With the ultimate signature on Missouri’s basketball revival season in the balance, the once-preposterous fantasy of the Tigers being bolstered by Michael Porter Jr.’s return became distinctly more tangible on Friday when the nation’s No. 1 recruit resumed practice.
Now, speculation is legitimately swirling about when Porter could actually play months after the back surgery that seemed to snuff out what is widely expected to be his only season at MU.
Enough so that it was tempting to analyze every sign and parse every word, starting with coach Cuonzo Martin’s first terms updating the matter.