Pack. Mizzou. Arena.

(sidenote: I’m taking care of the Wednesday morning links today. Good job by Karen on a long day working the polls on Election Day at the Hearnes Center)

For good reason, this fan base is excited for a new era of Mizzou Basketball with head coach Dennis Gates leading the way. Understandably, opening the season on a Monday night against a Southern Indiana team making their Division I debut might not have been the best attendance draw.

Just don’t tell the student section that.

Starting the season 1-0 in front of 10,723 fans (their largest in a season opener at Mizzou Arena in five years), the student section was a huge reason why.

Kobe Brown loved it:

Noah Carter loved it:

Aidan Shaw loved it:

Even Jarrett Sutton loved it:

A jam-packed Mizzou Arena can make a huge difference, I’m telling y’all. The near upset of No. 1 Auburn last season doesn’t happen without a big-time atmosphere.

Credit to Desiree Reed-Francois. Her plan to get more students into these early season games for them to get priority access to the kansas game seems to be working so far.

Eventually, winning will take care of everything. Friday night against Penn should be a tougher test.

Onto the links. M-I-Z!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Study Hall from Sam Snelling: Mizzou 97, Southern Indiana 91
• Beyond The Box Score from Nate Edwards: I fell in love with the girl at the ref show
• From Matthew Harris: Dennis Gates has scaled up Mizzou’s recruiting — and its ambitions
• From Brandon Kiley: How do the transfer QBs Mizzou courted in the offseason compare to Brady Cook this year?
• PODCAST with Brandon Kiley and Nate Edwards: This is 2015 Mizzou Football all over again
• From Parker Gillam: Missouri Football Defensive Presser Notes: Tennessee Week

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More Links:

(STLToday)

• From Dave Matter: Why Dennis Gates made his veteran team preserve the victory in his Mizzou debut
• From Dave Matter: Mizzou’s Eli Drinkwitz gets SEC feedback on Saturday’s penalties, ready to move on
• Eli Drinkwitz backs Brady Cook as Mizzou’s quarterback entering Tennessee game, writes Dave Matter

(KCStar)

• From Blair Kerkhoff: Should Missouri change quarterbacks? Drinkwitz hears the noise surrounding Tigers’ Brady Cook

(Columbia Missourian)

• From Kyle Pinnell and Kenny Van Doren: Missouri defense focuses on tempo as it prepares for test against Tennessee
• From Jack Soble: Drinkwitz moving past controversial calls

(Columbia Daily Tribune)

• From Chris Kwiecinski: Dennis Gates’ career lessons helped Mizzou beat USI’s insane shooting
• Mizzou football: Eli Drinkwitz gives Brady Cook vote of confidence before Tennessee, writes Matt Stahl

(Miscallenous/Tweets)

• MPJ story from The Denver Posts’ Mike Singer: Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. celebrates win over Spurs from the bench: “I’m not going to be selfish.”
• In-state commit LHP from Blair Oaks High School Wil Libbert will officially be signing with Steve Bieser and Mizzou Baseball:

• Mizzou WBB is also 1-0 after an impressive road win at Missouri State. Home opener next on Thursday vs Bradley!

• And it’s National Signing Day for Mizzou Women’s Basketball

• Mizzou’s Defense: Pretty Good.

• From KOMU’s Ben Arnet: Blake Baker calls it a “no-brainer” to stay at Mizzou:

• DJ Coleman comes in at No. 8 in PFF College’s Top 10 defensive players from Week 10:

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