1. Senior guard Cullen Van Leer retires from basketball.

Tough news.

Cullen Van Leer went down with a serious knee injury against Arkansas late last season. About six months later, Van Leer made the decision to retire from basketball, receiving a medical exemption that will allow him to remain on scholarship.

From the release:

“I’m very thankful for the support of Coach Martin and his staff, my teammates, my family and friends, and Mizzou Nation,” VanLeer said. “This was a difficult decision, but one that was best for me, my family and my future quality of life. I’m beyond excited for the season ahead and I’m ready to help lead our team to success in any way I can while I work toward graduation and earning my degree.”

Van Leer also spoke to Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to give more background on his decision.

Van Leer tells Matter:

I’ve been rehabbing like any other time, but it got to the point where it really wasn’t realistic for me to come back and impact the game without sacrificing my overall health. We just felt by retiring it would be best for the team.

I think it’s safe to say that everyone here at Rock M Nation wishes Van Leer nothing but the best.

2. On to Purdue.

• Another media day for Missouri, and another depth chart — with not many changes. The most notable change? Drew Wise replaces James Workman as the long snapper.
• There’s no shortage of intrigue ahead of the Purdue game, almost entirely because of what the Boilermakers did to Missouri last year in Columbia (REMINDER: It wasn’t good). Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post Dispatch writes that this isn’t just another game for Missouri; Mitchell Forde of PowerMizzou.com writes that Missouri is keeping that Purdue disaster in the past.
• Ronnell Perkins is going to get the start at SAM linebacker in place of suspended Brandon Lee (targeting, will miss first half). Dave Matter writes he’s earned an increasingly versatile role.
• More Mizzou content: Daniel Jones of the Columbia Tribune charts all of Drew Lock’s throws from the Wyoming game and finds out that, yes, Drew Lock had a very good day.
• Drew Lock is slowly getting noticed. Next up is Rob Riggle. When Paul Ruud starts tweeting about Lock, we’ll know he’s made it:

3. (Very Coldplay voice) And I saw Sparks... Yeah I saw Sparks.

It’ll be a house divided this Saturday, at least as the Sparks family is concerned. Missouri cornerback Adam Sparks will go head-to-head with brother, and Purdue receiver, Jared Sparks.

Matthew Stevens of GoldandBlack.com has a great look at this brotherly rivalry.

Stevens writes:

Saturday night’s matchup between the two brothers will be witnessed literally by a busload of family members, as Adam Sparks said Tuesday approximately 50 family members will be making the 12- to 13-hour coach bus trip to see the game in West Lafayette. It’ll be one of the few game situations where the brothers will line up across from each other.

Jared Sparks has seven catches for 87 yards this season; he had six catches for 76 yards in Purdue’s season-opening loss to Northwestern.

Adam Sparks has five tackles, one for loss and a quarterback hurry for Missouri this season.

Yesterday at Rock M

• Drew Lock, Barry Odom look to avenge the Purdue loss of last year
• Minor changes to the Week 3 depth chart
• Cuonzo Martin has a lot of eggs in the EJ Liddell basket

More Links:

• Tyler Kraft of PowerMizzou.com writes a great story on two Missouri volleyball players who had to deal with Hurricane Maria decimating their home of Puerto Rico last year.
• Missouri women’s golf finishes 10th at the Minnesota Invitational, dropping one spot from ninth after Monday.
• No context needed: