Rock M Nation is in Kansas City covering the Big 12 Championship:
KANSAS CITY—The 12-5 upset has become a staple of the NCAA Tournament. In the Big 12 Tournament? Not so much. Entering Wednesday’s game between the No. 5 Missouri Tigers and the No. 12 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 12-seeds were a combined 1-11 in first rounds in Big 12 Tournament history.
Nebraska pushed that mark to 2-11 on Wednedsay, biltzing Missouri and never trailing in a 75-60 upset win. Not only does the loss end Missouri’s hopes of a title defense (admittedly slim in the first place), but the manner in which Missouri was so soundly beaten raises a multitude of questions about the Tigers as they await their NCAA Tournament destination.
Trying to overcome a double-digit second half deficit, Missouri head coach Mike Anderson tried to rally the Tigers with a four-guard lineup in the last 10 minutes of the game, but to no avail. Missouri cut the Nebraska lead to 10 with less than four minutes to play, but with the pro-Missouri crowd roaring, Nebraska guard Brandon Richardson drilled a 3-pointer while being fouled by Zaire Taylor, effectively sealing the victory for the Huskers.
Nebraska shot the lights out on the day, hitting nearly 56 percent of shots from the field, 57 percent of shots from 3-point range, and 19 of 22 free throws.
Nebraska awaits a 2:00 p.m. date with No. 4 Texas A&M tomorrow in a game to be televised on the Big 12 Network. The next stop for Missouri, presumably, is either a 9-seed or 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament.