Is it basketball season yet?
This was a question I'm sure many Missouri fans pondered during the first half of Saturday's season-opening football game against Missouri State. I even thought it myself.
It could have been a result of Missouri's defensive struggles, which seemed to have picked up where they left off from the 2016 season. Then again, it could have been because Saturday's 48-35 halftime score resembled more of a basketball halftime score instead.
But enough about the Missouri football team. Let's segue to the Missouri basketball team.
The Tigers were able to finalize their roster last month with the reclassification of Jontay Porter, who will get to play alongside older brother Michael Porter Jr. this season. Jontay Porter's announcement bumped Missouri's 2017 recruiting class from No. 7 to No. 4 in the nation.
Missouri also finalized its nonconference schedule in August, adding home games against Wagner and NCAA Division II Emporia State.
Some fans are already clamoring the Tigers' nonconference schedule is weak, considering the home-and-home series against Arizona has concluded and a third-straight regular-season appearance against Xavier isn't in the cards.
I'm not sure what the fuss is about. Missouri gave the fans what they wanted with a home game against Iowa State. The Tigers are playing on the road against Utah and Central Florida, and they could potentially face West Virginia in the AdvoCare Invitational, not to mention a home game against Stephen F. Austin, a team that has made the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four years.
If that's not enough, let's not forget the Braggin' Rights game against Illinois, another team like Missouri that is predicted to exceed last season's results.
I know there is plenty of hype with this team, which has practically come in an overnight fashion, but it's not like Missouri can schedule powerhouses like Michigan State, UCLA or defending champion North Carolina overnight. Worry about winning games first before worrying about a team's strength of schedule.
Then two days later, the Southeastern Conference schedule was announced. Missouri fans again got what they wanted, a home-and-home series against Kentucky. Considering the ranking of Missouri's recruitment class - with Kentucky two spots ahead of Missouri at No. 2 - that was practically guaranteed to happen, right?
Missouri won't play Kentucky either time until the second half of the SEC slate, but the Tigers will start conference play on the road at South Carolina, a Final Four team last year, and then host Florida later that week.
The Tigers will also play at Alabama, which has a top-10 recruiting class, and face Arkansas and Texas A&M twice. Needless to say, they have a rather tough SEC schedule.
And just when you thought you had enough Missouri basketball news in August, last week the Tigers announced their games against Stephen F. Austin, Wagner and Illinois will broadcast on ESPN2.
OK, I know what you're thinking: What's the big deal?
An announcement like that has shown how much Missouri has come since March. Last season, games against Stephen F. Austin and Wagner would most likely have aired on SEC Network-Plus. The fact ESPN2 is picking up those two games shows the network believes in Missouri's preseason hype, and the only reason the Illinois game isn't on ESPN is because it's airing during college football bowl season, which takes precedence.
Missouri hasn't announced the stations broadcasting the Iowa State, Utah or Central Florida games, but there's a good chance an ESPN network will pick up at least one of them.
That brings us back to today, and back to the Missouri football team. Fans are already frustrated with Week 1's performance, and if the Tiger offense is unable to outscore its defense during SEC play, the moaning and groaning will only get worse.
The Missouri basketball team opens at home Nov. 10 against Iowa State, the day before the football team plays its final home game against Tennessee.
Tickets are already at a premium for the basketball game. I imagine they won't be too hard to find for the football game.