Mizzou to open 2025-26 hoops season Nov. 3; learn the opponent, plus more updates

For the second year in a row, the Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team will open the regular season on the road.

The Tigers will face Howard on Nov. 3 in Washington, the team announced. The matchup was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, who said it will be part of a multiyear series.

Mizzou and Howard met for the first time last season, with the Tigers securing a 77-62 victory Nov. 8 at Mizzou Arena.

MU returners Mark Mitchell and Anthony Robinson II scored 16 and 13 points, respectively, in the win.

Howard’s Burr Gymnasium starkly contrasts with the setting of Mizzou’s 2024-25 opener — FedExForum.

Burr Gymnasium’s maximum capacity is 2,700, while FedExForum drew a crowd of 11,709 as they watched Memphis beat MU’s 83-75 on Nov. 4.

Bates earns pre-draft workout with Warriors

Former Mizzou guard and Kansas City native Tamar Bates continues to be rewarded for his strong outings at pre-NBA Draft events.

Bates was working out with the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, according to an MU spokesperson.

Golden State holds the No. 41 overall pick in the draft, which starts at 7 p.m. June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The second round starts at 7 p.m. June 26.

Bates received the workout invite after wrapping up a solid showing at the NBA Draft Combine on Sunday in Chicago. He averaged 11.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in a pair of scrimmages for Team Williams.

Bates had 19 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals in the second scrimmage. The Kansas City, Kansas, product shot 7 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from 3-point range in a 106-90 win over Team Domercant this past Thursday.

In shooting drills May 13, Bates went 17-for-30 on off-the-dribble shots, 18-for-25 on spot-ups, 19-for-25 in the 3-point star, 17-for-24 in the 3-point side and 7-for-10 at the free-throw line. His

Bates and former Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard’s 76% clip in the 3-point star was the best of all the participants.

Bates was also measured at the combine. His hand length was 9¾ inches, and his hand width was 9 inches. He and former Duke center Khaman Maluach had the second-widest hands of those measured, and his hands were a quarter of an inch shorter than Australian power forward Lachlan Olbrich and Chinese center Hansen Yang.

Bates’ height without shoes was 6-foot-3 3/4, and he weighed in at 191.4 pounds. His wingspan was 6-10 1/4, and his standing reach was 8-7.

Bates also competed in strength and agility drills. He recorded a lane agility time of 10.75 seconds — the 11th-best time out of all participants and only .11 slower than projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.

Bates also clocked a shuttle run time of 2.99 and a three-quarter sprint of 3.26. His vertical jump was 27½ inches, and his max vertical was 33 1/2 inches.

On NBADraft.net’s big board — updated Friday — Bates jumped up 66 spots to become the 36th-best player available. The Brooklyn Nets hold the 36th pick.

MU hires director of basketball operations

Mizzou officially announced the hiring of new director of basketball operations Griffin McHone.

McHone spent the past two seasons at South Florida, where he was director of player development and an assistant coach. Prior to his time with the Bulls, he spent four seasons as the director of basketball operations at Kennesaw State and was a grad-assistant and student manager at Texas A&M from 2015-19.

The MU position opened with the departure of Dalon King to be an assistant on coach Rob Summers’ staff at Cleveland State.

The hire of McHone leaves MU with two administrative positions left to fill ahead of next season: general manager and assistant director of basketball operations.

MU target Jordan transfers to Cardinal Ritter

Malachi Jordan announced Wednesday that he will be transferring to Cardinal Ritter. Jordan is 247Sports’ No. 18 overall prospect in the Class of 2027 and was offered by Mizzou on May 12 after a conversation with new assistant coach Steve Wright.

Jordan’s move from Christian Community in White House, Tennessee, to St. Louis could serve as a recruiting tool for Gates and his staff.

Gates active in recruiting rising seniors

Although he missed out on four-star prospect JJ Andrews — who verbally committed to Arkansas this past Thursday — Gates has remained active in recruiting members of the class of 2026.

Heritage (Texas) High School forward Bryson Howard announced he received an offer from Mizzou on Tuesday.

“After a great conversation with Coach Gates, I am blessed and honored to say that I received another offer from the University of Missouri,” Howard wrote in a post on X.

Even though Howard is an unranked prospect, he has offers from Houston, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

The 6-5 Frisco, Texas, product is the son of former NBA player Josh Howard, who was an All-Star for the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

Gates also reportedly made the trip to watch five-star prospect Toni Bryant play this past weekend, according to League Ready. The former North Tampa Christian Academy forward — who transferred to Zephyrhills Christian Academy for his senior year — is 247Sports’ No. 10 overall prospect in the Class of 2026.

Bryant has an official visit scheduled at Mizzou on Sept. 6.

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