It's really unfortunate, too, considering how much ground the Tigers had gained in recent weeks. Just how much of that ground they gave back is up for debate, of course, but it's clear their standing will take a hit.
What's even more frustrating is that the Tigers had handled Nebraska so easily in the regular season, beating them twice already this year. On Wednesday, though, the Tigers showed little of that trademark tenacity which has made them such a feared opponent the last two seasons. Against a Nebraska team with only two conference wins all year, the Tigers played slow, soft basketball and predictably got bounced.
Most worrisome of all is how poorly the Tigers have played since losing Justin Safford. Since Safford suffered a knee injury, Mizzou has gone 1-3 and has shot under 40 percent from the field in three of the four contests. Losing Safford was certainly a blow, but it's surprising to see just how lost Mike Anderson's team has looked without him. The Tigers have made their name as a gritty, hard-nosed team capable of beating you on the defensive side of the ball more than a scoring juggernaut, but even the most stalwart of defenses can't support sub-40 shooting days.
So what does this all mean for the Tigers as they gear up for the big dance? It means a lower seed, a tougher opponent, and probably some serious soul searching in the MU locker room. Whether it will also mean an early exit from the NCAA Tournament remains to be seen, but if Anderson's bunch play anything like the way they did against Nebraska when the big tourney kicks off, I can't see them surviving very long.
