Are They Four Real?!?!?

[Da Boss DJ Jo Corleone]

The Tigers came into this match up as the favorite according to most sports writers, including this one. However it was the other set of Tigers that showed up to play, and did they ever play. The Missouri Tigers, who won the Big 12 Tournament have been attacking and preying on their oppositions like a pack of tigers on the discovery channel.

They jumped all over the Memphis Tigers to the tune of 102-91, ending Memphis’s 27 game winning streak. And to add injury to insult Missouri is the only team to hang 100 points on Memphis all season long. And it all started with an 11-1 run, that gave Missouri a 37-29 lead towards the end of the first half, before going on another run of 12-3 to end the half with Missouri ahead 49-36.

Missouri approached the second half with a swagger to match their tiger like ferocity taking a 24-point lead in under 5 minutes. Even the 33 points from their freshman phenom, Tyreke Evans wasn’t enough, as Missouri weathered the storm lead by their own scoring leader TJ Tiller who had a career high 23 points in the win.

Aside from Missouri having all five starters in double figures, Memphis didn’t help themselves, by going 18 for 32 at the free throw line. The same issue that has been their achilles heal over the last few seasons, and what many believe cost them the NCAA title last season against Kansas.

Everybody knew that Missouri was good but I don’t think anyone thought they were this good, but we should have. They only lost 6 games all season, and had wins over Texas, Kansas, and the highly ranked Oklahoma Sooners on their way to winning the Big 12 title. So from here on out, I don’t think anyone will sleep on this pack of tigers including the Huskies on Saturday. You better believe UConn knows that the Missouri tiger are indeed for real.