A year ago today, I never thought we’d be here.
Cuonzo Martin was leading a Missouri team toward the NCAA tournament. The Tigers had slipped to a disappointing finish but were mostly healthy and about to take on Georgia in the SEC Tournament. They would beat Georgia, before losing to Arkansas in a foulfest. And then they lost a tough game to Oklahoma in an 8-9 matchup during the first round of big dance.
But Martin’s job felt pretty danged safe.
Two tournaments in four years had set the tone. There were massive injury issues, which held back the program’s progress.