As the Missouri Tigers close out the 2024 calendar year, the game against Jacksonville State marks one of their final three matchups.
Another non-conference opponent stands in the way of Mizzou extending its win streak to double digits tomorrow—a feat that highlights the team’s growth compared to last season.
Mizzou won just eight games total last season, meaning they have already surpassed that mark and are now aiming to continue their best start to a season in recent history.
Jacksonville State, sitting at 6-4 and seventh in Conference USA, is ranked 181st out of 364 teams in the KenPom rankings. Meanwhile, Mizzou recently climbed to 49th on that same list.
The Gamecocks have changed conferences four times since joining Division I basketball in 1995, including two stints in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Ray Harper, who took over as head coach of the Gamecocks in the 2016-17 season, has led the program through transitions from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun Conference, and most recently to Conference USA last season.
Harper has found significant success with the program, leading his team to multiple conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Most recently, Jacksonville State made a first-round exit against the No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers in 2022.
Since then, there hasn’t been much to celebrate. Despite the conference switch, Jacksonville State has failed to finish above .500 overall or in conference play since their NCAA Tournament bid three seasons ago.
Their 6-4 start is their best since their NCAA Tournament appearance, and Harper is sure to have this game circled as a major opportunity.
Their top option, Jaron Pierre Jr., is a force to be reckoned with and ranks among the best players Mizzou has faced this season.
The 6-foot-5 senior averages over 23 points per game, ranking fourth among eligible players. Not only does he score, but he does so efficiently. He shoots nearly 50% from the field on 14 attempts per game and over 40% from three on several attempts each night.
His numbers are impressive, as he pairs his scoring with 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, ranking second and first on the team, respectively. On top of all that, he plays 36 minutes per contest—10 more than the next most-used Gamecock.
Jacksonville St guard Jaron Pierre Jr (@JPIERRE5_) continues to make it look too easy. In a 71-53 win over Coastal Carolina he had:
— Rising Ballers Network (@dylan_lutey) November 17, 2024
31 points
3 rebounds
3 assists
11-19 FG
2-4 3FG
Through 4 games he is averaging 25.75 PPG, 3.75 APG, 4 RPG with 53/43/83 shooting splits. pic.twitter.com/Bds2dJY6Tu
Pierre is now on his third team in four years and has shown significant improvement throughout his career. During the 2020-21 season with Southern Mississippi, he started 16 games, averaged under 10 points per game, and had minimal impact on the defensive end.
After two seasons at Southern Mississippi, Pierre redshirted the 2022-23 season before transferring to Wichita State. His numbers improved across the board, but he wasn’t the team’s first option. Seeking a bigger role, he took a chance and joined Jacksonville State.
Pierre is certainly a player Mizzou will need to keep an eye on Tuesday evening. If the Tigers are serious about reaching double-digit wins and extending their win streak, they’ll need to lock in defensively—and it starts with containing the hot hand.
Tip off between The Tigers and Gamecocks is set for 6:30 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.