Earlier this year when I wrote my preview for Missouri basketball, I had given Dennis Gates the benefit of the doubt, and projected an 18-12 record. With the strength of the S.E.C. this season, it would be a little less than the target mark the Tigers need to make the Big Dance. But so far in the 2025 season, they are exceeding expectations.
The Tigers are only one of two teams in the country to have two top 5 wins, with the other being number one ranked Auburn. These two wins were both high stakes as well, with the most important win being an upset of number one ranked Kansas at home, and a gritty away win against fifth ranked Florida in Gainesville.
The Tigers have been led by a duo of Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill in conference play. Bates leads the team with 13.5 points per game, while Grill is currently the best three point shooter in the S.E.C., shooting a whopping 49%. The Tigers also have Duke transfer Mark Mitchell, who averages 13.1 points, and 4.8 rebounds per contest. To round out the main rotation, Anthony Robinson and Trent Pierce have made sophomore leaps to become starting caliber players for the Tigers, with Robinson leading the team with 3.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Former Iowa standout Tony Perkins has struggled with consistency, but still has his moments. To round out the main rotation, South Carolina Josh Gray has played his role of tough interior defense and rebounding, but has struggled on the offensive end, and like Perkins, Marques Warrick has struggled to find a major role, but as one of the leading scorers in the NCAA right now, he still has a chance to get hot.
As of publishing date, Missouri is currently sixteen and four, with a five and two record in the S.E.C, while being ranked 20th in the nation per AP. They play next on Feb. 1st, against Mississippi State on the road.
In football news, the Tigers have wrapped up their recruiting in the transfer portal until Spring. ON3 Sports ranked their transfer haul second best in the country, which includes the quality of players brought in and the quality of players that have left. The incoming players had an average rating of 79.29, outgoing had an average rating of 66.60.
Mizzou brought in 17 transfers, with many of them being primed to start for the Tigers. Out of the 15 the Tigers lost, only a handful really sting, with the biggest loss most likely being former five star Williams Nwaneri, and former four stars Courtney Crutchfield and Jaylen Brown. Some of the key pickups include former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula, who had 9 total touchdowns with 275 passing yards and 242 rushing in limited time last season. Missouri also brings in 3 different All-Americans. Senior Jalen Catalon, brings S.E.C. experience from Arkansas and Texas, and was a third team All-American last season playing safety at U.N.L.V. The next two All-Americans were both featured on the first team all freshman list. Ahmad Hardy, running back from Louisiana Monroe, started as a true freshman, and ran for 1,351 yards, with 13 touchdowns, and 5.7 yards per carry. The other freshman phenom comes from the other side of the ball, West Virginia linebacker transfer Josiah Trotter, who had 93 tackles, a sack, and an interception, which led to him receiving the BIG 12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year award. The final key addition is third-team All-SEC wide receiver Kevin Coleman, a Saint Louis native who had a solid season last year at Mississippi State. He had 74 catches for 932 yards, and six touchdowns, on a subpar team.
With these star additions, plus a great supporting cast not mentioned, Mizzou should look to have another solid season, with a playoff appearance being the goal.
