Missouri got hit with a double whammy less than two days before their opening game Tuesday night against Cleveland State. Guard CJ Gunn was ruled ineligible by the SEC, and projected starting big man Jaylen Carey has been indefinitely suspended, coach Dennis Gates confirmed. Talk about a brutal start to the season when you have Top 25 aspirations.
The $524 That Cost Mizzou a Key Player
The SEC slapped down CJ Gunn, making him ineligible to compete, all because he received $524 for playing three games in the Canadian Elite Basketball League back in May. Seriously, $524. That’s it. Coach Dennis Gates told CBS Sports the league office delivered the bad news on Monday, right when Missouri’s deadline to submit its roster was looming. The SEC has a rule passed this past summer that bans basketball or football players from returning to play if they signed a professional contract after enrolling in college. Gunn, a four-year player who spent his last two seasons at DePaul, had to pay back that $524, but it didn’t matter. The decision is final, no appeal is on the table, and to make it even worse, he can’t even get drafted into the G League because their draft was in October, too late for the SEC’s ruling. This “post-enrollment” status thing is what got him, similar to LSU’s RJ Luis situation. Gunn wasn’t going to be a starter, but he was a solid depth piece for a team looking to crack the Top 25. The SEC stood firm, making a clear statement, likely to prevent any other teams from trying to push for exceptions, especially after the LSU scenario.
Another Blow: Carey’s Indefinite Suspension
As if losing Gunn wasn’t enough, projected starting big man Jaylen Carey is also out, hit with an indefinite suspension. Gates told CBS Sports that while Carey’s violation won’t jeopardize his standing with the team long-term, it still sidelines him for the opener. The word is the sit-out won’t be a long one, but it’s totally unclear if he’ll be back in time for what’s expected to be a highly anticipated game Friday against Saint Louis. So, you’ve got a team with real ambitions, losing a depth piece for the entire season over a few hundred bucks, and their starting big man indefinitely, right before the lights come on.
Missouri kicks off their season Tuesday night against Cleveland State, then has that big matchup Friday against Saint Louis. With Gunn out for good and Carey’s return up in the air, the Tigers are gonna need to figure things out fast if they want to live up to those Top 25 dreams. What a wild way to start a season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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