Just to clear up some confusion. While many D-I basketball programs begin their regular season tonight and this weekend, Friday’s Missouri men’s basketball game is still an exhibition game. The Tigers host D-II Arkansas-Fort Smith at Mizzou Arena.

The Tigers have never lost in preseason play under Mike Anderson, going 9-0. Missouri doesn’t begin their regular season until Nov. 18 vs. Western Illinois and once they finally do get started, they’ll be busy, playing four times in just six days, including two games in Mexico in the Cancun Challenge.

That trip south of the border will be the first-ever regular season games played by Missouri outside the country. Missouri did play three exhibition games in Canada over Labor Day 2008.