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How is Missouri an underdog in NCAA tourney? Not sure, but they’ll use it: a podcast

Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates greets Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) on the sideline as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Auburn Tigers lead Missouri Tigers 45-18 at halftime.
Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates greets Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) on the sideline as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Auburn Tigers lead Missouri Tigers 45-18 at halftime. Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWOR

Missouri enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed, its best position since 2012. The Tigers are coming off a competitive SEC tourney semifinal loss to top-ranked Alabama, after beating Tennessee in the quarterfinals.

So why is MIzzou a betting underdog to No. 10 seed Utah State in Thursday’s opener?

The Aggies are a excellent team, but you better believe MU coach Dennis Gates and his veteran squad will use any slight in their favor. This is a Missouri team that was picked to finish 11th in the SEC, and the Tigers were seeded fourth in the league tournament.

On today’s episode of The Star’s SportsBeat KC, sports columnist Vahe Gregorian breaks down the Tigers, who open the NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, Calif. A victory on Thursday would align them with the Arizona-Princeton winner in the South Region.

Also at stake: Missouri seeks its first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 2010. The TIgers are aiming to end a five-game March Madness losing streak.

Story link:

To make it memorable, Mizzou’s turnaround season needs exclamation point in NCAA play

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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