Mizzou’s hot start has not garnered the recognition some believe it deserves, as more than five weeks into the season, Missouri remains outside the Top 25.
The Tigers are 8-0 at home, with multiple games surpassing the century mark in points. They haven’t achieved that feat in multiple games during a single season since the 2017-18 campaign. This year, they accomplished it twice in their first six games.
This highlights how much improved their offense is compared to previous years. Additionally, the depth that head coach Dennis Gates has at his disposal this season is unparalleled in recent memory and significantly deeper than most squads across the NCAA.
Players like Caleb Grill, Tamer Bates, Anthony Robinson II, and Mark Mitchell are all off to strong starts. They are consistently setting career highs in points, rebounds, and assists while maintaining efficiency from the field in each game.
The only loss came in the season opener against Memphis in a game where the Tigers led at half, but ultimately couldn't close it out.
Despite a recent upset loss to Arkansas State, Memphis is currently ranked No. 40 on KenPom and appeared to be on the verge of a Top 25 appearance. In addition to their win over Mizzou, Memphis boasts other notable victories, including a triumph over back-to-back champions UConn, who were ranked No. 1 at the time, and a win against No. 21 Michigan State.
On Sunday, the Tigers took on their biggest rivals, the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks, in an all-time classic Border War matchup. After quickly falling behind 2-0, the Tigers seized the lead and the home crowd’s energy—and never let either slip away. In the end, Mizzou secured a 76-67 victory, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as fans stormed the court to celebrate with the team.
Highly respected Jayhawks head coach Bill Self expressed admiration for senior Tamer Bates, head coach Dennis Gates, and the rest of the Mizzou program following the loss at Mizzou Arena.
“He played great. Tamer was the best player in the game,” Self said. “We couldn't guard him. He went around us, he played to his size, and we started small—they made us look slow, for sure. Mizzou played great today, but that court storm may have been even better than Mizzou played.”
The NCAA AP Poll rankings weren’t the only ones keeping the Tigers outside the Top 25. KenPom.com, a highly respected and consistently accurate basketball ranking system, placed Mizzou at just No. 50.
For reference, Mizzou began the season ranked No. 64, meaning that despite their hot start, they haven’t gained much ground in the eyes of most fans and analysts.
There’s still plenty of season left, and Mizzou is just getting started, with numerous opportunities on the horizon. SEC conference play begins in the coming months, giving the Tigers a chance to capitalize on their schedule and make a strong case for a national ranking—their first serious consideration in years.