Missouri misses NCAA tournament, hosts NIT

Missouri basketball will not be dancing in the NCAA tournament in 2014. The Tigers (22-11) were given an NIT bid and will host Davidson (20-12) Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

Should Missouri advance in the NIT, the Tigers would play Southern Miss or Toledo.

MU’s history in the NIT is less than stellar. Missouri has a 1-7 record overall, with its only win coming against the Murray State Racers in 1996. Their last NIT game was 2005. However, Frank Haith owns a 5-4 NIT record and reached the quarterfinals twice at Miami.

Mizzou faced six NCAA tournament teams this year, none more surprising than NC State. Missouri beat the Wolf Pack in Raleigh earlier this season. Overall, the Tigers went 4-4 against those tournament teams (Western Michigan, UCLA, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, NC State).

Mizzou lost three of its last five regular season games, including a disappointing effort in Knoxville. MU beat Texas A&M in double overtime in the SEC tournament before losing to Florida in the SEC quarterfinals.

Overall, three SEC tournaments made the Big Dance: Florida (who earned the No. 1 overall seed), Kentucky and Tennessee.