Predicting the future is difficult for Cuonzo Martin’s 2018-19 Missouri men’s basketball team given the season-ending injury to Jontay Porter, which leaves the Tigers searching to replace scoring, passing and rebounding going into Tuesday’s season opener against Central Arkansas.
The team still returns sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon, senior Kevin Puryear, a Blue Springs South graduate, and adds Illinois transfer Mark Smith to go with freshmen Torrence Watson and Javon Pickett.
Missouri has an early test in its nonconference schedule with a trip to Iowa State on Friday and also faces the likes of Xavier, Temple and Central Florida before the annual Braggin’ Rights game against Illinois.