It was an up-and-down week for Mizzou hoops, which went 1-1. The Tigers opened with an upset loss to unranked Texas, scoring a season-low 53 points.
Luckily, as they’ve done all season, the Tigers responded with a big win on their home court. They defeated their first of four straight ranked SEC rivals, No. 16 Ole Miss.
Responding to their loss at Texas was crucial for the Tigers to remain a top-25 team. While it seemed they might drop out of the rankings entirely, they bounced back from the defeat with an even bigger win.
With that win, the Tigers climbed to their highest ranking in more than two years, and the team shows no signs of slowing down.
Continuing the climb in the @AP_Top25 🔥#MIZ 🐯 pic.twitter.com/xoc7awv8Nw
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) January 27, 2025
Despite their new No. 20 ranking, featuring 352 votes—tying the highest in Dennis Gates’ tenure with the Tigers—the road ahead is critical not only for maintaining their ranking but also for bolstering their postseason odds.
Mizzou has struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-4 record, compared to a perfect 16-0 start at home. The Tigers now face two consecutive road games—first against No. 14 Mississippi State, followed by No. 8 Tennessee—before returning home to take on No. 13 Texas A&M.
It’s important for the Tigers to capitalize on the tough schedule, solidify their status as a top-25 team, and put an end to the narrative that they can’t win on the road.
This week’s rankings feature No. 1 Auburn, No. 18 Illinois, and No. 19 Memphis, representing the other three losses the Tigers have suffered this season.
Also featured in this week’s rankings are No. 5 Florida, No. 11 Kansas, No. 23 Ole Miss, and No. 24 Vanderbilt, representing some of the biggest wins for head coach Dennis Gates and his squad this season.
Mizzou also climbed in the official Coaches Poll, landing at No. 21 overall with 352 votes, slightly lower than their AP Poll ranking.
The turnaround under Coach Gates and his deep roster of versatile, determined players cannot be overstated.
The remainder of the regular season presents several opportunities to further bolster their already impressive résumé.