FAYETTEVILLE — Missouri men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin said Thursday that heralded freshman Michael Porter Jr. could play on Saturday against Arkansas.
It all depends how the freshman feels.
"I think really, it comes down to - we practice today, we practice tomorrow and then Saturday," Martin said on The Kevin Wheeler Show on 101ESPN in St. Louis. "If he says, 'Coach, I feel good,' then we roll."
Porter Jr., the No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2017, has appeared in only one game this season due to a back injury that required surgery and him to remain off the floor. Last week, he was fully cleared by doctors to resume all basketball activities.
When asked about the possibility of Porter Jr. making his return this weekend, Mike Anderson said it won't alter his team's preparation.
“I think we prepared for them when they came here as if he was going to play, and now all the sudden he’s going to play. It’s no different," Anderson said. "He’s a tremendous basketball player, and I’m sure impactful on their team. We’ll prepare like we’re preparing for everybody else. No different. It’s the last game.
"We just have to go out and do the things that we do."
Saturday is vital for both programs. Arkansas can lock up a top 4 finish in the SEC with a win, ensuring itself of a double bye in next week's SEC Tournament in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Missouri can shore up its NCAA Tournament hopes with a quality win on its home floor on Senior Day.
"I have no idea," Anderson said when asked if he anticipates Porter Jr. to take the floor. "... We’re planning on him playing. How about that?"
As special of a talent as Porter Jr. is, Anderson has Missouri's regulars at the forefront of his mind entering Saturday, particularly seniors Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett. Those two did plenty of damage in the teams' first meeting - a 65-63 Arkansas win - and nearly handed Arkansas back-to-back home losses.
Robertson scored a then-season high 26 points on six 3s and Barnett recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.
"They've had some guys that they've lost, but sometimes by subtraction you have addition. You have some guys step up to the plate," Anderson said. "Robertson has become a tremendous player for their basketball team and now Barnett is showing a lot more responsibility. He's a kid that knows he's going to be playing so many minutes."
Anderson also praised the play of freshman Jeremiah Tilmon, described junior Kevin Puryear as "a blue collar guy," and added that the Tigers have gained experience and unity though adversity.
Anderson is expecting a wild scene in Columbia, but has the big picture in mind. He wants to see his team continue to grow as postseason play nears.
"Having a chance to go to their arena, I'm sure it will be an electric atmosphere," said Anderson, who led the Tigers to the Elite 8 in 2009. "It's a big game in a lot of ways. ... It's an opportunity for us to get better, and that's what I talk about with our guys.
"This game here represents an opportunity to go out and put ourselves in pretty good position as far as seeding in the SEC Tournament."