COLUMBIA, Mo. — After just three spring practices, an unprecedented five-month offseason pause and a newly extended runway to the start of the regular season, coach Eliah Drinkwitz doesn’t need to settle on Missouri’s starting lineup for nearly eight weeks. That’s helpful because other than a few established veterans the competition is wide open on Drinkwitz’s roster.
Even though the Southeastern Conference delayed the start of the regular season until Sept. 26, NCAA rules allow the Tigers to hold their first preseason practice on Friday. Mizzou returns 12 players who started at least six games for the Tigers last season, plus three transfers who were offensive starters at other Power 5 programs.