Prior to each Mizzou hoops game this season, we will get Tiger fans set with The Starting Five. In this feature, we'll give you the anticipated starting lineups for each team, break down keys to a Missouri win and offer up a prediction. Later in the season we will add in some stats and trends.
Here is the breakdown of tonight's game against Emporia State.
                        THE STARTING LINEUPS
                        KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Show Up. Let's not overanalyze this. Emporia State is a D2 team that lost to Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State to start the season. It has rebounded with wins over Kansas Wesleyan and Drury, but, well, yeah.
2. Leave No Doubt. Missouri needs to end this one early. Get off to a fast start, remove all doubt, keep everyone's legs fresh.
3. Build Confidence for Orlando. Missouri opens play in the Advocare Invitational on Thursday against Long Beach State. The Tigers get St. John's or Oregon State in round two and if they can win the first two, likely West Virginia in the championship game. The clear goal is a minimum of two wins in Orlando. Missouri needs to be healthy and feeling good about itself after this tuneup.
                    TIP TIME INFORMATION
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Central time
Television: SEC Network +. The game will stream online through Watch ESPN. You must have a participating cable provider to watch.
Radio: The game will be broadcast on the Tiger Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, click here.
                      THE BOTTOM LINE
Missouri should win and win big. There should never be any doubt. Maybe Emporia State scores a couple buckets early, but this one should be well in hand by halftime.
PREDICTION: Missouri 89, Emporia State 63
PLAYER OF THE GAME: How about an off the wall pick of Jeremiah Tilmon who puts up 14 points and 11 rebounds and manages to...brace yourself...stay on the floor for more than 20 minutes.
