Just nine games into the season, Missouri is already used to the doubters.

"Every day is another chance for us to show somebody," said junior Kalen Grimes. "We have no leeway. Every day, we have to bring it."

To start the season, few anticipated Missouri could make its way even through a helping of November cupcakes without a loss. After they did that, very few picked the Tigers to beat Arkansas, the first BCS team on the slate. After a 22-point win, Saturday brings another test. The Tigers will travel to West Lafayette, IN, to face Purdue in their first road game of the season.

"It's going to be a character check on our basketball team to see where we are," said Mike Anderson. "It's a little tougher. Not a little, a lot tougher, on the road."

The test will be particularly interesting because Missouri has so many players that have never played a road game. Five of the 11 scholarship players on the roster will be playing their first ever collegiate road game.

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