COLUMBIA - Headed into Missouri's regular-season opener Tuesday against Central Arkansas, it's not clear who coach Cuonzo Martin will name as starters for the Tigers.
One potential lineup, though, includes three players from Illinois who all used to be committed to the Illini and spoke often about playing together there before circumstances changed.
Jordan Geist and Kevin Puryear are almost assured to be starters Tuesday, though Martin said Thursday he wasn't set on his starters, and there's a good chance Jeremiah Tilmon and Mark Smith, who was recently cleared to play without sitting a year by NCAA waiver, start too. And freshman Javon Pickett, who has impressed Martin with his work ethic, could get a nod if the Tigers elect to start three guards against Central Arkansas.
"It's crazy all three of us are here," Smith said of the fact he, Tilmon and Pickett are all on the same roster, "because we used to talk about going to Illinois and now we're all at Mizzou together."
Smith and Pickett, both guards, are from Belleville and Edwardsville, respectively. Tilmon is from East St. Louis and is glad at least for Smith's presence on the roster, because it means he won't be the only one hearing boos from fans east of the Mississippi at this year's Braggin' Rights game.
"We talk about that a lot," Tilmon said. "I won't be the only one getting booed."
Missouri has slack to pick up all over the court from last season. Kassius Robertson, who was an immediate impact as a graduate transfer at shooting guard, and Jordan Barnett, a good defender and explosive presence on the wing, are both playing professionally. Robertson is in Germany and Barnett is playing for the Milwaukee Bucks' G-League affiliate.
Jontay Porter, Missouri's best player at times last season and its biggest returning player, will miss the entire season because of a torn ACL and MCL.
Newcomer K.J Santos is still in a boot, though he recently progressed past the need of crutches and returned to shooting drills in practice. How everyone else fits in - including forward Mitchell Smith, who injured his knee in January 2017 and redshirted last season - remains to be seen.
"When you watch him in practice, you saw his length, you saw his ability at 6-foot-10, where you felt like he could be a really good defender," Martin said of Smith. "He can switch onto different guys and he's obviously picked up 18-20 pounds, so he's strong. His frame is not as thin as it used to be."
Martin said Smith will be asked to shoot open 3s and work from the block, but said the goal is to use him out of the pick-and-roll as someone who can shoot and slash, rather than as a traditional big.
With 19 players on the roster, Martin said he won't fully use that depth unless situations like injuries or serious foul trouble derail his plans.
"Minus injuries, I'm not sure we go past nine guys," Martin said. "I think, when you start talking 10, somebody's in foul trouble, somebody's not playing well, and maybe you give a guy a few minutes here and there. It's just hard for what we do to play 10-plus guys. Because it's not like we're pressing, or running and jumping all over the floor. I just think that's hard to do. Your players, your key guys, 'I need to know what my minutes are, I need to know when I'm coming in and out, minus foul trouble.'"
Martin said redshirts are likely for several players, but said conversations about doing so have not taken place with individuals yet.
A surefire way to earn playing time under Martin is to play hard on defense, which is one place Pickett is trying to differentiate himself. At 6-4, he can guard the 1-through-4 seamlessly, and Martin said one of the things Pickett works on in his own time when he shows up to the gym at 6 a.m. is defensive drills, something Martin joked even he didn't do in college.
Pickett and Martin are as close to a perfect match as possible in terms of defensive mindset and work ethic, according to Puryear.
"I think it goes both ways," Puryear said. "I think that's the guy Javon is, but also a reflection of what we want in our program, so Mizzou fans and this program is in for a treat these next few years that Javon is here."
The Tigers and Bears tip off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mizzou Arena.