1. Michael Porter Jr.’s most-recent back surgery

While the news of another back surgery for Michael Porter Jr. dropped on Wednesday, Thursday saw a little more clarity about the on-going situation for the Denver Nuggets’ first-round pick.

Alex Schiffer of the Kansas City Star spoke to Michael Porter Sr.:

“Mike’s feeling great,” MU assistant coach Michael Porter Sr. told The Star on Thursday. “The doctors got more insight into what was going on. Just cleaned up a bit of a herniation that was pressing on a nerve. ... The initial prognosis, it sounded like he could be ready at the start of the season. It’s a good deal all the way around.”

While there’s a lot of insight in Schiffer’s update, the Nuggets’ official team release on Porter was less-than expansive:

Michael Porter Jr. has undergone surgery of the lumbar spine at The Carrell Clinic in Dallas, Tex. The Procedure was performed by Dr. Andrew Dossett. There is no timetable for his return to basketball participation.

Here’s to a healthy, comprehensive and quick recovery for Porter, so he can get his career back on track.

2. Emanuel Hall gets some much-deserved national attention

Hall, Missouri’s leading returning received, was named to the Biletnikoff watch list on Thursday.

Hall was known for his big-play ability in 2017, but with no more J’mon Moore, he’s likely going to see his targets take a big jump. That YPC (24.76!) is likely going to take a step back in 2018, but he’ll almost assuredly have more catches (33 in 2017).

3. Terry Beckner Jr. gets the follow treatment

While Drew Lock got the most attention on Wednesday, it was Terry Beckner that got the follow features written about him on Thursday.

From the Kansas City Star, “Mizzou’s Beckner has added muscle, dropped McDonald’s and become a better teammate.”

And from Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, “Beckner returns to Mizzou on more than one mission.”

From Matter:

That’s not all that drives the All-SEC candidate.

“There are some things for Terry that are deeply dear to him on making sure this (year) goes the right way,” Odom said.

Like Heather Morris, who worked with Mizzou athletes as the director of the department’s Enhanced Learning Program. In March, Morris died from breast cancer. She worked closely with many athletes, grew close to some more than others, especially Beckner.

When she died March 14, Beckner had already announced he was returning for his senior season, but his short time left on campus took on a new purpose.

4. The latest on the MU tutor/name release

Yolanda Kumar, the former MU tutor at the center of Missouri’s academic fraud investigation, said she would release a list of athletes, classes and coaches involved in the allegations on Wednesday evening.

However, her declared release time came and went, and as of Thursday night, no names have been released.

This is also important to remember. From Dave Matter’s Mizzou chat on Thursday:

This much I know: If she releases names of athletes who allegedly committed academic fraud, the Post-Dispatch is not going to publish those names without independent confirmation or evidence.

There’s a ton of good stuff from Matter in that chat, beyond the academic fraud investigation, so please check it out.

Yesterday at Rock M

• Our own David Morrison projects every single SEC game this year, and while Missouri might be better, he’s not projecting a record improvement.

More Links:

• Missouri hoops target EJ Liddell gives back to a very special cause. Another reason to hope the Tigers land the talented forward.
• From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, former Mizzou swimmer Michael Chadwick hoping to stay on Team USA.