Tonight, 68 teams will have their name announced during the NCAA Tournament men’s basketball selection show.
No need for Missouri to tune in. The Tigers won’t have their name called. That’s what happens when you’re incapable of winning a game in 2024.
Thus continues the drought of Missouri being one of the most-prominent men’s basketball teams to have never reached the Final Four. In the 85 years since the first NCAA Tournament, the Tigers have reached the Elite Eight five times, but they were unable to fluke their way into a Final Four in any of those years (1944, 1976, 1994, 2002 and 2009).
Frankly, that seems par for the course, especially when you take into account this year’s Tigers couldn’t even fluke their way into a random win in 19 games against Southeastern Conference opponents. Seriously, thank goodness this season is over.
Missouri isn’t alone in the “Final Four drought” department. Strangely enough, Tennessee has never been there, but that’s easy to overlook when the Lady Vols have eight national titles among their 18 Final Four appearances. Xavier hasn’t made the Final Four either, but BYU holds the record at 30 NCAA Tournament appearances without reaching the final weekend.
In total, 94 schools have reached the men’s Final Four. Some are Blue Bloods, some are mid-majors and some are Cinderella stories. Here are some fun facts about teams that have had more fun in the NCAA Tournament than Missouri:
• North Carolina has been to the Final Four a record 21 times. Jeez, Tar Heels, can’t you afford to share one of those trips with the Tigers? Selfish much?
• CCNY won a national championship in 1950 and NYU was a national runner-up in 1945. Today, both programs play at the Division III level.
• If you thought Missouri had it bad this season, DePaul had the fourth-worst record in Division I at 3-29 and failed to win a Big East Conference game, too. But the Blue Demons have played in two Final Fours, so they get no sympathy from me.
• Ivy League schools Dartmouth, Penn and Princeton each have been to the Final Four. C’mon, being a prestigious academic institution isn’t enough? You get to brag about your brawn, too?
• Duquesne has the longest Final Four drought among the 94 schools. The Dukes played in the Final Four in 1940 but they haven’t been back since. Still, one is better than none.
• No Missouri school has been to the men’s Final Four, but the Missouri Valley Conference is a different story. Loyola of Chicago, Wichita State, Indiana State, Louisville, Memphis, Drake, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Bradley all made it to the Final Four when they were members in the conference.
• Programs like Saint Joseph’s (1961), Western Kentucky (1971), Massachusetts (1996) and Minnesota (1997) have had their only Final Four appearance vacated due to NCAA infractions. However, since I refuse to vacate Missouri’s 1994 Elite Eight appearance, I’ll let them have their “one shining moment.”
• A total of 17 coaches have taken multiple teams to the Final Four. Unfortunately, none of them have coached at Missouri.
• Florida Atlantic, Miami (Fla.) and San Diego State all made their Final Four debuts last season. See? There is always hope every year.
But for Missouri to have hope, the Tigers first have to make the NCAA Tournament. An 8-24 record is a far cry from having a résumé worthy of being on the bubble.
Despite all the griping -- and trust me, my work colleagues and my family are beyond tired of my griping this season -- should Missouri ever make the Final Four, I’ll be one of the first people to buy a ticket.
Getting to the Final Four is clearly a difficult thing to do. But all the Tigers need to do is get their foot in the door. If VCU and George Mason can win four NCAA Tournament games in a row, why not Missouri?
If a No. 16 seed can beat a No. 1 seed -- twice -- surely Missouri can make its way to a Final Four.
But please hurry, Tigers. I don’t know if I have another 85 years.