Missouri Basketball: 2017-18 preview for the upstart Tigers

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COLUMBIA, MO – DECEMBER 10: Missouri Tigers fans wave signs to try to distract opposing free throw shooters during the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Mizzou Arena on December 10, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Missouri basketball is coming off of a rough season, but they bring in a top recruiting class. How far can the freshmen take them this season?

Ever since former coach Frank Haith left the program in ruins thanks to multiple NCAA violations, Missouri has been at the very bottom of the SEC. There has been a revolving door of coaches and players over the past few years and it appeared that no end was in sight.

Last season was no different, with nine players either transferring or dismissed from the team. For those who remained, they fought hard and had moments of competitiveness, but ultimately fell to 2-16 in conference play and won just eight games overall. After three years of little progress, Kim Anderson was shown the door.

It looked like the cycle of futility would never end, but a chain reaction of miracles occurred. First, there was the firing of Lorenzo Romar at Washington. That was important because his assistant, Michael Porter Sr., was made a free agent. Porter’s sons were supposed to follow him to Washington, but those plans changed as well.

This became an opportunity for former California head coach Cuonzo Martin, who was looking for an out of his own. They teamed up and were hired by Missouri as the start of another rebuild. The 2017 Missouri recruiting class was ranked No. 3 by 247sports and the star freshmen will look to come in and take the SEC by storm.

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