The Tigers fell just short on Senior Night in Columbia, falling to Arkansas 88-84. After losing to Oklahoma earlier in the week, Mizzou was in need of a nice bounce back, but was unable to finish things against the Razorbacks. The loss ends the regular season for the Tigers, who finished 20-11 overall and 10-8 in SEC. So after dropping two straight games to end the season, where does Missouri stand on the bubble?
Despite the loss, ESPN's Joe Lunardi still has Missouri as one of the Last Four Byes. It was the same group he had the Tigers in before the loss to Arkansas, and didn't move them down into the Last Four In group. While a chance still remains Mizzou gets put in a first round game, the odds they miss the field entirely seem near zero now.
Tigers almost certainly maintain a spot in the Big Dance even after late season stumble
Missouri came into the game firmly on the bubble, but didn't slip in their seeding despite the loss. Even after dropping two straight, it appears likely Mizzou hangs on to a 10-seed, barring an epic run in the SEC Tournament. Luckily for the Tigers, most other teams on the outside looking in, weren't able to do enough this week to bump them off the bubble.
Indiana lost five of their last six. New Mexico lost three of their last four. There simply weren't enough teams who won down the stretch to take Mizzou off of their line. So while you certainly wish the Tigers were heading into the postseason with a bit more momentum, it's hard not to appreciate how lucky they got at the end here to stay in the field.
Next up will be the SEC Tournament, which will begin Wednesday with Missouri as a likely seven-seed.