I suppose it's fitting, this last chapter of the Big 12 postseason tournament with the Missouri Tigers as a participant--the Tigers won the 2012 edition of this tourney by beating a team, Baylor, which came into the league with fellow schools from the old Southwest Conference. And, that is when the whole conference peace began to unravel. The University of Texas, in particular, upset the collegiality of the old Big Eight and Nebraska took offense. The rest, as we all know, is conference realignment history.
Missouri is headed south to the SEC and can claim a postseason tournament trophy as its parting gift. Some fans took the opportunity to chant "SEC" and Kim English, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, used a postgame interview to emphasize "this (Kansas City) is our town."
Well, Kim, it may be "your town" now but it won't be after this weekend. Sure, games will be played by Missouri in Kansas City--whether in Sprint Center or in Arrowhead--but it'll be an occasional appearance. And, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and others won't be there to share the competitive stage or stand alongside your fans in the bars of the P&L District.
No, tonight marked the end of what has been a magnificent ride. Some of this city's most remembered sports chapters were written by Missouri and its fellow Big Eight, and then Big 12, competitors. The Kansas City college sports landscape has changed, never to be the same here again.
We can continue to debate the why's and how's but the fact remains, it's over. Congratulations to Mizzou for a magnificent three-day run. We didn't get the anticipated, hoped-for rubber match between MU and Kansas and, as Joe Posnanski noted in his blog, that's okay--rematches of that type rarely meet expectations.
No, this was ended perhaps as it should--with the departing school leaving town with a trophy under its arm and the other schools, and host city, waving goodbye...whether with a full hand or an outstretched middle finger, depending upon your personal point-of-view.
It was a pretty dominating performance by the Tigers in the three games; 18, 14, and 15 point wins. They are playing outstanding basketball at the right time.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow will be extremely interesting.