Every season, a handful of teams surpass preseason expectations and end up in the upper-echelon of college basketball.
This year has been no different. Michigan State, St. John’s and Texas Tech are currently in the AP top 15 after starting the season unranked. Memphis and Maryland have also vaulted into the top 20 after starting the season without a number next to their name.
But that club added another member this week in Mizzou, who checked in at No. 15 in Monday’s AP poll after a 27-point bludgeoning of Mississippi State on Saturday. It marks just the fourth time this century that the Tigers have been ranked in the top 15 of a February AP poll (2021, 2012 and 2009).