After the Tigers early exit in the NCAA Tournament, staff and players alike are both going to start looking towards next season. With the transfer portal just weeks away, rosters are about to experience a ton of turnover. While Mizzou has a top-10 freshman class incoming, they'll still to not only go out and get some talent, but also retain some of their own.
So who are three players that Missouri will be absolutely looking to keep in CoMo?
Anthony Robinson II
Robinson began the year as the starting point guard for the Tigers, but soon feel out of favor, and was eventually replaced by T.O. Barrett. Still, despite a drop in his minutes, Robinson remained one of the Tigers' best defenders, averaging 1.6 steals per game. He may never develop into the starter that coach Dennis Gates had hoped, or needed, but there's always a need for elite defense and a smart, savvy veteran presence. Robinson will surely get the attention of some other programs looking to boost their backcourt.
Trent Burns
The 7-foot-5 big man came on strong towards the end of the season, and played nearly 15 mintues per game over the last eight contests of the year. And while the freshman has a long ways to go developmentally, he showed flashes that reminded everyone why he was a four-star recruit. With starting center Shawn Phillips Jr. out of eligibility, Burns will likely need to step up into a bigger role in 2026. There will be a lot of questions on if he will be ready to do that, though, after averaging just two points per game as a freshman.
Trent Pierce
The second Trent on the list, Pierce missed a handful of games this past season due to injury. When he was on the court, he was an efficient shooter, shooting 48% from the field and 38% from deep. While his passing and defense will need to see improvement, Mizzou won't be quick to let an great shooter walk out of the building. Gates already said Pierce turned down a lot of money this past cycle to stay at Mizzou, but will he do it twice?