The 2019-2020 NBA season is officially underway, and there were three former Missouri Tigers to keep track of on Wednesday night..... but only one of them actually played.

If you stayed up until 11:30 awaiting Michael Porter Jr.’s NBA debut on ESPN, well it didn’t happen. Porter didn’t play in the Nuggets’ win over the Blazers.

But here’s a good read from Mile High Sports on him accepting the challenge of earning his playing time. Perhaps we’ll see him on Friday in their home-opener against the Suns? One can only hope.

Jordan Clarkson (under new Cavaliers head coach John Beilein) played 18 minutes and had seven points with two rebounds in a 94-85 loss to the Orlando Magic.

‘Junkyard Dog’ Demarre Carroll will have to wait another day to make his San Antonio Spurs debut, as he didn’t see the floor as well in their 120-111 win over the Knicks.

Of course we’ll continue to keep track of Porter, Clarkson, and Carroll as the season rolls along.

The best thing about the NBA being back, though, is that we’re THAT much closer to the start of college basketball season! Missouri will tip-off the regular season in two weeks against Incarnate Word on November 6th. Prior to that, the Tigers will have a secret scrimmage against Creighton on Saturday and an exhibition game against Central Missouri on November 1st. It’s that time of year, folks!

Onto the links!

Yesterday at Rock M

• Barry Odom, the wartime coach, writes Brandon Kiley
• For Jeremiah Tilmon, the block is a distribution hub, writes Matthew Harris
• Film Room: Failure Up Front, by Tim Bussen
• Kentucky Wildcats Offensive Preview, by Nate Edwards
• SEC Basketball Preview: #9 Mississippi State Bulldogs, by Sam Snelling
• PODCAST: The return of the Border War, KenPom rankings, and VINDICATION!, with Matthew Harris and Sam Snelling

More Links:

• The Athletic’s CJ Moore ($$): Generations of hate: With the rivalry set to renew, Kansas, Missouri, players coaches share Border War memories (sign up for a seven-day free trial to the Athletic)
• Still no update from the NCAA on Mizzou’s appeal....shouldn’t we have heard something by now?

• Cuonzo Martin and Bruce Weber are in discussions of a Missouri - Kansas State series, and I just don’t think renewing the Border War should end those negotiations.

• Mizzou’s wait continues, but Odom expected NCAA ruling on appeal by now, writes STLToday’s Dave Matter
• From Pete Scantlebury on PowerMizzou: Voice of the Fantlebury: A history of bad losses
• Jim Sterk talks about the Border War revival, writes PowerMizzou’s Gabe DeArmond
• Jim Sterk also joined Brendan Wiese and Ben Frederickson on The Big 550 KTRS’ “Mizzou In The Lou on Tuesday night

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