Mizzou Men’s Basketball Opens 2021-22 Season Against Central Michigan

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new-look Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team opens its 2021-22 season, Tuesday, Nov. 9 at home in Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on SEC Network+ with Ben Arnet and Jarrett Sutton on the call.  

Fans can also listen live on Tiger Radio Network with Mike Kelly and Chris Gervino on the call.

GAME PREVIEW

• Mizzou welcomes Central Michigan into Mizzou Arena where the Tigers debuted a new court design which was unveiled earlier this summer.
• Mizzou is 93-22 (.809) all-time in season openers, with victories in 26 of its last 28 openers, including 13 of the last 14. The Tigers are also 4-0 in the Martin era in season openers.
• Tuesday’s game marks the return of a fully-attended crowd inside Mizzou Arena for the first time since 2019-20 after a reduced capacity last season.
• Central Michigan is led by Tony Barbee who is in his first season at the helm of the Chippewas. Barbee and Martin are no stranger, however, coaching against each other at their previous stops at Auburn and Tennessee, respectively.

MIZZOU HEADLINES

• The Tigers lineup will feature plenty of new faces as Mizzou welcomed nine newcomers to the program this season, including transfers DaJuan Gordon, Amari Davis, Jarron Coleman and Ronnie DeGray III.
• Make no doubt about it, this team is ready to play fast. With a heavy guard presence in the lineup, and versatile forwards in the likes of DeGray III and Kobe Brown.
• Mizzou spent 16 weeks in 2020-21 ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, the most for the Tigers since 2012-13.
• The Tigers will look to their two standout returners in senior Javon Pickett and Kobe Brown. Brown returns as the only starter from a season ago, and the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.
• Mizzou’s transfers have plenty of experience, as all four averaged at least 27 minutes per game and 12.4 points per game in 2020-21. The scoring threat in the transfers is highlighted by Davis who averaged 17.2 points per game last year including a 35-point burst against Wright State.
   

THE SERIES

• Tuesday is only the second all-time meeting between the two programs, with Missouri owning the victory in the sole meeting between the Tigers and Chippewas. Mizzou defeated Central Michigan 87-76 on Nov. 12, 2007 in Columbia, where the Tigers shot 50.0% from field goal range.
• The previous meeting between the two programs also served as a season opener, and the introduction of Mizzou great DeMarre Carroll who went off for 23 points on 10-12 shooting.
• Mizzou is also 12-2 all-time against MAC opponents.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN

• In their first season under the direction of Barbee, Central Michigan also has a flurry of new faces with 12 newcomers, including four freshmen.
• The Chippewas return three starters their 2020-21 squad who went 7-16, including MAC All-Freshman honoree Aundre Polk.
• Tuesday is the first time Central Michigan has opened the season against a Power 5 opponent since 2012.

UP NEXT

Mizzou continues its three-game home stand to open the 2021-22 season with an in-state matchup against Kansas City on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SECN+.
 

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest information on Mizzou Men’s Basketball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @MizzouHoops