Mizzou hoops previews upcoming season opener
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou men's basketball team will open up the season against Central Michigan at Mizzou Arena on Nov. 9.
Head coach Cuonzo Martin said the team is excited to show fans and other teams their identity.
"They treated the scrimmages like they were games because they were so excited to play and, again, you go against each other for so long and I think, in their minds, the unknown because there are so many new guys," he said. "Who are your starters? Who's your guys that's probably your leading scorer? That sort of thing, so you feel that as ball players and I think they were excited for those two scrimmages and they did a good job. I think they're ready to go now."
The Tigers are returning one, lone senior in guard Javon Pickett, with the only other returning starter coming in junior Kobe Brown. Pickett said the team's chemistry continues to grow and right now it's all about preparing the younger guys for what they can expect in power-five play.
"They're not really going to understand what it's like," he said. "You're going up against these other guys that have been in college. They're going to go out there and try to take your head off, so for me especially, I've been going out there with Kobe, the other transfers, just trying to help them out, attacking them."
In the season opener, Mizzou will be hosting Central Michigan and first-year head coach Tony Barbee. Martin said that will affect this year's preparation.
"They had a closed scrimmage and, you know, it's always hard getting intel that way. Tony Barbee is the new coach there, they have new personnel, so we'll just kind of prepare like we assume they will play. This is one of those games where you don't have personnel like that or, you know, scouting information. This is one of those game that you have to practice what you do best."
