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Missouri Basketball: Missouri Tigers 2015-16 Season Preview

By Doug Winkey

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Missouri Tigers

2014-2015 Record: 9-23 (3-15 SEC)

Postseason: None

The Missouri Tigers will be trying to rebound from a disastrous season in which they finished dead last in the SEC and were among the worst teams in every statistical category nationally.

They lost their best player, but retained a coach tasked with rebuilding the program competing in a rapidly-improving conference.

Second-year coach Kim Anderson is facing a tough road ahead with the once-proud school and could be on the way out if things don’t improve soon.

But improvement is a relative term when you consider that the Tigers were a 9-23 team last season.

The only thing that could possibly save Kim Anderson’s job is a 8 to 10 win improvement and a few close loses.

The Missouri Tigers will look to players who were hurt last season and several middle-tier recruits to begin the process of righting the ship in Columbia.

Key Departures

F – Johnathan Williams III

G – Montaque Gill-Caesar

Key Returners

G – Wes Clark

G – Namon Wright

F – Ryan Rosburg

F – Jakeenan Gant

F – D’Angelo Allen

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Newcomers

G – Terrence Phillips (#30 PG 247Sports)

G – K.J. Walton(#23 PG 247Sports)

G – Cullen VanLeer (#83 247Sports)

G – Martavian Payne (JUCO transfer-John Logan [IL])

F – Kevin Puryear (#64 SF 247Sports)

F – Russell Woods (JUCO transfer-John Logan [IL])

F – Adam Wolf

Projected Starters

G – Wes Clark

G – Namon Wright

F – Martavian Payne

F – Russell Woods

F – Ryan Rosburg

Key Reserves

G – Terrence Phillips (#30 PG 247Sports)

G – K.J. Walton(#23 PG 247Sports)

F – Jakeenan Gant

F – D’Angelo Allen

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov 17 at Xavier – Xavier represents one of the perennial mid-major powers; head coach Chris Mack has led the Musketeers to five NCAA appearances (including three Sweet 16s) in six seasons.  This is the Missouri Tigers first road game of the season and the first against a truly quality opponent.  A lot of things both positive or negative could develop from this game depending on the outcome.

Nov 23 vs. Kansas State – Both the Tigers and the KSU Wildcats are in major rebuilding efforts this year.  Neither team is expected to compete for the postseason, but that shouldn’t stop this game from being an interesting contest between two schools trying to get back to the upper ranks of college hoops.

Dec 13 at Arizona – This game is probably not winnable for Mizzou, as Arizona has won at least 30 games each year under Sean Miller and have been to the Elite 8 the past two seasons.  Because the Wildcats are the best non-conference opponent Missouri will play, it could give the team a sense of just how the team is gelling going into SEC play.

Live Feed

SEC Women’s Basketball: SEC Players in the WNBA Roundup, Post-Regular Season Edition
SEC Women’s Basketball: SEC Players in the WNBA Roundup, Post-Regular Season Edition /

South Bound & Down

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  • SEC Basketball: 5 biggest transfer portal winners of 2023 offseasonSouth Bound & Down
  • SEC Basketball: Kentucky, Alabama among June 2023 recruiting winnersSouth Bound & Down

    • Key Players

    Wes Clark – The best returning player for Missouri, he suffered a dislocated elbow in February last year, which forced him out for the season’s remainder.  He averaged 10.1 points and 3.1 assists before the injury.  Without having a strong outside game (only 31% from three), much of his damage will come from going to the rim.  He’ll be needed for leadership from the point guard position.

    Russell Woods – Woods should have an immediate place in the starting front court.  He averaged 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 61% from the field at John Logan College in Illinois.  Since no contributing big man returned to Mizzou, Woods is vital to helping the Tigers compete on the boards.  His junior college experience will also be important for helping this assortment of players develop into a cohesive unit.

    Season Outlook: 

    It won’t be a pretty year in Columbia.  The loss of last season’s best player on top of already finishing last in the conference indicates a long road ahead for Mizzou faithful.  Coach Anderson has done well to bring in some freshmen and JUCO transfers to try and push forward.  However, the overall level of competition in the SEC has likely risen coming into 2015-2016.  I put Missouri’s ceiling at double-digit wins, but with a last-place finish in conference play.

    Next: Creighton Bluejays 2015-16 Season Preview

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