It has been 80 days since the media members who cover Southeastern Conference basketball picked Mizzou to finish ninth in the 14-team league.
And this was before it became known that Jontay Porter, the versatile sophomore forward who was supposed to be the Tigers’ offensive catalyst, would play all of zero minutes after a season-ending knee injury.
Then senior guard Jordan Geist, as tough as a two-dollar steak and as resilient as a standing punching bag, netted a 3-pointer against Central Florida at the end of regulation.
For the second time in as many seasons on the job, Martin’s team is gaining traction after losing its most talented player to an injury at the season’s start.