Even with the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship under their belts, nothing is guaranteed for the Missouri State Bears.
With a record of 24-7 coming into Saturday's semi-final match-up against Creighton, many experts believe that the Bears are on the outside looking in unless the team makes it to the conference tournament championship game.
Mission accomplished.
The Bears made the NCAA "bubble" a tad more interesting with their 60-50 victory over the Creighton Bluejays at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
The victory gives Missouri State 25 wins on the season, an impressive amount.
But the tournament committee will look at the quality of those wins and none of which were against a potential NCAA tournament team. Especially after Wichita State fell to Indiana State in the other semi-final game.
But the Bears looked like a tournament team on Saturday.
Poised and patient on offense and tough as nails on defense, the Bears held Creighton to just 38% shooting from the field.
Jermaine Mallet scored 18 points to lead Missouri State offensively. Missouri Valley Player of the Year Kyle Weems pitched in 15 points.
All of this questioning if Missouri State belongs in the NCAA tournament can all be silenced if the Bears beat Indiana State on Sunday for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship.
And if Indiana State wins, let the debate begin.
With a record of 24-7 coming into Saturday's semi-final match-up against Creighton, many experts believe that the Bears are on the outside looking in unless the team makes it to the conference tournament championship game.
Mission accomplished.
The Bears made the NCAA "bubble" a tad more interesting with their 60-50 victory over the Creighton Bluejays at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
The victory gives Missouri State 25 wins on the season, an impressive amount.
But the tournament committee will look at the quality of those wins and none of which were against a potential NCAA tournament team. Especially after Wichita State fell to Indiana State in the other semi-final game.
But the Bears looked like a tournament team on Saturday.
Poised and patient on offense and tough as nails on defense, the Bears held Creighton to just 38% shooting from the field.
Jermaine Mallet scored 18 points to lead Missouri State offensively. Missouri Valley Player of the Year Kyle Weems pitched in 15 points.
All of this questioning if Missouri State belongs in the NCAA tournament can all be silenced if the Bears beat Indiana State on Sunday for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship.
And if Indiana State wins, let the debate begin.
I like the Bearch chance to make the tourney even if they lose today. 25 wins should be good enough...
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