Can Missouri basketball make its own March Madness memories?

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WICHITA, Kan. — Every March, Trent Pierce would make his own bracket. 

He didn’t have the technology, so he didn’t fill one out on an app, like we all likely have this week. The Missouri basketball forward was so excited for this time of year, he’d whip up a DIY poster and stick it above his bed. When the March Madness results rolled in, he’d cross the losers out by hand and move the winners along.

Now, the 6-foot-11 sophomore, for the first time in his career, is part of the dance.

Think that means something?

“Finally being a part of it,” Pierce said. “Man, it’s exciting.”

Missouri basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence from the Big Dance. For 10 players on the Mizzou roster, Thursday’s game against Drake will be the first time they have stepped onto a court with the March Madness logo scribed in the center.

Shortly after Mizzou was announced as the 6-seed in this year’s Big Dance with a Thursday night matchup with 11-seed Drake on the cards, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates was asked what he tells the players who are inexperienced when it comes to March — which is a majority of his roster.

Gates’ answer: “I think all kids have — they’ve experienced it.”

On Wednesday, a day before the Tigers get underway in Wichita for the NCAA Tournament, the Tribune asked as many Mizzou players who are making their first appearance in March Madness as time allowed for about their favorite March memories, and what it means to be part of the processions this year. 

Like Gates said, they all remember moments and runs and teams. Incredibly, several Mizzou’s players answered with the same memory — that Villanova shot in 2016 (don’t remind wing Jacob Crews, who liked the Tar Heels). Freshman wing Marcus Allen said he was at Mike Krzyzewski’s last game, a Final Four loss for Duke against UNC.

Now, they’re going to get a chance to create their own moments; their own March Madness history.

Of course, they’ve all done it in their head…

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Source link : https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/sports/college/tiger-extra/2025/03/20/can-missouri-basketball-make-its-own-march-madness-memories/82542036007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-20 08:06:00

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