2022 Record: 25-10 (11-7)

Head Coach: Dennis Gates (Career Record 75-50) (Mizzou Record 25-10)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Nick Honor (7.9 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 2.9 Ast)

SG: Caleb Grill (Iowa State 9.5 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

SF: John Tonje (Colorado State 14.6 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast)

PF: Noah Carter (9.6 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

C: Connor Vanover (Oral Roberts 12.7 Pts, 7.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

6: SG Tamar Bates (Indiana 6.1 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

7: PG Sean East II (7.3 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

8: SG Curt Lewis (John A Logan 14.3 Pts, 6.1 Reb, 3.8 Ast)

9: PF Aidan Shaw (2.7 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.1 Ast)

10: SF Trent Pierce

11: PF Jesus Carralero (Campbell 10.6 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 2.6 Ast)

12: PF Jordan Butler

13: PG Anthony Robinson

14: SF Kaleb Brown (0.8 Pts, 0.4 Reb, 0.5 Ast)

Returning starters for Missouri this year are Nick Honor and Noah Carter. Honor adds experience to the Missouri team going into his 5th season of college basketball. He also previously played at Fordham and Clemson. Honor is one of the better three point shooters on the team this upcoming season and will have more of a leadership role this season with the Tigers as one of the older players on the team. Noah Carter joined the Tigers this past season as a transfer from Northern Iowa, and he’s also going into his 5th season in CBB.

Carter is undersized for the PF position, but he plays much bigger than his 6-6 frame indicates. Carter improved this past season with his mid-range and interior scoring game, but he has potential to improve more from the three point line going into next season. Additional returners include former JUCO player of the year Sean East II who is due to have a big season this upcoming year. East is a very good passing guard who can also score when called upon. He previously spent time with UMass and Bradley as well. Aidan Shaw also returns for the Tigers. The rising sophomore and former 4 star should see more minutes this upcoming season.

Missouri also added 6 transfers to fill voids on the roster that they lost in the offseason. The most notable transfer that Missouri added was Colorado State transfer John Tonje. He is a do it all player that will have no problem moving up a level in competition. Tonje is extremely talented on the offensive side of the ball. He can score from all levels and is also an above average passer for his position. Another transfer Missouri added was Iowa State transfer guard Caleb Grill. He didn’t end on the best note at Iowa State where he was kicked off the team. However, he is a very talented three point shooter and will add instant offense to this Tigers squad. Tamar Bates is a young, talented player that Missouri added this offseason. The former 4 star and rising junior is a very athletic guard who will have a bigger role this season with Missouri than he had these past 2 seasons with Indiana.

Missouri also added the top JUCO player in the country in guard Curt Lewis. He led his JUCO team to a national championship this past season while leading his team in scoring. Lewis shot 51% from the floor and 48% from three this past season. Lewis could find his way into the starting lineup at some point this season. Lewis also played for Eastern Kentucky where he averaged 10PPG and 5RPG in 2 seasons with the Colonels. He definitely grew a lot in his year at John A Logan JUCO. Missouri also signed 3 players in the 2023 class. Forward Trent Pierce is the highest ranked member in the class ranked #102 in the country on 247. Big man Jordan Butler is a 4 star ranked #126 in the country. Finally, Missouri added guard Anthony Robinson ranked #194 in the country. Kaleb Brown, the brother of recently drafted Tiger Kobe Brown, returns to the Tigers after entering the portal this offseason, he ultimately decided to return.

Missouri also added transfer big men Connor Vanover and Jesus Carralero. Vanover is a 7-5 big men who previously played for Cal, Arkansas, and Oral Roberts. He is going to be a very productive player in the post this season for the Tigers. He also has very impressive range for his size and can consistently make threes. Vanover is going into his 5th season of college basketball and also brings needed experience to this Tigers team. Missouri also added Campbell big men Jesus Carralero to provide depth on the interior. He averaged just over 10PPG this season, but only played in 5 games due to injury. His averaged the 3 seasons prior combined at Campbell were 7.1PPG and 3.7 RPG.

Missouri had a very successful season this past year after defying expectations. Many didn’t expect them to reach the tournament or be as good as they were but they proved the doubters wrong. One thing that needs to improve if Missouri wants any chance of replicating what they did this past season is their defense. By the looks of things, it appears Missouri has a ceiling of 7th in the conference and a floor of 11th in the conference. They would be on track for an NIT bid if they fail to make the tournament.