SEC Basketball: Alabama, Auburn leads way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season

11. Missouri Tigers

There are many words to describe Missouri’s 2023-24 campaign, but let’s go with woeful. The Tigers, who proceeded to finish the season 0-18 in SEC play, are looking to put last year’s disaster tucked far away in the rearview mirror.

And maybe, just maybe, can the Tigers be a sleeper team in the SEC this season?

Third-year head coach Dennis Gates has overhauled the Tigers roster, landing the 13th-best transfer portal class, according to 24/7 Sports, while doing exceptional work on the recruiting trail, too.

Missouri, who was somewhat selective in their portal additions, landed big-time names, including former Duke Blue Devil Mark Mitchell, who averaged 11.6 points and six rebounds per game last season. The former 2022 McDonald’s All-American was a major piece in the Blue Devils frontcourt, shooting nearly 64% in shots at the rim, according to Hoop Math.

Additionally, the Tigers will welcome Tony Perkins, who earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors at Iowa, Marques Warrick, one of the best pure scorers in the Horizon League at Northern Kentucky, and Jacob Crews, who shot 41.4% from three-point range at UT-Martin last season.

An elite recruiting class headlined by four-star small forward Annor Boateng, a quick, downhill scorer from the wing, gives reason for optimism heading into 2024-25. The Tigers will be competitive but because of how disastrous Missouri’s 2023-24 campaign was, it’s hard to place Missouri any higher.