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COLUMBIA, Mo. — If basketball is a game of runs, which it is, then Missouri men’s basketball managed a run so emphatic Wednesday night it must be the hardwood equivalent of a home run.

The Tigers, facing their first power conference test of the season with Minnesota in town, had traded first-half runs with the Gophers. The visitors from the Big Ten looked quite comfortable in their offense to start the game, then Mizzou settled in to lead by two points at halftime.

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Transcript

In his midweek press conference, Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed the mistakes in the team's loss last week to Texas A&M as well as what to expect this Saturday against Mississippi State.

Here's what he had to say.

Losers of two straight and three of four, Mizzou hosts Mississippi State on Saturday night for senior night at Faurot Field.

The Tigers' last three losses have all come vs. teams in the top 10. Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) looks to be a far softer foe.

LAS VEGAS — New San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello, the first to make the leap straight from NCAA power into helming a big-league dugout, it pulling together some of his Tiger ties to infuse his first staff with Mizzou influence.

Vitello, a ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ native, has already added two fellow alumni of the Mizzou baseball program and former teammates to his first major-league staff.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — With its playoff hopes dashed, Missouri has one of the Southeastern Conference’s lesser football programs coming to town with an opportunity for the Tigers to right their mood.

Mizzou (6-3, 2-3 SEC) will host Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5) at 6:45 p.m. Saturday for its home finale, a chance to play a very beatable team on friendly soil.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — In some ways, Missouri’s weekend thrashing at the hands of Texas A&M can be reduced to a struggling offense now plowing ahead with its third-string quarterback getting pulled into the propellers of the Aggies’ defense.

It was difficult enough for the Tigers to protect true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers and get him comfortable in his first start, which was always going to be a challenge. It was made more difficult by the fact Texas A&M knew what plays were coming.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sorry, Missouri: There won’t be a playoff spot for you this year. But would you be interested in a bowl game instead?

The Tigers’ Saturday loss to Texas A&M, which dropped Mizzou to 6-3 overall this season and 2-3 in Southeastern Conference play, means MU will not be making the College Football Playoff and instead head to a plain ol’ bowl again this season.

If Mizzou indeed yearns to be a top-tier — or, if anything, top 25 — college football program, the administration must make certain coach Eli Drinkwitz doesn’t leave.

Now, of course, this is an interesting topic this particular week, considering Drinkwitz and the Tigers just lost — for the third time, with this one extinguishing hopes for the College Football Playoff. But now that he’ll be available to leave after the Nov. 29 finale at Arkansas — instead of preparing in December for the playoffs — it’s imperative that Mizzou takes the proper steps to keep him in Columbia long term.