Mizzou basketball: Tigers tip off season tonight against Incarnate Word

Good news: Incarnate Word opened up last year against Texas Tech, which made it to the national championship game. Now it opens up against Mizzou basketball. Maybe it’s a coincidence.

Mizzou basketball begins tonight against Incarnate Word. The Tigers are set to begin Year 3 under coach Cuonzo Martin.

The Cardinals opened up last year against Texas Tech and lost by 50 points. Mizzou began the year with a 13-point win over Central Arkansas. Today will be a good opener as the Tigers have a ton of new players who they hope help them this year and they want to get them on the floor to gain some experience.

Today’s game will be the first ever between the two schools. Incarnate Word moved up to Division I six years ago.

Here’s a look at today’s game:

Where: Mizzou Arena

Time: 7 p.m.

How to watch: SEC Network+

How to listen: TuneIn

Live stats: mutigers

Open line: Mizzou -29.5 courtesy of the Action Network

Today’s line: Mizzou -27 courtesy of the Action Network

Last year’s record: Incarnate Word 6-26; Mizzou basketball: 15-17

The Cardinals will be led by sophomore Morgan Taylor, who led the team with an 11.5 points-per-game average in 2018. Incarnate Word also brings back junior Augustine Ene, who led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks.

Both teams are young, with Mizzou having just one senior on its roster and Incarnate Word has 11 players who are either freshmen or sophomores on their team.

Mizzou’s Jeremiah Tilmon could have a big game for the Tigers in the post to open up his junior season. The Tigers also bring out a group of outside shooters this year in Dru Smith, Mark Smith and Torrence Watson.

Next up: The Tigers play Friday night against Northern Kentucky at Mizzou Arena.