COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is a different player than he was a year ago, and hes eager for the opportunity to prove it.The season opener at West Virginia on Saturday will be his first chance to show his improvement.Following Maty Mauks indefinite suspension in 2015, Lock became the first freshman quarterback to start for Missouri in two decades. He was 2-6 in eight starts, completing 49 percent of his passes while amassing 1,332 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. In a year marked by turmoil, including the threat of player boycotts and coach Gary Pinkels retirement, Missouri finished a dismal 127th out of 128 FBS teams in scoring at 13.6 points per game, the worst in school history.Lock said the Tigers 28-3 loss at Arkansas-Pinkels last game-was the low point of his season.I guess that made me a better, tougher person mentally, Lock said. Im thankful for that now and Im through it and its behind me.Though it may not have been an enjoyable experience, Lock said the experience did help acclimate him to the level of competition.You hear that practice makes perfect all the time, and I truly believe that I can look back at last year, I can think of it as just a huge practice year, in the sense of getting reps, seeing what the league is like, seeing what Division-I college football is like, he said.Lock knows he has to improve his numbers from a year ago, and gave specific reasons why he feels confident heading into his sophomore campaign.I think were just more sound as an offense as far as what our jobs are and what the little things are we have to do to make our jobs easy, Lock said. Really, just pitching and catching the ball. Just being in the right place at the right time when youre supposed to be.In addition to improving mechanics or stats, Lock is also focused on honing his leadership role.I feel like last year, I didnt communicate very much, Lock said. I was kind of a guy that kind of stayed to myself. Ran the play, watched it after practice and kind of talked about it with coach. But instead, Im actually going out there, I know what Im doing, I know what theyre supposed to be doing, and Im correcting it on the field with them.Though only a sophomore, Lock has more experience than the majority of the quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference. Only four quarterbacks in the conference have made more starts than Lock, all of whom are older.You have to have experience to become a leader, Lock said. I feel like I had a pretty rough experience last year to where people know that Ive been through it.Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel has seen improvement in Lock since arriving during spring camp.I think hes got a much better understanding of defense, said Heupel, who coached current NFL quarterbacks Landry Jones and Sam Bradford at Oklahoma. I think hes got a much better understanding of fundamentals and things that he needs to do to be successful on a consistent basis.Lock said the offense has several goals this season, but is focused primarily on making smart plays.Making the right plays when we need to, he said. Just not playing scared. Just attacking the defense. Instead of more so being on our toes reacting off them, were going to hopefully come out and play super hard and make defenses react to us. Cheap Fake Nmd . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Adidas Nmd Cheap Uk Sale . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. http://www.nmdukonlinestore.com/nmd-r2-trainers-outlet-deals.html . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Discount Adidas Nmd . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Adidas Nmd r1 Outlet . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Jimmy Butler brushes aside the notion that he had a hand in the exits of multiple longtime Chicago Bulls players during the offseason.That has nothing to do with me. I dont move guys, Butler said before Thursdays Team USA practice at the United Center in Chicago. Its like I always say: People are going to think what they want to think.That doesnt bother me. I know where I stand. I know who I am.Butler lost several teammates as the Bulls reshuffled their roster after a 42-40 season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08. Derrick Rose is gone, traded to the New York Knicks. Joakim Noah followed Rose and signed with the Knicks as a free agent. All-Star center Pau Gasol landed in San Antonio.A two-time All-Star, Butler said he has spoken to Rose and exchanged text messages with Noah but added that he is looking to move forward.Im happy for . Hes happy for me, Butler said. Im glad we get to go against each other whatever day that may be when the season rolls around.I talked to Jo. We texted a few messages. Nothing too serious, but were always going to have love for each other because were always going to be teammmates.dddddddddddd We were in those trenches together.Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo decided to join Butler in Chicago, providing championship experience but also two players older than 30 who like to have the ball in their hands.Im excited. I know they are as well, Butler said of the Bulls additions. Its a new start for a lot of us.Butlers inclusion on Team USA establishes the 6-foot-7 Marquette product as one of the best players in the world, part of a steady rise for the No. 30 selection in the 2011 draft. On the 12-player roster for Team USA, only Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan are lower draft picks.Butler had four points and three rebounds while playing 14.5 minutes in the United States 107-57 exhibition victory over China on Tuesday night.Next up is a matchup with Venezuela on Friday night at Butlers home with the Bulls, then a trip to Houston for a game against Nigeria before the team departs for Brazil. The Olympic mens basketball tournament begins Aug. 6.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '