Missouri Basketball: 2023-24 season preview and outlook for the Tigers

Key Reserves 

Sean East – Point Guard

Last season, East had a large role as the backup point guard, playing over 23 minutes and scoring 7.3 points per game. I don’t see that changing this season. He is a fun player to watch but is at times a little frustrating. He is quick and can break down a defender off the dribble, and is a very good finisher at the rim. East isn’t the best shooter outside of the lane and tends to turn the ball over when trying to push the pace, making errant throws.

A second year in Dennis Gates’s system should be good for East, this being his first time playing for the same team two years in a row. If he can become more consistent in his shot selection and lower his turnovers, East should be a key piece to this team, leading a strong second unit.

Aidan Shaw – Forward

Shaw’s freshman year was a little uneven in production, averaging 2.7 points in only 10.6 minutes per game. He showed flashes on both ends of the floor, but never really strung together solid outputs in his limited playing time.

The expectations for Shaw should be higher this year. He is easily the most athletic player on the roster. I expect to see a larger role for Shaw in his sophomore season. He should have a better feel for the game and should have a better idea how his playing style can impact the game the most. He is a solid defender and rebounder. Now he just needs to prove that he can do those things consistently, and take a step forward on the offensive end.

Tamar Bates – Guard

Bates should be a better fit in this Missouri offense than he was with Indiana the past two years. While he did play a little over 20 minutes per game last season, he wasn’t a huge factor in scoring once the team entered Big Ten play.

In an offense this year that doesn’t run through a singular player, Bates should be able to show exactly what he can contribute scoring-wise. He should see solid minutes and provide much-needed depth at the guard position. Floor spacing is always a plus and Bates has shown that he has no problem letting shots fly from behind the three-point line. I think that he should be able to develop under Head Coach Dennis Gates this season, it will just be a question of how big of a role will he play.

Jesus Carralero – Forward

It will be interesting to see exactly how big a role Carralero will play after making the jump the the SEC after playing the past four years at Campbell. He is a good rebounder and solid floor spacer. He doesn’t take a lot of shots from the outside but takes enough to keep the defense honest.

His biggest strength is as a rebounder. He has no problem boxing out an opposing player and working hard to get the rebound. While Carralero does have good size, he isn’t the strongest player on the court. Bigger defenders can push him off his shot. If he can hold up against bigger post defenders in the SEC, I think he should see solid playing time. If not then the depth at forward might take a little bit of a hit.