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Three things Missouri basketball should be thankful for this Thanksgiving

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

COLUMBIA, MO - JANUARY 24: The Missouri Tigers mascot, Truman, joins arms with cheerleaders to sing the school anthem after the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena on January 24, 2015 in Columbia, Missouri. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers with a final score of 61-60 to win the game.(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - JANUARY 24: The Missouri Tigers mascot, Truman, joins arms with cheerleaders to sing the school anthem after the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena on January 24, 2015 in Columbia, Missouri. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers with a final score of 61-60 to win the game.(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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The season is a month in and the Tigers will need to improve in order to meet their goals. But the Missouri basketball program has plenty to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.

The Missouri basketball season has started and the Tigers have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Mizzou has lost two games in a row and needs to improve when tougher competition is in front of it. But for now, the Tigers should be proud of where they are and where they can end up under coach Cuonzo Martin. The Tigers have a pair of guards they are certainly thankful for to begin the year, and a rivalry that will return in one year.

Here’s a look at three things the Tigers should be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.

The Smith duo — Missouri basketball found a talented backcourt duo with a couple transfer tickets.

Mark Smith came to Mizzou from Illinois last year and put up solid numbers before he got injured. Dru Smith tagged along but couldn’t play last year because he was ruled ineligible after leaving Evansville. The backcourt tandem appear to be every bit as good as the Tigers have hoped.

So far this season, the two lead the team in points. Mark averages 12.9 points per game while Dru has 12. 3. And they both are juniors, so two seasons appear to be on the horizon.

Cuonzo Martin — Missouri basketball got itself a coach that is going to fight for the Tigers.

Coach Cuonzo Martin came to Mizzou after three-year stints at three different schools. He appears to be here through thick and thin. He is a St. Louis native and wanted to be here.

In his first season, he got the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament. Things went south in Year 2, and he is building a team in Year 3 he believes can make it back to the dance. If not, most of the players return next season, and Martin will be here, too.

Mizzou-Kansas basketball rivalry is back — The Tigers and the Jayhawks are set to play again, the first official time since the two were Big 12 members.

Missouri basketball doesn’t have to thank Kansas coach Bill Self for that, but rather let him know it would have happened sooner and the state wouldn’t have had to wait so long had it not been for Self.

Mizzou and Kansas will play next season in Kansas City at the Sprint Center. The two teams will play at least six years in a row, twice in K.C., Lawrence and Columbia. It’s likely going to draw big numbers, so it’s very possible the two teams will continue playing long after the initial contract ends. The football team also should be thankful for this deal.

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