After a surprising, disappointing, exciting, and depressing 2017-18 that both began and ended in typical Mizzou fashion, the Tigers begin the offseason with several holes in the roster and one major recruiting target remaining.
Losses from 2017-18:
Michael Porter Jr, SF
Jordan Barnett, SF
Kassius Robertson, SG
Injured Role Players:
Cullen Van Leer
Mitchell Smith
Returning Suicide Vest:
Jordan Geist
Spoiler!
Additions:
Transfer:
He will sit out the entire season, but will have 3 years to play 3 beginning in 2019-2020
Mark Smith (former **** recruit), SG, Illinois
2018 Commitments:
Not a lot to get too excited about at this point. The success or failure of the current recruits in his class will be based upon their development rather than their Day 1 skills.
Torrence Watson, SG, **** St. Louis, MO
Javon Pickett, SG, ***, Wichita, KS
KJ Santos, SF, ***, Tallahassee FL
Xavier Pinson, PG, ***, Chicago, IL
Next year is a rebuilding year. Jontay leaving was a possibility, but not a certainty. That, combined with losing two freshman PGs to transfer and a junior shitbag PG to Cosby means that Mizzou will be bereft of experienced playmakers and ballhandlers anywhere in the backcourt, and no one with the rare ability to create in the half-court like Jontay showed. It's probably a 14 win team next year.
5/30 Edit: Jontay Porter is returning, making this team a fringe NCAA contender.
They got Dru Smith, the Evansville transfer, today. He’ll have two years left after sitting out.
It’s a really nice get for 2019+ (he’s a really good shooter and lead guard), but I don’t think they use that scholarship on him if they’re getting Ramey.
In that scenario, the PG situation will be Geist/Pinson. Could still be an improvement from this year at the pure PG spot, but Robertson’s contribution as a combo guard will be missed. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Not getting a Ramey to Mizzou vibe.
They got Dru Smith, the Evansville transfer, today. He’ll have two years left after sitting out.
It’s a really nice get for 2019+ (he’s a really good shooter and lead guard), but I don’t think they use that scholarship on him if they’re getting Ramey.
In that scenario, the PG situation will be Geist/Pinson. Could still be an improvement from this year at the pure PG spot, but Robertson’s contribution as a combo guard will be missed.
Yeah,Smith means no Ramey, IMO. Two guards sitting is going to be tough. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Not getting a Ramey to Mizzou vibe.
They got Dru Smith, the Evansville transfer, today. He’ll have two years left after sitting out.
It’s a really nice get for 2019+ (he’s a really good shooter and lead guard), but I don’t think they use that scholarship on him if they’re getting Ramey.
In that scenario, the PG situation will be Geist/Pinson. Could still be an improvement from this year at the pure PG spot, but Robertson’s contribution as a combo guard will be missed.
Anyone seeing anything about Jontay coming back? I just read an article saying there were whispers that he was leaning towards coming back to have another season to develop and enter a weaker 2019 draft. I certainly won't get my hopes up, but him coming back would certainly change the narrative for the upcoming season. [Reply]
If he's a first rounder, I really don't see why he'd do it. He gets a guaranteed contract and it's a year closer to his second contract, which is where he can make real money. Even if he came back and was a top five pick, he's still not going to increase his lifetime earnings unless he thinks it gives him a better shot at a second contract. [Reply]