The spectacle was prime for an upset.
Missouri was retiring Derrick Chievous’ No. 3 jersey at halftime. Michael Porter Jr. and Sophie Cunningham were in the building. No. 4 Kentucky was feeling good coming off a 17-point win over then-No. 1 Tennessee and seemed due for a let-down game. MU students filled out the majority of the student section for the first time this season.
The air just felt different inside Mizzou arena prior to Tuesday night’s game.
But on a night where Missouri retired their all-time leading scorer’s jersey, Cuonzo Martin’s team performed anything but how Chievous, and the fans, would have liked.