team who may end up fighting for that same spot come Selection Sunday.