COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sophomore guard Javon Pickett had started every game of his career through Missouri’s first seven games this season, but something wasn’t right with the Tigers and something was way off with Pickett.
Since the day he arrived from Belleville, he’d been Cuonzo Martin’s most reliable defender, hardest worker and a capable offensive player. But the Tigers needed a spark after back-to-back losses in Kansas City and Pickett needed a fix for his sluggish game. Martin started Xavier Pinson in his place against Charleston Southern on Dec. 3, and while that game turned into a colossal flop, one of the Tigers’ worst losses ever at Mizzou Arena, Martin played Pickett off the bench the next game at Temple.