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NCAA Basketball: Top 25 team frontcourts heading into 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Apr 3, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) celebrates during the first half against the UCLA Bruins in the national semifinals of the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) celebrates during the first half against the UCLA Bruins in the national semifinals of the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Missouri State junior Gaige Prim NCAA Basketball Tbears Bb00207
Missouri State junior Gaige Prim NCAA Basketball Tbears Bb00207 /

17. Missouri State Bears

The Missouri Valley has four preseason top-100 teams in Northern Iowa, Drake, Loyola-Chicago, and Missouri State. But while the first three teams are there because of quality guards, the Bears are known for being one of the better frontcourt duos in the country.

Gaige Prim, former JUCO star at South Plains, excelled as a full-time starter this past season, averaging 16.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg, along with three assists per game. The 6’8 forward was also named All-Defense for the Missouri Valley Conference and had a single-game performance of 29 points and 21 rebounds against Southern Illinois, followed by a career-high 33 points on the road at Evansville.

Yet he wasn’t even the highest-scoring forward for the Bears last season. That would be 6’5 forward Isiaih Mosley, who more than doubled his production to a team-leading 19.8 ppg, along with 6.3 rpg and 3.1 apg as well. The Conference Most Improved Player of the Year came out as strong as possible last season, with an eight-game stretch of 20+ points, including three straight nights of going for 29 points. Mosley was fairly efficient as well, with shooting splits of 51/39/85.

There isn’t a ton of depth outside of these two, with rising senior Jared Ridder and backup center Nic Tata getting the rest of the frontcourt minutes. But few teams can boast a frontcourt duo capable of going for a combined 40 points and 20 rebounds on any night and if Missouri State wants to win the Missouri Valley next season, they’ll need Prim and Mosley to get close to that, as well as get consistent support from the backcourt players.

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