SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season
By Matt Melton
6. Missouri Tigers
Falling just short of the top five in our 2023-24 SEC basketball preseason power rankings are the Missouri Tigers at No. 6, who enter the second season of the Dennis Gates era.
The Tigers are coming off what was their best single-season in recent years, as Missouri finished the year with a 25-10 overall record, as well as an 11-7 mark in SEC play. Making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2020-21, the Tigers would reach the Round of 32, with their overall win total the highest since the 2011-12 season, as well as their 11-win total in SEC play the highest since the 2012-13 campaign.
After averaging 78.9 PPG last season, while also allowing one of the SEC’s worst at 74.4 PPG, the Tigers will have to replace multiple key names from last season headlined by Kobe Brown, who led Missouri with 15.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG a year ago. In addition to Brown, others such as D’Moi Hodge, DeAndre Gholston, and Isiaih Mosley have also moved on, with each of those names averaging at-least 9+ PPG a year ago.
The returning production for Missouri however is headlined by the trio of Noah Carter, Nick Honor, and Sean East II, who will combine with a talented group of newcomers. Headlining that group is Indiana transfer Tamar Bates, while others are likely to make an impact such as Oral Roberts transfer Connor Vanover, Iowa State transfer Caleb Grill, and Colorado State transfer John Tonje.
Missouri will officially begin their 2023-24 season at home November 6 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.