Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball power rankings: Alabama rises, Kentucky and Arkansas drops

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Robert Morris Colonials at Rupp Arena on November 12, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Robert Morris Colonials at Rupp Arena on November 12, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Head coach Cuonzo Martin of the Missouri Tigers. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Head coach Cuonzo Martin of the Missouri Tigers. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

I’ve never actually been to Missouri so I’m not entirely sure what there is to do there, but almost all of it has to be less painful than watching this Missouri team try to play basketball.

The Border War returned this season for the first time since Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC. Kansas won 102-65. Add that to a list of embarrassing losses that also includes a 21-point loss to Liberty, a 23-point loss to Florida State, and—most shameful of all—a 14-point home loss to UMKC.

Kobe Brown has been the lone bright spot for Mizzou, averaging 13.8 PPG and 9.4 RPG on 56.8% shooting from the field. Outside of Brown, this team has virtually no offensive firepower. Of the eight players averaging 2+ FGA per game, Brown is the only one shooting above 41% from the field. None of those eight players are shooting above 30% from three.

As a team, Mizzou ranks No. 308 nationally (out of 358 teams) in eFG%, No. 322 in turnover rate, and No. 353 in 3P%. They are also last in the SEC and No. 207 overall in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Missouri ranks No. 270 in the NET—dead last among power conference teams.

Missouri fans had high expectations for the Cuonzo Martin era after a 13-3 start last season. The Tigers proceeded to finish the year 3-7, including a disappointing Round of 64 loss to Oklahoma. This year’s team will come nowhere near any of that and will be lucky to win more than a couple of games in SEC play.