Missouri Fails To Gain NIT Bid

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Stung by a lopsided loss to Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, Missouri opted not to gather as a team Sunday night to await a possible NIT bid.<br/><br/>Turns out they

Sunday, March 11th 2007, 8:05 pm

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Stung by a lopsided loss to Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, Missouri opted not to gather as a team Sunday night to await a possible NIT bid.

Turns out they didn't miss much.

The 32-team tournament for those that failed to reach the NCAA field excluded Missouri (18-12), which had hoped to continue its season in the first year of a rebuilding effort under coach Mike Anderson.

Wins over three NCAA teams -- Davidson, Arkansas and Texas Tech â€“ and a better conference mark than NIT choice Oklahoma State apparently weren't enough for the Tigers.

Other familiar names in the field are Missouri State and Kansas State, which will each host first-round games.