Mizzou recaps season opener, previews matchup with Kansas City
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou men's basketball team is 1-0 to start the season after a ten-point win over Central Michigan in the season opener on Tuesday night.
"It's always good to get a win under your belt when you're starting out," head coach Cuonzo Martin said. "Especially with new guys, new parts, you know, trying to identify roles, your guys with a scorer's mentality. I've also found that, in my years of doing this even as a player, some guys are better in practice than they are in a game and vice versa, so that part was good. I just really liked getting guys in the flow."
The lone senior Javon Pickett led the Tigers with 19 points and five rebounds, however, the team said they saw a lot of impressive flashes from new faces.
"A lot of new guys, even the freshmen, they showed a lot of composure and it was fun to see. I was proud of everybody," junior forward Kobe Brown said.
Martin's team looked a lot different on Tuesday night, diving for loose balls and, overall, showing more athleticism. Brown said this team has a much different look to it than years past.
"A lot of guys can, you know, move, guard different positions, play different positions, so it's definitely a different look than the last two years," he said. "It's more versatile."
The team will move on to host Kansas City on Monday, Nov. 15. Martin continued to stress the importance of non-conference games ahead of conference play.
Kansas State transfer DaJuan Gordon did not play in the season opener due to an NCAA suspension. Martin said the guard played in an uncertified pro-am game over the summer. Gordon first played in an NCAA certified matchup, then moved on to an NBA certified game without knowing that it was a violation. Martin said another coach notified him of it and it has not been an issue since.
"That's a tough one because this is his life, this is what he does. He plays basketball," Martin said. "As a student-athlete I wouldn't even consider him making a mistake. I would put that on me because, again, we didn't know. We just figured one was sanctioned because he did. He followed the rules. We follow protocol and procedure here. But, you take a game away from a young man and this is who he is, because often times perception well, why is he out? You assume certain things, but he's a wonderful young man and we're happy to have him back in the fold."
The Tigers will tip off against Kansas City at 7 p.m. on Monday at Mizzou Arena.
