BIG XII COUNTDOWN

TIGER PROSPECTUS

As the buzzer sounds to start the fourth quarter of the Big XII Conference basketball season, the Missouri Tigers face a potentially season-killing schedule, starting with long, tall Baylor at home tonight.

Then come resurgent Kansas State on the road Saturday, upset-minded Nebraska in Lincoln next Wednesday and hated Kansas at home in the season finale.

If Mizzou doesn't play better than in its ragged win at Iowa State, the Tigers could lose out and finish below .500 in Big XII play. Barring a title run in the conference tournament, they would not receive an invitation to the NCAA dance. The Bears, Wildcats and Cornhuskers (all 6-6) are clustered just below MU in the Big XII race, and all still harbor hopes of making the big tournament. All are desperate, and all are capable of beating Missouri.

Baylor may have the toughest end-of-season schedule with a road trip to Oklahoma State sandwiched between home dates against Texas A & M and Texas.

Kansas State takes to the road against Nebraska tonight before meeting Mizzou Saturday. They close next week at Texas and at home against Iowa State.

Besides the K-State and Mizzou games, the 'Huskers travel to Iowa State and Colorado.

For Missouri to assure themselves of a first round bye in the conference tournament and an invitation to March Madness, they probably have to win two of the next four games. That would put them at 9-7 in the conference with at least a tie for fourth in league play. Beating Baylor tonight would give the Tigers the edge in the tiebreaker with the Bears (higher RPI) should the Bears go 3-1 the rest of the way. A win over either K-State or Nebraska breaks any tie with those teams.

The importance of tonight's game cannot be overstated. For Missouri, this is THE game of the year. A loss gives Baylor the tiebreaker over Missouri and puts the Tigers in "must win" situations in Manhattan and Lincoln. And the Tigers' road record speaks for itself.