Breaking down the nonconference schedule for Mizzou Tigers men’s basketball
The Missouri men’s basketball team gets underway with the 2021-22 season in less than a week.
In their fifth year under head coach Cuonzo Martin with an almost entirely new roster, the Tigers face some tough competition before the SEC schedule even starts.
Here’s a breakdown of all the nonconference opponents Mizzou will go up against this season.
Nov. 9: Central Michigan
2020-21: 7-16 overall, 3-13 MAC
Head coach: Tony Barbee
Key players: G Jermaine Jackson Jr., F Aundre Polk, F Miroslav Stafl
KenPom ranking: 303
Tony Barbee is in his first year as Central Michigan’s head coach, looking to turn around a program that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2003. Barbee spent the last seven seasons as an assistant at Kentucky under John Calipari and was previously the head coach at UTEP from 2006-10 and Auburn from 2010-14.
Similarly to Mizzou, the Chippewas have a new look roster that includes eight transfers and several freshmen. Leading the few returners is 6-foot-10 forward Aundre Polk, who was named to the MAC All-Freshman team after averaging 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game across 10 appearances last season. Long Island guard Jermaine Jackson Jr. (15.0 ppg, 3.5 apg) and Hartford forward Miroslav Stafl (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) should make the biggest impacts as transfers.
Nov. 15: Kansas City
2020-21: 11-13 overall, 7-7 Summit
Head coach: Billy Donlon
Key players: F Josiah Allick, G Marvin Nesbitt Jr.
KenPom: 248
The Kansas City Roos have never made an NCAA Tournament, but don’t let that fool you. The last time these two teams played, on Nov. 14, 2014, Mizzou suffered a 69-61 upset. Both programs are under different head coaches now, with the Roos led by Billy Donlon in his third year.
Kansas City lost its leading scorer from 2020-21 in guard Brandon McKissic, who transferred to Florida. The best player for the Roos is easily 6-foot-8 forward Josiah Allick, who was named a first team selection in the Summit League preseason poll after averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds last season. The team dealt with COVID-19 issues last year, so it’s hard to judge how the starting five will shake out, but guard Marvin Nesbitt Jr. (10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) should play a big factor as well.
Nov. 18: Northern Illinois
2020-21: 3-16 overall, 2-12 MAC
Head coach: Rashon Burno
Key players: G Tyler Cochran, G Trendon Hankerson
KenPom: 324
The Nov. 18 contest will mark just the second time Mizzou and Northern Illinois have faced; the Tigers took a 78-71 victory in their sole meeting on Dec. 4, 2015. The Huskies enter their first year under head coach Rashon Burno, who spent the last six seasons under Bobby Hurley at Arizona State. Burno worked under now Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan at Florida for three seasons before that.
Burno added a lot to the roster, but the two best players should remain guards Tyler Cochran and Trendon Hankerson, who both return. Cochran averaged 15.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season, while Hankerson recorded 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest while shooting 36.9% from deep.
Nov. 21-22: Jacksonville Classic
SMU
2020-21: 11-6 overall, 7-4 AAC
Head coach: Tim Jankovich
Key players: G Kendric Davis, F Tristan Clark, F Marcus Weathers
KenPom: 60
SMU was affected heavily by COVID-19 issues last season, having 12 games canceled or postponed. Still, the Mustangs managed to snag a bid to the NIT, where they lost in the first game to Boise State. Leading the way for the team this season is 5-foot-11 point guard Kendric Davis, who led the nation in assists per possessions and also was the AAC leader in points (19.0) and assists (7.6) in 2020-21.
The Mustangs also bring in a bunch of transfers expected to have a big impact: forward Tristan Clark (Baylor), reigning Southland Player of Year Zach Nutall (Sam Houston), forward Marcus Weathers (Duquesne) and guard Michael Weathers (Texas Southern). This is an NCAA Tournament team and the first real test of the season for Mizzou.
If the Tigers manage to defeat the Mustangs, they will likely face No. 20 Florida State, which is scheduled to play Loyola Marymount in the first game of the tournament. The Seminoles boast a talented roster entering their 20th season under Leonard Hamilton, despite losing a lot of top names. FSU has the No. 8 recruiting class in the country, led by five-star Matthew Cleveland and four-stars Jalen Warley and John Butler, and added key transfers in Caleb Mills (Houston) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (Kentucky).
Nov. 26: Wichita State
2020-21: 16-6, 11-2 AAC
Head coach: Isaac Brown
Key players: G Tyson Etienne, F Morris Udeze, F Joe Pleasant
KenPom: 62
Though Wichita State is ranked 62nd in the country by KenPom, other experts have the team ranked higher heading into 2021-22, with CBS Sports ranking the Shockers No. 47 and Sports Illustrated having them at No. 44. Isaac Brown was officially named head coach after leading Wichita State to the NCAA Tournament as an interim last season following the fallout with abuse claims under Gregg Marshall.
With a familiar face being named head coach, there weren’t many departures within the program. The Shockers bring back six of their top eight scorers from a season ago, led by guard Tyson Etienne, who was named the ACC Co-Player of the Year in 2020-21 after averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 39.2% from deep. Guard Dexter Dennis (9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), forward Morris Udeze (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and AAC All-Freshman honoree Ricky Council IV (7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 44.4% 3pt FG) will be key contributors, along with Abilene Christian transfer forward Joe Pleasant (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 46.5% 3pt FG )
Nov. 29: Paul Quinn College
2020-21 record: N/A (COVID cancellations)
Head coach: Brandon Espinosa
Key players: F Spencer McElway, G Anei Anei-Yor
KenPom: N/A
This game was recently added to the schedule and won’t amount to much, as Paul Quinn is a Division II program, but it’ll provide the Tigers a good opportunity to do some fine tuning following the first six contests of the season.
Dec 2: at Liberty
2020-21: 23-6, 11-2 ASUN
Head coach: Ritchie McKay
Key players: G Darius McGhee, F Blake Preston
KenPom: 97
If the Tigers traveling to face Liberty of all schools makes you scratch your head, you’re not the only one. Mizzou agreed to a multi-year series, so the Flames will be coming to Columbia next season as well. The Flames haven’t lost a game at home since Jan. 29, 2019, but then again, it’s highly unusual for a Power Five team to head to Lynchburg, Virginia.
Under head coach Ritchie McKay, Liberty has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The team returns three starters from 2020-21, led by 5-foot-9 guard Darius McGhee, the reigning ASUN Player of the Year. He averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making 40.8% of his three-point attempts, and one of the biggest priorities for the Tigers in this game will be slowing him down.
Dec. 7: Eastern Illinois
2020-21: 9-18 overall, 6-14 Ohio Valley
Head coach: Marty Simmons
Key players: F Sammy Friday IV, G Elijah Wood, G Kashawn Charles
KenPom: 338
Longtime head coach Jay Spoonhour was fired following an eight-game losing skid to end the 2020-21 season and Marty Simmons took over. Simmons was head coach at Evansville from 2007-18, where he recruited eventual Mizzou player Dru Smith. After being fired in 2018, Simmons took on a role at Clemson. Now he finds himself at the head of a program once again — a program, mind you, that knocked off Mizzou in 2016 despite not having made the Big Dance since 2000-01.
The Panthers only return one starter from last season in forward Sammy Friday IV, who averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season. Guard Kashawn Charles (7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) is the only other significant piece returning, but Simmons added three Division I transfers, three junior-college players and two freshmen. Of those new players, Nebraska transfer guard Elijah Wood, a former four-star recruit, should have the biggest impact.
Dec. 11: at Kansas
2020-21: 21-9 overall, 12-6 Big 12
Head coach: Bill Self
Key players: Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin, Jalen Wilson, David McCormack
KenPom: 3
The Border War rivalry is officially back this season. Though the series’ history has proved anything can happen when these two teams play, Mizzou will certainly be facing an uphill battle in this one on the road against the No. 3 team in the nation.
There is so much talent on this Jayhawks roster that even limiting the key players to Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin (Arizona State transfer and preseason Big 12 player of the year), Jalen Wilson and David McCormack seems like a disservice. There’s also Mitch Lightfoot, Chrisitan Braun, Jalen Coleman-Lands (Iowa State transfer) and the No. 11 recruiting class in the country to boot. Agbaji, who shot 37.7% from deep and led the team in scoring last season, was listed as the No. 16 player in the nation by CBS Sports. Kansas is probably the best team the Tigers face this season, in or out of conference, so this will be a huge test early in the season.
Dec. 18: Utah
2020-21: 12-13 overall, 8-11 Pac-12
Head coach: Craig Smith
Key players: C Branden Carlson, G David Jenkins Jr., G Marco Anthony, G Both Gach
KenPom: 93
After failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season in 2020-21, Utah replaced head coach Larry Krystkowiak with Craig Smith, who was at Utah State for the last three seasons. Smith led the Aggies to three straight 20-plus win seasons and two Mountain West tournament championships. Before that, he led the helm at South Dakota from 2014-18.
The Utes are without four starters from a year ago and had several others transfer as well, leaving center Branden Carlson and forward Riley Battins as the only players returning who played at least six minutes per game last season. Carlson, the only starter back, put up averages of 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while leading the team with 42 blocks in 2020-21. There are seven transfers on the roster, highlighted by Minnesota guard Both Gach (6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg), UNLV guard David Jenkins Jr. (14.8 ppg, 40.9% from deep) and Utah State guard Marco Anthony (10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.1 apg).
Dec. 22: Illinois (in St. Louis)
2020-21: 24-7 overall, 16-4 Big Ten
Head coach: Brad Underwood
Key players: C Kofi Cockburn, G Trent Frazier, G Andre Curbelo
KenPom: 5
The Tigers have won the last three Braggin Rights games and will look to continue that streak when they face Illinois in St. Louis this season. Coming off a disappointing upset loss to Loyola Chicago in the Round of 32 as a one seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21, the Fighting Illini are ranked No. 11 team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.
Though Illinois lost Ayo Dosunmu to the NBA Draft, the program had Kofi Cockburn and Trent Frazier’s decisions go its way. The 7-foot-0, 285 pound Cockburn is a preseason All-American and figures to be one of the best players in the country after averaging 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game season. Frazier (10.3 ppg) brings crucial leadership and defensive prowess as a super senior. Guard Andre Curbelo (9.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.0 rpg) showed flashes of brilliance last season and will be a key cog in his sophomore season. To put it simply, Brad Underwood has a lot at his disposal this year.
Jan. 29: at Iowa State
2020-21: 2-22 overall, 0-18 Big 12
Head coach: T.J. Otzelberger
Key players: G Tyrese Hunter, G Izaiah Brockington
KenPom: 113
Iowa State is yet another team Mizzou will face that starts the 2021-22 season under a new head coach, as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Steve Prohm was fired after the Cyclones lost 18 straight games in Big 12 play and T.J. Otzelberger was hired in his place. Otzelberger, who had previous stints at Iowa State as an assistant, was head coach at UNLV from 2019-21 and South Dakota State from 2016-19 before that.
As is often the case when a new coach is hired, the Cyclones have a much different roster than a year ago. Otzelberger added Penn State guard Izaiah Brockington, who averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, along with Minnesota guard Gabe Kalscheur, UNLV guard Caleb Grill and Denver center Robert Jones, who all averaged at least nine points. And you can’t forget point guard Tyrese Hunter, the No. 36 player in the 2021 class, per the 247 Sports Composite. There are some solid pieces there, but turning around a 2-22 program won’t be easy.
