Mizzou men basketball’s freshmen get the attention, but veteran holdovers will be key

After Missouri’s 74-59 win over Iowa State on Friday, Kevin Puryear entered the press conference room at Mizzou Arena and made an observation.

“It’s a little more crowded here,” the junior from Blue Springs said as he stepped onto a raised platform in front of a room full of reporters, many of whom couldn’t find a seat, which was rarely an issue during the past few MU basketball seasons.

“Seriously,” forward Jordan Barnett said.

Star freshman Michael Porter Jr. is the reason every home game of coach Cuonzo Martin’s first season at Missouri should be a sellout, but he played just two minutes on Friday because of a hip injury — and as long as the injury isn’t serious, that might be a good thing for the Tigers. Martin said winning without Porter Jr. should boost his players’ confidence.

“Mike’s a talented player,” Martin said. “We’re a good basketball team. We’re trying to be a good program.”

Friday showed players from the Kim Anderson era will play a prominent role for the Tigers this season.

Barnett and Puryear combined for 32 points to lead the Missouri offense. Barnett started, which was expected after he did so and played well in an exhibition against Kansas.

Puryear was the Tigers’ first player off the bench. He subbed in for Porter Jr. soon after the game started and played 29 minutes, third most on the team. He was often the Tigers’ No. 1 scoring option during the past two seasons, and it was obvious he would have a role on this team, even if it was off the bench.

Here’s what was more surprising. Jordan Geist — who played 24 minutes, far more than incumbent starter Terrence Phillips —was Missouri’s first point guard off the bench. And Cullen Vanleer, who seemed to be a candidate to not make Martin’s rotation, started at shooting guard. Sophomore forward Reed Nikko even played five minutes.

Martin called Vanleer “solid.” He wants Vanleer, who was scoreless Friday and attempted just one field goal, to be ready to shoot. The coach said Geist is a “pest” on defense.

There were multiple instances when four players recruited during Anderson’s era were on the floor together while playing in front of a sold-out crowd. With about five minutes remaining in the game, Puryear made one of his two threes. Then on the next posession, Geist brought the ball upcourt in transition and tossed it across the floor to Barnett for another three-pointer. That put Missouri up 69-48 and sealed the win. MU shot 43.5 percent from three.

Mizzou’s freshmen garner the most attention, but Martin has said he will lean on veterans for leadership, even if he didn’t recruit most of the older players on this team.

“I’ve been around to know that it doesn’t matter where a young man comes out of high school ranked,” Martin said. “This is a different ball game. … Anybody can play. Everybody’s tough.”

Martin’s staff had prepared for games like Friday’s. He said he often tweaks lineups throughout practice, so that different groups will learn to function without Porter Jr.

The Tigers proved they could win without the country’s top prospect on Friday, but they should hope they won’t have to do so often this season.

This story was originally published November 11, 2017 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Mizzou men basketball’s freshmen get the attention, but veteran holdovers will be key."