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.
Have confirmed with a team spokesperson that Missouri forward Jontay Porter tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee during a scrimmage against Southern Illinois this morning. He will almost certainly miss the entire season. Obviously a massive blow for Missouri.
Here's the release from Mizzou:
COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou sophomore forward Jontay Porter suffered a season-ending knee injury during a closed scrimmage vs. Southern Illinois on Sunday. Porter tore his anterior cruciate ligament and his medial collateral ligament, and will be sidelined for the 2018-19 campaign.
No additional comment from the Mizzou Men’s Basketball program will be provided at this time. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
Have confirmed with a team spokesperson that Missouri forward Jontay Porter tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee during a scrimmage against Southern Illinois this morning. He will almost certainly miss the entire season. Obviously a massive blow for Missouri.
Here's the release from Mizzou:
COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou sophomore forward Jontay Porter suffered a season-ending knee injury during a closed scrimmage vs. Southern Illinois on Sunday. Porter tore his anterior cruciate ligament and his medial collateral ligament, and will be sidelined for the 2018-19 campaign.
No additional comment from the Mizzou Men’s Basketball program will be provided at this time.
Jesus fucking Christ. God damn shit luck for him and the usual shit fucking luck for us. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Maybe it's been mentioned, but anyone think there's a possibility Jontay comes back next year now?
That'd be pretty smart. Hell the injury may drop him to a 2n rounder and if it does there is no point for him to not come back for year 3. He's no where near the talent of his bro and he dropped way further than anyone could have imagined.
Hopefully Tilmon can pull his head of his ass and play more than a quarter of a game and this could be the start of a really good run. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Maybe it's been mentioned, but anyone think there's a possibility Jontay comes back next year now?
That'd be pretty smart. Hell the injury may drop him to a 2n rounder and if it does there is no point for him to not come back for year 3. He's no where near the talent of his bro and he dropped way further than anyone could have imagined.
Hopefully Tilmon can pull his head of his ass and play more than a quarter of a game and this could be the start of a really good run. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
That'd be pretty smart. Hell the injury may drop him to a 2n rounder and if it does there is no point for him to not come back for year 3. He's no where near the talent of his bro and he dropped way further than anyone could have imagined.
Hopefully Tilmon can pull his head of his ass and play more than a quarter of a game and this could be the start of a really good run.
Jontays entire family has a history of knee troubles; ruined at least 1 sisters career and I think 2.
He needs to go pro. If the other one gives up (and it easily could), he'll never make a dime as a pro.
His skill level wasnt what kept him out of the draft. His conditioning and strength was. He can work on both of those heading into the draft and keep himself in the 1st round.
The risk is too great at this point - dude's gotta go pro. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Jontays entire family has a history of knee troubles; ruined at least 1 sisters career and I think 2.
He needs to go pro. If the other one gives up (and it easily could), he'll never make a dime as a pro.
His skill level wasnt what kept him out of the draft. His conditioning and strength was. He can work on both of those heading into the draft and keep himself in the 1st round.
The risk is too great at this point - dude's gotta go pro.
Can he really work on those with an ACL and MCL tear? I doubt he'll be recovered in time to prepare fully for the draft. [Reply]
Could be surprised, but I expect Porter to declare and just get to the league now. He won’t slip past the second.
For a family whose genetics seem destined for a breakdown, it’s the best play.
Sounds like Dru Smith’s eligibility is less of a slam dunk approval. Have seen some reports it was initially denied, but no confirmation.
I think Mark Smith will held a ton, though, regardless. Having a combo guard alongside Geist/Pinson should help quite a bit.
I’d expect:
Geist
Mark Smith
Watson
Puryear
Tilmon
As the starting 5. Hopefully Mitchell Smith can bump Nikko back into 4th big man territory.
Not sure what they’ll get from KJ Santos. His foot has been an issue for a while, but if he can get healthy, he probably can adequately defend and rebound from the 4, which would set you up offensively to replace some of the skill sets you lose with Porter out. [Reply]
Sucks for this year, but I'm excited for 2019/2020 with the two Smiths and McKinney/Jackson coming in next year. We'll be pretty guard heavy at that point, maybe we can pick up a big in the late signing period or by transfer. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Could be surprised, but I expect Porter to declare and just get to the league now. He won’t slip past the second.
For a family whose genetics seem destined for a breakdown, it’s the best play.
Sounds like Dru Smith’s eligibility is less of a slam dunk approval. Have seen some reports it was initially denied, but no confirmation.
I think Mark Smith will held a ton, though, regardless. Having a combo guard alongside Geist/Pinson should help quite a bit.
I’d expect:
Geist
Mark Smith
Watson
Puryear
Tilmon
As the starting 5. Hopefully Mitchell Smith can bump Nikko back into 4th big man territory.
Not sure what they’ll get from KJ Santos. His foot has been an issue for a while, but if he can get healthy, he probably can adequately defend and rebound from the 4, which would set you up offensively to replace some of the skill sets you lose with Porter out.
There’s something in that Porter gene that breaks down at 18-21. Too bad because the talent is undeniable. [Reply]