They lost to Texas A&M by three points at home. They won at Ole Miss. They took a good run at Alabama on the road and nearly upset No. 1 Auburn at home. They played No. 20 Iowa State tough for one half in Ames before falling apart.
Now that their toughest stretches of schedule have passed, can they win some games and show longer-term promise?
Well, they better.
Missouri’s progress (or lack thereof) down the stretch will help guide athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois’ assessment of Cuonzo Martin's regime. She must also look beyond the court and examine his operational philosophy and gauge his likelihood of success in the sport’s current atmosphere.