Mark Mitchell will play in Mizzou basketball’s opener, but may not start
Mark Mitchell is going to play in Mizzou basketball's season-opening game, but head coach Dennis Gates is still undecided about whether the forward will be among the opening five players on the floor. The Tigers will open their 2026-27 season Tuesday night against Cleveland State with a 7 p.m. tipoff at Mizzou Arena. And Mitchell, who spent two standout seasons with Mizzou, is currently eligible courtesy of a temporary injunction against the NCAA granted by a court in Kentucky. It is not, however, a permanent injunction, and an appellate court is still to consider the NCAA’s challenge of the order. Mitchell could, theoretically, still have his eligibility revoked. The Missouri basketball head coach was clear. Whether he starts or not, Mitchell is going to play “starter minutes,” but whether or not he’ll be among the opening five players on the floor is still up in the air. “I have to still build the program while thinking of the risk. Right? At any point in time, Mark's situation can be turned back off,” Gates said Monday. “So, how do I keep the integrity of the team? I have to figure out if I'm going to start him or not, and I
