The Missouri men’s basketball team held its media day on Monday Oct. 16, three weeks ahead of its season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the second year under head coach Dennis Gates, there’s plenty of new faces on the team, as 10 of the 18 players on the roster are either freshmen or transfer students. 

Here’s what the players and coach Gates had to say about the team’s challenges, the bond they  have created and their goals for the season.

Chemistry

With many newcomers, it would be understandable if the 2023 team was still working on forming connections. According to the players and Gates though, the team has quickly built strong relationships. 

“The gel is like glue right now,” sophomore forward Aidan Shaw said. “We’re stuck together in a good way […] these are my brothers.”

The team has seemingly built a culture that encourages being supportive of each other, as well as making sure everyone is performing to their full potential.

“We spend a lot of time together,” transfer guard John Tonje said. “We work hard in the gym, we hold each other accountable. We’ve hung out a lot and just really tried to get to know each other, even with us being new […] we’re doing everything we can just to stay connected.”

Coach Gates has recognized the team’s growing bonds as well.

“Slowly but surely I see a team that loves to play with each other,” coach Gates said. “They love to work and get each other better.”

Leadership

After losing two leading voices in Kobe Brown and D’Moi Hodge to the NBA, Gates has made his expectations clear for the leadership roles he expects his veteran players to fill.

“These guys need to talk more,” Gates said. “They need to continue to challenge each other in a healthy way.”

Gates specifically mentioned graduate forward Noah Carter as a player he hopes will take on a bigger leadership role this season.

“I’ve been working on just trying to be the biggest voice out on the court, [and] in the locker room,” graduate forward Noah Carter said. “Just to be a person that people can rely on. I have a lot to go but I’m working day by day to try to fulfill that role.”

Additionally, transfers such as Tonje have quickly found an important voice on the team in their first season.

“My role is just trying to be the best leader I can be on and off the court,” Tonje said. “I’m trying to be a big brother for the guys, for the younger guys specifically, just pave them through their freshman year. I remember when I was younger and I really depended on the upperclassmen. So just taking that time and just trying to help them.”

“Phoenix”

Missouri’s 2022 team exceeded most people’s expectations, finishing with a 23-8 record in the first year of Gates’ tenure. However, the team fell short in the second round of the NCAA tournament in a 78-63 loss against Princeton.

The Tigers will look to grow new wings this season by making it to Phoenix, AZ, the site of the Final Four and championship rounds in early April.

“We want to end our season in Phoenix,” Carter said. “We end every huddle, we end every meeting [by] coming together [to] say ‘Phoenix.’ So we got our eyes on Phoenix and that’s our goal.”

While it may seem like the team is looking too far into the future, the mindset of putting one foot in front of the other remains.

“I feel like you alway need to keep ultimate goals,” graduate guard Nick Honor said. “You just got to stack those pennies and build on each day. I feel like we’re doing it well, but you can’t lose sight of the ultimate goals. So you just got to balance it out.”

“I want them [the players] to understand everything that we put into our day, into our craft, it is for something,” Gates said. “And that something is happening in April and it’s a place that Missouri men’s basketball hasn’t been.”

Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com 

Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com Edited by Sophie Rentschler | srentschler@themaneater.com