It’s been an improved start for head coach Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers. After a tough loss to Memphis, they’ve bounced back with three straight home wins, improving to 3-1, with an eight-day break before their next contest.
Mizzou has shown steady improvement game-by-game on both ends of the court, with Caleb Grill being the most impactful player, thriving off the bench.
Grill, a senior in his 6th season from Wichita, Kansas, has had quite the journey through the NCAA. He began at ISU, then transferred to UNLV, before returning to ISU for a second stint. After limited opportunities there, he joined Mizzou ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
His offseason work has already paid off this year, with noticeable improvements in his game.
After four games, Grill leads the team with 13.5 points per game, adding 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and limiting turnovers. His efficiency has also skyrocketed, shooting 53% from the field and 48% from three, with a higher volume of attempts compared to last season.
In a home game against Eastern Washington last Monday, Grill took over the game.
Coming off the bench, Grill barely left the court. He finished with more minutes than anyone else on the team, including all five starters.
Grill shot 10-13 from the field, including an impressive 8-10 from three, while adding 9 rebounds. He played clutch and was eager to take control of the game.
Wichita native Caleb Grill was absolutely en fuego tonight in CoMo.
— Taylor Eldridge (@tayloreldridge) November 12, 2024
A career-high 33 points on just 13 shots for the former @MaizeEagleAD star, including 8 3-pointers, to go along with 9 rebounds.
pic.twitter.com/p85fWPevX6
“I benched him,” Gates admitted. “Accountability is growth, and he allowed me to hold him accountable. Certain things are expected from our guys, and he didn’t fight it. He accepted it all.”
The game gets more impressive when you consider how long it had been since Grill had gotten real minutes in a game.
Grill played in just nine games last season, starting five. In the ninth game, he suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Following his impressive performance, Grill noted that he hadn’t played a game in 11 months and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase the work he had put in. He clearly has trust in Gates' plan, and that trust is mutual.
The impact Grill has on the program extends far beyond his on-court performance. Teammates admire his leadership and see him as another coach. He’s a team player both on and off the court, a quality any coach would value in their squad.
Grill followed his career day with another solid performance against Mississippi Valley State, a game Mizzou won by 72 points, tying a school record for margin of victory.
In that game, Grill was efficient, shooting 4-7 from the field and finishing with 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play.
The main stat Coach Gates focused on was free throw shooting, where Grill went 5-5. Before the Eastern Washington game, he was 0-6, but he has gradually improved in that area each game.
Though this is his third team, it truly seems like Grill has found his home. He fits his role exceptionally well, is beloved by his teammates, coaches, and fans, and comes ready to play every game.
It’ll be interesting to see how Gates continues to utilize Grill, as he’s earned his minutes and possibly a starting spot moving forward. The Tigers have a strong, all-around player in Grill, and hopefully, he continues to improve as his career progresses.