COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 season on the road against the Missouri Tigers at 7 p.m. (CT) Wednesday at Mizzou Arena. 
 
TIPOFF COVERAGE
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Cardinals Sports Network 
Talent: Scott Mandziara (PBP) 

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs. 
 
RETURNING LETTER WINNERS

• UIW returns nine letter winners from a squad that posted records of 6-21 overall and 2-16 in the Southland Conference last year.
• Sophomore Morgan Taylor is the leading returner from last year's team in points per game (11.5) and free throws made (72). 
• Junior Augustine Ene is the leading returner from last year's team in rebounds per game (3.6), steals (31) and blocks (15).
• Sophomore D.J. Murray led last year's team in assists with 67 and was second on the team in free-throw percentage, shooting 85.7 percent from the line. 

 COACHES REUNITE
Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham is no stranger to Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin. When Cunningham began his senior year at Purdue, Martin was entering into his first collegiate coaching job as an assistant on the Boilermaker staff. 
 
OVERPOWERING UNDERCLASSMEN
Eleven of the 15 players on the UIW roster are either freshmen or sophomores, but don't mistake their youth for inexperience. Last season's unfortunate run of injuries allowed many of the younger players to step into larger roles and pick up valuable experience in live action. Three of last year's freshmen played at least 700 minutes, one of whom finished second on the team in scoring (Morgan Taylor). 
 
SCOUTING MISSOURI

• The Tigers are coming off a 15-17 season and have lost over a third of their scoring output from last year to graduation, the transfer market or professional basketball. 
• Mizzou is expecting a big year out of 6'10 power forward Jeremiah Tilmon, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds as a sophomore a year ago. The Illinois native will be the centerpiece of the Tiger offense this year after showing flashes of potential last season, including a breakout performance against Xavier where Tilmon recorded a career-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. This year, Tilmon was one of 20 players in the nation named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
• Dru Smith, a transfer from Evansville, will run point for the Tigers this season. The 6'3 guard sat out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules but will step in as one of the key pieces of this Missouri team. In his first action in a Tiger uniform during last week's exhibition game against Central Missouri, Smith finished with eight points and a team-high seven assists and six steals. 
• Javon Pickett led the Tigers freshmen in scoring last year, averaging 7.7 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. In the exhibition matchup against Central Missouri, Pickett scored 11 points and added one steal and one assist. 

 
COACH CUNNINGHAM SAYS
"This game gives us an early season chance to test our mettle against a Power 5 squad. We know Missouri is talented and long, led by 6'10, 260-pound preseason All-SEC center, Jeremiah Tilmon. We'll need to exhibit a fierce competitive spirit in a hostile setting. The fellas' workmanlike approach to preparation should help us do so."
 
STAY TUNED 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.
 
The UIW men's basketball team is on Twitter at @UIWMBB and Instagram at @uiwmensbasketball.