Highs and lows: A look back on Missouri men’s basketball’s roller-coaster season
Mizzou saw its season come to an end against Miami (Fla.) 80-66 on Friday night at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The game itself was much like the Tigers' season: a slow start, followed by a ferocious comeback that fell short after they seemingly righted the ship.
Regardless of the outcome of this season, coach Dennis Gates has reestablished the stability of the program. Before his arrival ahead of the 2022-23 season, the Tigers only appeared in the NCAA Tournament in two of the previous eight seasons.
Despite this stability, the second weekend of the tournament continues to elude Gates in his four years in Columbia.
The question that now takes center stage: How can Gates take the program to the next level?
Mizzou’s issues rebounding
Defensive rebounding was an issue that plagued Mizzou all season. The Tigers ranked 219th in Division I in defensive rebounds per game, averaging 23.97.
When it felt like the team had finally turned a corner from disastrous losses to rivals Illinois and Kansas in nonconference play, it dropped a game to a seemingly inferior opponent.
In losses to Ole Miss and LSU, two teams that were well outside the tournament field, Mizzou was outscored a combined 32-21 in second chance points. Wins in those games would have likely given the Tigers a higher seed and easier first-round matchup.
In the loss to Miami, the Tigers allowed the Hurricanes to grab 16 offensive rebounds, which they turned into 19 second-chance points.
On a team that had 7-footers, plus the size and experience of Mark Mitchell, the Tigers' inability to grab crucial defensive rebounds cost them dearly when it mattered most.
The two sides of the transfer portal
In the era of the transfer portal, a program can transform its entire trajectory in a single offseason. The Miami team that ended Mizzou's season jumped from seven wins last year to 26 in its first season under coach Jai Lucas.
In Ben McCollum's first year at Iowa, the Hawkeyes have gone from 17 to 23 wins and reached their first Sweet 16 since 1999.
Mizzou saw clear contributions from two portal acquisitions this season, center Shawn Phillips Jr. and guard Jayden Stone. Despite Phillips' consistency and Stone's scoring prowess, Gates used a limited rotation down the stretch.
Phillips and Stone were just two of five players that Mizzou brought in from other schools for the 2025-26 season. Forward Jevon Porter made his final appearance of the season in mid-December and missed the remainder of the season with an injury. Forward Luke Northweather and guard Sebastian Mack both made their final regular-season appearance in a blowout loss to Alabama in late January.
With the removal of these three portal acquisitions, Mizzou was reduced to a tight seven-man rotation. In a season where the possibility of a deep team was quickly narrowed, the Tigers' flaws became increasingly apparent with the increased minutes each player became burdened with.
Though the portal class wasn't as successful as anticipated, the ability to bring in players that can immediately remedy the team's flaws is always a possibility. While players brought in via the portal don't always pan out, they have the potential to turn a team from average to exceptional in a single offseason.
Where do the Tigers go from here?
The program now turns its attention to next season and the historic incoming freshman class to transform the roster. Mitchell, Stone, Phillips, Porter and Jacob Crews will all graduate, but the Tigers retain key experience.
Roster retention is an unpredictable lottery in today's college basketball landscape. With that in mind, there are a few players who gained plenty of experience this season.
Sophomore T.O. Barrett established himself as a starting point guard during SEC play. He stepped in for the experienced Anthony Robinson II, a captain who has one year of eligibility remaining. They could be joined by the potential return of Annor Boateng, who suffered a season-ending injury in late January.
With the arrival of the recently named California Gatorade Player of the Year Jason Crowe Jr., Mizzou will have several options at guard entering next season.
Redshirt-freshman Trent Burns finally saw the floor after battling injuries during his first season in Columbia. Down the stretch, Burns showed flashes of potential by creating mayhem on the defensive side and using his size for easy baskets on offense.
Fellow center and freshman Nicholas Randall appeared in 22 games this season. The minutes he earned in SEC play are something not all freshmen have the chance to do in their first season of high-major college basketball.
Joining Crowe in Mizzou's historic freshman class next season are forward Toni Bryant and wing Aidan Chronister. Gates will have to find a formula that strikes the balance between the incoming young talent, returnees and players targeted in the transfer portal.
Next season will bring change to the program, as roster turnover is a reality of the modern college basketball landscape. For Gates, the goal is assembling a roster that brings the Tigers to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2009.
Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Highs and lows: A look back on Missouri men’s basketball’s roller-coaster season."