Once again, the college basketball offseason buzz revolves around the transfer portal, which continues to expand each year, impacting virtually every college basketball program in some way. This holds true for the Missouri Tigers. As Coach Dennis Gates enters his third season at the helm of Mizzou, he finds himself once more navigating the unpredictable waters of the transfer portal in a bid to construct a competitive roster, aiming to rebound from one of the program’s bleakest seasons.
In his debut season in Columbia, Gates successfully recruited players from the portal, guiding the Tigers to their best NCAA Tournament finish in a decade. However, the following year saw mixed results as the roster failed to fully coalesce, hindered by injuries that hampered the integration of anticipated transfers. This underscores the dual nature of utilizing the transfer portal as a primary roster-building strategy—a tactic that entails both significant risks and potential rewards, as evidenced by Missouri’s experiences under Gates’ leadership.
As year three unfolds, Gates dedicates much of the offseason to reflecting on the past season’s lessons and assembling a roster poised to compete not only within the SEC but also on a national level. The Tigers have already witnessed several departures through the portal, with six players opting to explore new opportunities following a season marked by fluctuating roles and injury setbacks.
However, rather than dwelling on Missouri’s losses to the portal, I’m inclined to look ahead with cautious optimism at the new recruits Coach Dennis Gates has secured for the upcoming 2024-25 season.