When presumed program savior Michael Porter Jr. abruptly left the floor at Mizzou Arena with back trouble less than 2 minutes into Missouri’s opener against Iowa State and soon was said to be out for the season, the latest cruel twist in the oft-tortured annals of MU sports was underway.
Many assumed another season had been surrendered, this time with a nasty extra dose of anguish considering all the hype over the top recruit in the nation had led to a frenzy of anticipation after several dark years.
But as much as Porter would have meant to Mizzou, and still might if you believe he could yet emerge to play this season, what was always going to define this season was the sum of the parts and first-year coach Cuonzo Martin’s ability to wring and coax and meld them together.