With Mizzou Men’s Basketball wrapping up their non-conference schedule with an 82-65 win over Alabama State, the Tigers head into 2025 with an 11-2 record and several impressive wins under their belt. While this start doesn’t surpass their 2022 record under first-year head coach Dennis Gates, it’s a significant improvement from last year’s struggles. Tiger fans have plenty to be optimistic about as the team looks poised to continue their bounce-back season.
Last year, the Tigers entered the new calendar year with an 8-5 record but went on to finish winless in SEC play. The question: “What went wrong?” The answer: almost everything. Turnovers, poor defense, and allowing offensive rebounds plagued the team, as nothing seemed to click during conference play. While the SEC is once again a highly competitive league this season, this year’s Mizzou squad appears to be a different story, showing improvements and resilience that set them apart from last year’s struggles.
Heading into this season, the Tigers sit at 11-2, highlighted by a mix of “ugly wins,” a remarkable comeback victory against Cal, and one of the program’s most significant wins—a triumph over No. 1 ranked Kansas. Their two losses, to Memphis (#21) and Illinois (#22), were both closely contested and “winnable” games, with both opponents now ranked in the Week 9 AP poll.
As the Tigers enter SEC play, it’s worth noting the significant impact of the transfers Dennis Gates brought in this season. Approximately 33% of the total minutes played this year have come from returning players, highlighting the fresh identity and revamped roster that has transformed the team compared to last year.
Coming into the season, Mizzou boasted one of the top transfer classes in the country, and all five transfers have already made significant impacts on the roster. Duke transfer Mark Mitchell has emerged as the team’s top offensive option, leading the Tigers in minutes and playing a pivotal role in their success.
Alongside Mitchell, Tony Perkins and Josh Gray have logged significant playing time and are major reasons why the team stands at 11-2. Jacob Crews has settled into his role as a reliable spot-up shooter, while Marques Warrick has provided an instant scoring spark off the bench for Coach Gates.
Among the returning Tigers, Tamar Bates has been a key offensive force, stepping up as a leader and, at times, carrying the team. His best performance came when the stakes were highest, as he shined in Mizzou’s monumental win over Kansas.
Caleb Grill started the season on fire before suffering a neck injury against Lindenwood, which sidelined him for about a month. He made his much-anticipated return in last night’s victory over Alabama State, providing a boost for the team moving forward.
Anthony Robinson II has also been a standout, with his defensive prowess being a major reason for the Tigers' success. Robinson has solidified himself as one of the best defenders in the country, averaging 2.5 steals per game—placing him just outside the top 10 nationally in that category.
With all that considered, the SEC has been the top conference in the country this season, showing no signs of slowing down. For Mizzou, a near .500 record in SEC play seems like a realistic expectation, as nearly every game on their schedule will pose a significant challenge.
To kick off conference play, Mizzou will travel to face No. 2 Auburn, marking their first true road game since their season-opening loss to Memphis.