It is mid-January in Columbia. The wind is whipping across the parking lots near Mizzou Arena, and honestly, the vibe around this team is starting to feel a little different than it did a month ago. People look at a mizzou men’s basketball schedule and see a list of dates and times. They see "Auburn" or "LSU" and think they know exactly how those nights are going to go.
But if you’ve actually been watching Dennis Gates’ squad this year, you know the schedule is a living, breathing thing. It's not just a PDF on a website.
We’re sitting at a weird crossroads right now. The Tigers just came off a tough loss at Ole Miss, but that road win at Kentucky—the first in program history—is still echoing in everyone’s ears. It changed the math for the rest of the season.
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The Immediate Gauntlet
Right now, the focus is squarely on the home stand. Tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Tigers are hosting Auburn at 6:00 p.m. If you’re looking at the TV listings, it’s one of those "flex" games on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Basically, it’s a game Mizzou has to have if they want to stay in the middle of the SEC pack.
The schedule doesn't give them much room to breathe after that. Check out the next few weeks:
- January 17: At LSU (2:30 p.m. on SEC Network). Baton Rouge is always a trap.
- January 20: Georgia comes to Columbia. Tip is at 8:00 p.m.
- January 24: Oklahoma at home (1:00 p.m.). This is a sneaky big game because of the old Big 12 ties and the fact that OU is trying to prove they belong in this conference.
- January 27: A brutal road trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama at 8:00 p.m.
That Alabama game? That’s the one everyone has circled. The Crimson Tide are ranked #14 right now, and their pace is nightmare fuel for teams that don't transition well.
Why the Non-Conference Record is Misleading
A lot of folks looked at that 10-3 non-conference record and thought the Tigers were back to their elite form. But let's be real for a second. Aside from the Minnesota win—which looks better every day—the early mizzou men’s basketball schedule was pretty soft.
Wins against SEMO, VMI, and Prairie View A&M are fine for building confidence, but they didn't prepare the team for the Illinois disaster. That 91-48 loss in St. Louis during Braggin' Rights was a wake-up call. It showed that when the Tigers' outside shots aren't falling, things can get ugly fast.
Mark Mitchell has been the glue. The Duke transfer is basically doing everything—leading the team in scoring (nearly 14 points a game) and playing defense like his life depends on it. But he can't be the only one.
The "Must-Watch" February Stretch
If you're planning your life around the mizzou men’s basketball schedule, February is when things get truly wild.
- February 14 (Valentine's Day): Texas comes to Mizzou Arena. This is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN/2. It’s going to be loud, it's going to be hostile, and it's probably the biggest home game of the year.
- February 21: At Arkansas. Whether it’s 3:00 or 3:30 p.m. (the SEC still hasn't nailed that down), Bud Walton Arena is a house of horrors for road teams.
- February 24: Tennessee at home. 8:00 p.m. on SEC Network.
People talk about the "grind" of the SEC, but this three-game stretch is where seasons go to die. Or where they're saved.
The Anthony Robinson II Factor
You can't talk about the schedule without talking about Anthony Robinson II. He’s a junior now, and he’s evolved from a "defensive specialist" into a guy who can actually carry the offense for five-minute stretches.
He leads the SEC in steal percentage, which is a nerd stat that basically means "don't dribble near him." His presence allows Sebastian Mack and Trent Pierce to take more risks on the wing. If Robinson stays healthy, Mizzou has a puncher's chance in those late-February games against ranked opponents.
Looking Toward Nashville (and Beyond)
The regular season wraps up on March 7 with a home game against Arkansas. It’s an 11:00 a.m. tip—brutal for the college kids, but great for TV.
After that, everything moves to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the SEC Tournament starting March 11. Most bracketologists have Mizzou as a "Last Four In" or "First Four Out" type of team right now. Every single game on the remaining mizzou men’s basketball schedule is essentially a play-in game.
One thing most people get wrong is thinking the Tigers need to win out. They don't. But they do need to protect home court. If they drop games to Georgia or Mississippi State at Mizzou Arena, the Selection Committee is going to look at that 43-point loss to Illinois and start reaching for the "Delete" key on Mizzou’s tournament hopes.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos, don't just check the scores after the fact.
- Check the "flex" times: The SEC is notorious for shifting games between ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU about a week out. Use the official Mizzou Athletics app for the most accurate local times.
- Watch the injury reports on Shawn Phillips Jr.: He’s the only true big man with power conference experience. If he's out for any of these SEC road games, the Tigers are going to get killed on the glass.
- Get to Mizzou Arena early for the Texas game: It's a "Roar in 2026" theme, and tickets are already becoming scarce on the secondary market.
The road from here to March is narrow. It's slippery. But after that win in Lexington, it's a lot more interesting than it was at the start of the year.