After an astonishing upset victory against the then-No. 1 ranked Kansas, the Missouri Tigers witnessed a significant climb in the polls. Just barely on the outskirts of the top 25 in the AP Poll, this win marked a turning point for the team. It has been a long time since Missouri was ranked, with the 2022-’23 season being the last time they held a spot, finishing at the No. 23 position. With 119 points in the AP Top 25, the Tigers currently stand as the fourth team out or No. 29. This victory, along with Creighton's win over the Jayhawks earlier in the week, led to Kansas dropping from No. 1 to No. 10.

Next Big Chance for Missouri

The next significant opportunity for the Missouri Tigers to earn a defining win and see a boost in the polls will occur on Dec. 22. They will be travelling to St. Louis to play Illinois in the Braggin’ Rights game. Illinois was previously ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll but dropped out after a loss to Northwestern. This game holds great importance for Missouri as they look to continue their upward trajectory.

Current Poll Standings

Tennessee (58), with an 8-0 record, holds a strong position with 1544 points. Auburn (3), having an 8-1 record, is not far behind with 1438 points. Iowa State (1), with a 7-1 record, also has a significant presence with 1424 points. Duke, with a 7-2 record, has 1295 points. Kentucky, with an 8-1 record, is close with 1284 points. Marquette, with a 9-1 record, has 1274 points. Alabama, with a 7-2 record, has 1126 points. Gonzaga, with a 7-2 record, has 1082 points. Florida, with a 9-0 record, has 1030 points. Kansas, with a 7-2 record, has 940 points. Purdue, with an 8-2 record, has 840 points. Oregon, with a 9-1 record, has 784 points. Oklahoma, with a 9-0 record, has 567 points. Michigan, with an 8-1 record, has 522 points. Houston, with a 5-3 record, has 514 points. Clemson, with a 9-1 record, has 491 points. Texas A&M, with an 8-2 record, has 415 points. UConn, with a 7-3 record, has 394 points. Ole Miss, with an 8-1 record, has 379 points. Wisconsin, with an 8-2 record, has 307 points. Michigan State, with an 8-2 record, has 292 points. Cincinnati, with an 8-1 record, has 288 points. San Diego State has 276 points. UCLA, with an 8-1 record, has 229 points. Mississippi State, with an 8-1 record, has 179 points.

Schools Receiving Votes

Baylor received 150 votes, Arizona State got 143 votes, Memphis had 123 votes, Missouri had 119 votes, Penn State received 90 votes, Arkansas had 89 votes, Drake got 67 votes, Pittsburgh had 62 votes, Utah State had 57 votes, Illinois had 47 votes, St. John’s had 43 votes, Maryland had 39 votes, Dayton had 38 votes, Creighton had 32 votes, Indiana had 30 votes, West Virginia had 30 votes, North Carolina had 24 votes, Georgia had 21 votes, Saint Mary’s had 20 votes, Texas had 8 votes, Rhode Island had 3 votes, Loyola Chicago had 1 vote.

Schools That Dropped Out

No. 15 Memphis, No. 17 Illinois, No. 19 Pittsburgh, and No. 22 North Carolina have dropped out. Other schools receiving votes include Mississippi State with 93 votes, Illinois with 67 votes, St. John’s with 51 votes, Pittsburgh with 50 votes, Arizona State with 44 votes, Memphis with 37 votes, Maryland with 36 votes, Drake with 35 votes, Utah State with 32 votes, Saint Mary’s with 28 votes, Penn State with 26 votes, Creighton with 20 votes, Georgia with 18 votes, Missouri with 14 votes, West Virginia with 11 votes, Arkansas with 10 votes, UC Irvine with 5 votes, Texas with 5 votes, Dayton with 4 votes, Texas Tech with 2 votes, North Carolina with 2 votes, Loyola Chicago with 2 votes, and LSU with 1 vote.

Coaches and Players' Reactions

The Mizzou Tigers' win over Kansas has sparked various reactions among coaches and players. Bill Self complimented Mizzou's court storming, highlighting the impact of the victory on the team's spirit. Dennis Gates' timeout during the game also played a crucial role in the upset. This win has not only boosted the team's confidence but also opened up new possibilities for their future. It has become a pivotal chapter in the program's history, and the team is now looking forward to building on this success.