Mizzou Tigers basketball injury update: Will Javon Pickett play vs. Florida?
The Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team is likely to be without starting guard Javon Pickett in Wednesday’s game against Florida.
Picket hasn’t practiced all week after suffering a head injury in Mizzou’s loss at Iowa State on Saturday.
“If I was a betting man — which I’m not — I would say no,” Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin said on Tuesday when asked whether he expected the senior to play, “but I mean we will see.”
Pickett only played six minutes against Iowa State after a collision in the first half. He was holding the back of his head and grimacing in pain on the bench before eventually being brought back to the locker room.
“Just hit in the head, between the head and the eye,” Martin said of the injury after the game. “That’s all we know right now. I would imagine there will be more tests as we get back. But the top of his head and around his eye, he said he was struggling trying to see.”
Pickett has started every game for the Tigers this season, averaging 9.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He increased his production over the last month, scoring 13.0 points a game across six games in January. He also shot 50.7% from the field during those six games (compared to 42.7% for the season).
Beyond his stat line, as the sole senior on the roster Pickett provides key leadership and sets the tone on the floor.
“He brings a lot to the table as far as intensity, defense and just toughness,” guard Amari Davis said on Tuesday. “We knew losing him, it would be hard for us to replace that. But like Coach said, next guy up, and we just have to play hard and stay together.”
If Pickett is unable to go, Mizzou (8-12, 2-5 SEC) will be down to nine players for Wednesday’s game, which will start at 2 p.m. Central time and be televised on SEC Network. Center Jordan Wilmore is dealing with a minor back injury and didn’t travel with the team to Iowa State last weekend. Freshman guard Sean Durugordon entered the transfer portal last month.
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 5:27 PM.
