Missouri women’s basketball again kept it close against a highly ranked opponent. But, again, the Tigers couldn’t quite get across the line.
Now, the season is closing in on an early end.
Mizzou stayed competitive until late in the game against No. 6-ranked LSU, but like a majority of the conference games that came before it this season, MU left the court with a 71-60 loss to coach Kim Mulkey’s Tigers on Thursday in Columbia.
Mizzou is now 12-13 on the season and 1-9 in SEC play. Dating back to last season, Missouri has just three wins in its past 26 regular-season games against conference opposition.
The NCAA Tournament is almost certainly out of reach. So too, in all likelihood, is an invite to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament — the equivalent event to the men’s NIT. Missouri hasn’t been to the Big Dance since Sophie Cunningham’s final year on campus in 2019. This Mizzou season looks like it’ll end after the SEC Tournament in early March.
But what does the run up to that point look like, and what will Missouri do next?
Here is what the short-, medium, and long-term future of the program could look like for MU:
What is the short-term future for Missouri women’s basketball?
Mizzou, in all likelihood, has played its way out of contention for a postseason beyond the conference tournament. There are six games left in the regular season, and even running the table might not be enough to extend the year without a miracle SEC Tournament run.
There have been moments. The Tigers kept games against top-20 Tennessee and top-five Texas close in recent matchups. They beat the buzzer to knock off a 17-7 Mississippi State team at Mizzou Arena. Even versus No. 6 LSU on Thursday night, Mizzou was in a two-score game leading into the final three minutes.
It’s been better for coach Robin Pingeton’s team. But six straight wins to even get an at-large sniff? Not impossible, but certainly not likely, given the evidence on MU’s résumé.
For reference, Florida was the last SEC team to receive a postseason invite in the 2023-24 season, coming from the WBIT. The Gators were 5-11 in conference play and 16-16 overall.
The last SEC team into the NCAA Tournament last season was Texas A&M, which went 6-10 in conference play, 19-13 overall and made the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
That means Mizzou, now 12-13 overall and 1-9 in SEC play, has almost no room for error down the stretch for any hope.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” MU point guard Averi Kroenke said postgame. “We can’t look too far ahead right now. It’s just focusing on going down to Texas A&M (on Sunday) and getting a win, and then we have a bye week. Regroup from there and see what we can get done.”
What is the medium-term future for Tigers?
Pingeton’s contract is due to expire on April 30, which is a little less than three months away. It’s a rare situation for a college coach, as deals don’t often reach the final few months without an extension or a buyout.
Mizzou will have a choice if this season continues to go the way it has been trending. And since the athletic department hasn’t yet chosen to offer an extension, the signs are pointing toward Pingeton’s 15th year as MU’s head coach being her last.
If Mizzou opts to relieve Pingeton immediately after the SEC Tournament for instance, then her buyout is approximately $33,333.
But, there is a clause in Pingeton’s contract that states she must be given 30 days of advance written notice if the university wants to fire her without cause. The SEC Women’s Tournament runs from March 5-9 in Greenville, South Carolina, which could complicate the timing of a potential transition.
If MU waits until the beginning of April, then Pingeton’s buyout is approximately $16,667. The Tigers also have the option to wait out Pingeton’s contract to avoid a buyout, but that would mean potentially missing out on options if the coaching carousel begins to swing early.
It’s also worth at least entertaining the idea that Mizzou renews its 15-year head coach. With an anticipated $20-million annual outlay for revenue sharing — and even more in name, image and likeness back damages — seemingly coming through the courts in April, a penny saved is a penny earned. But, Pingeton signed her last contract extension back in 2018, so that seems like an unlikely outcome this late in the game.
What is the long-term future for Mizzou WBB?
A new coach, at this moment in time, seems like the probable next step. Pingeton likely would not have been coaching this season had former athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois still been in charge of the athletic department at the end of the basketball season last year.
Now, the Tigers have to ask themselves a question: How competitive does it want its women’s basketball program to be moving forward?
New athletic director Laird Veatch said in his introductory press conference back in May 2024 that MU’s focus would be on football as the primary revenue generator. He’s repeated that multiple times since then, too.
There will be a couple clues for how seriously Mizzou is investing in the future of its women’s basketball program in the next month or so.
How long the Tigers wait to make a decision on Pingeton will be the primary indicator. If you wait, you risk missing out on options as other teams fire and hire.
Waiting until Pingeton’s contract runs out also risks missing out on the most important recruiting period for a team in desperate need of a rebuild, as the college basketball transfer portal opens March 24 and closes April 22. Recruiting and a soon-to-be-ousted coach don’t mix too well. Retaining players would be another issue altogether.
Mizzou understood what was coming when it kept Pingeton for the final year of her deal. This batch of Mizzou players undoubtedly are fighting, and often have been more competitive than their record reflects. But, the result is a currently sub-.500 team with six games left to play in the SEC regular season.
More: Missouri basketball acquitted itself well in loss to Tennessee. That will matter come March
More: Which players has Missouri football signed? Reviewing MU’s 2025 class before National Signing Day
For now, Mizzou is focusing on the imminent.
“That’s been our mindset from the very beginning of the year. You know, it’s just a 0-0 mindset every day, and how do we grow, and how do we get better?” Pingeton said postgame. “And that’s simply all it is. You know, there’s opportunities in front of us, and none of it matters if you don’t win the day tomorrow. So that’s where our mindset is — being where our feet are.”
But, what seems inevitable to follow is approaching fast.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: At 1-9 in SEC, what is short- and long-term future for Mizzou women’s hoops?
