COLUMBIA, MO. • No matter what happened Saturday at Mizzou Arena, it figured to be a suspenseful few days around the Missouri basketball offices — but not on Norm Stewart Court Saturday.
The Mizzou basketball season was officially put to rest on this fifth day of March. Death by Gator bite. Many early bites actually. Florida, riding a four-game losing streak and needing a win to keep its NCAA Tournament chances alive, took charge early, built a 21-point lead then watched the Tigers make their usual second-half rally. But as usual, it came up short in an 82-72 loss.