Homecoming Weekend was a boon for Missouri: The Tigers dominated Memphis in all phases of the game, and all was well, until another harsh reality set in.
On Sunday night, bad news broke for Mizzou, as Tigers fans were apprised the team would be without Jontay Porter for the entire season, after suffering tears to his MCL and ACL in a secret scrimmaged practice against Southern Illinois.
I’m not sure what the deal is with the “secret” practice, but it makes me wonder if scrimmaging a practice against an outside team is best for the Tigers, going forward – is it really worth the risk?
Yes, injuries are going to happen, and this could have been a reality faced by Porter during game action, but we’re already too familiar with “curses” and the injury that pitted Porter’s older brother, Michael Porter, Jr.’s career at Mizzou.
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It’s been one sad catastrophe after another for the two brothers: Jontay Porter reclassified so he could play basketball with his brother at Missouri, but didn’t get to play more than three minutes in the team’s first game last year, before MIchael Porter, Jr. suffered a back injury and missed most of the season.
After MPJ was drafted by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, Jontay Porter returned to Mizzou after discovering his NBA draft stock wasn’t as favorable as he’d hoped. Now with that injury, one wonders if Porter will return to Missouri for a third season to try and resurrect his NBA draft stock, or will he avoid the risk of injury and see where the chips fall by entering the 2019 NBA Draft?
Missouri returns Kevin Puryear and Jeremiah TIlmon this year, and so far, and head coach Cuonzo Martin’s recruiting efforts have been favorable. After losing Porter for the season, Martin will have to decide whether he wants to push for transfers Mark Smith and Dru Smith to be eligible to play for Mizzou this year.
What also remains to be seen, is how the team will adjust and acclimate to playing without either of the Porters this year. Projected to finish ninth in the SEC, Missouri could be looking at a more difficult task without a valuable play maker.
On a lighter note, the Missouri football team played well on offense, outscoring Memphis 65-33 (or 65-0 if you checked Google over the weekend). The Tigers’ defensive front played exceptionally well, making plays when Mizzou needed them most.
The defensive secondary also showed some life, which was a much needed and welcomed change from its previous efforts. Missouri hosts No. 12 Kentucky next, which should be the Tigers’ biggest challenge for the rest of the season.