With two recent additions, the MU hoops team is finally whole. Let’s assess the roster
With two recent additions via transfer — forward Ed Chang and guard Drew Buggs — the Missouri Tigers’ men’s basketball roster appears set for 2020-21, at least for now.
Three MU players — Jeremiah Tilmon, Mitchell Smith and Xavier Pinson — are still testing their prospects in the NBA Draft. The NCAA deadline to forego draft eligibility and return to school is June 3. If any or all go pro, MU coach Cuonzo Martin will have more decisions on his hands.
Current Mizzou players could also elect to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Former Tiger Tray Jackson, for example, chose to leave for Seton Hall after one season.
Here’s what we know for sure: Chang and Buggs have a chance to make an impact at a couple of key positions.
Chang transferred to MU from Salt Lake Community College after originally starting his career at San Diego State. The 6-foot-8 forward who shot 41.2% from three-point range this past season figures to crack the Tigers’ rotation as a wing.
Buggs, meanwhile, will likely see the court at point guard. The savvy ball-handler and passer is the Rainbow Warriors’ all-time assists leader.
And the Tigers bring back nearly every contributor from 2019-20. Their lone graduated senior is forward Reed Nikko, who took over as MU’s starting center when Tilmon went down with a foot injury.
So experience should be a strength in 2020-21. Tilmon, Dru Smith, Mark Smith and Mitchell Smith are entering their senior years; Pinson, Javon Pickett and Torrence Watson will be juniors; Kobe Brown, after an impressive freshman season, has another offseason of growth under his belt; and Buggs and Chang know the game.
Figuring out exactly how all these pieces fit together is Martin’s challenge this summer.
Early projections suggest Mark Smith, Pickett, Watson, Brown, Chang and Mitchell Smith will vie for playing time at the wings. While Martin likes to mix and match, there are only so many minutes to go around. Chang’s three-point shooting will make him a threat, but his usage comes down to how much he contributes on defense.
The early favorites to earn major minutes next season are Mark Smith, Mitchell Smith, Brown and Pickett, all of whom Martin relied upon heavily last year. Watson had a rough season, especially as a shooter, but if he can hit a few more he should earn more consistent playing time.
Another key competition is brewing at point guard. Buggs is a below-average shooter (28% career on three-pointers); his strength is being a distributor. Dru Smith and Pinson are also in the mix and will share minutes with him. With Mizzou’s depth and talent at the guard positions, Martin could turn to more small-guard lineups.
As always, health will be a determining factor. Tilmon missed 14 games last season with a foot injury. In previous years, both Jontay Porter and Michael Porter Jr. sat out for extended stretches. If Tilmon gets hurt again, Mizzou’s forward depth consists of Jordan Wilmore, Axel Okongo and Parker Braun — Braun is the probable immediate backup, but depth after that is a bit of a question mark.
All told, it’s too early to say with much certainty how Martin’s roster will shake out. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there’s a good chance the Tigers (and most other NCAA teams) will miss their summer workouts.
The good news: The 2020-21 season is still months away. Martin and the Tigers have time to figure it out. And with a couple of transfers now in the fold, Mizzou fans can be cautiously optimistic that next season will be more fun to watch than the last.