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.
We start with tonight's season opener against Iowa State.
THE STARTING LINEUPS
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Pound the ball inside. First of all, Missouri will start two players (and bring one or two more off the bench) who are taller than anyone on Iowa State's roster. The Tigers have the edge inside here. Get it to Tilmon. Post Porter Jr. (and Jontay Porter) up a lot. Get the ball in the paint on every possession. The players said part of their problem in the first two exhibitions was that they settled for jump shots and didn't play inside-out. Missouri needs to do it. This hasn't been true in recent years, but Missouri should have the edge in the paint in most games they play.
2. Feed off the crowd. It's going to be bananas at Mizzou Arena on Friday night. This might be the most anticipated game in program history. It's sold out and every seat will be filled. Missouri needs to use that. Feed off the atmosphere, but don't get too high off of it. If you get on a run, keep it going. No player on Missouri's team has ever played in a home game that will have the atmosphere this one will. Most of them haven't played in a game anywhere that will match it. It should be worth a few points.
3. Wear them down. Steve Prohm only played seven players in the Cyclones' exhibition win over Emporia State. Missouri's got at least ten who should see action. The Tigers need to get out and run and wear down the Cyclones. Everyone's legs should be relatively fresh, but still, pushing the pace for 40 minutes should help the deeper team that has the crowd behind it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you're relying on recent history as a guide to this game, you're out of luck. Iowa State has been very good recently, but lost a lot, including all-everything guard Monte Morris. The Cyclones actually have more new faces to break in than the Tigers do. Meanwhile, Missouri has been a disaster for three years running, but the only similarity between this team and the last three are the rosters.
Mizzou is picked fifth in the SEC while Iowa State is picked ninth in the Big 12. Missouri is at home. It's far from a disaster if it doesn't happen, but this is a game Missouri is most certainly expected to win.
In a best case scenario, Porter goes off, the returning veterans prove that they're improved because they're playing roles more suited to them and Cuonzo Martin finds a point guard he's comfortable playing to move Kassius Robertson back to primarily being a shooting guard.
PREDICTION: Missouri 81, Iowa State 71
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Michael Porter Jr. rises to the occasion and goes for 27 and 11 in his first college game, raising the hype meter a few more levels. If that's possible.
