COLUMBIA - The Missouri Tigers couldn't have asked for a better start to their season.
Tonight - on a larger stage - is another step toward improving that start.
The Tigers head to New York City's Madison Square Garden to take on Villanova in the Jimmy V Classic. Tipoff is 6 p.m. (ESPN-TV).
At 7-0 and No. 10 in the latest rankings released Monday, tonight's game in the Big Apple provides a national spotlight for Missouri to start spreading the news about its basketball team.
"We had that opportunity in the CBE Classic and it showed well," Missouri head coach Frank Haith said about blowout wins against Notre Dame and California in Kansas City. "We have another opportunity (tonight). For our program, having these kinds of games, are just tremendously important if you're able to do well."