One season ago, Missouri men’s basketball was preparing for their second game of the season versus Penn, a team with just one NCAA Tournament appearance to their name since 2008. This year, game two will pit the Tigers against Memphis, a program coming off back-to-back appearances in March Madness and the 14th best transfer class in the nation this summer according to 247 Sports. 

“It’s a great opportunity in front of our fans, in front of our city to be able to play a caliber game of this magnitude with NCAA implications,” head coach Dennis Gates said. “It’s early. Both programs have a lot of new faces and some great players.”

The difference in scheduling styles from this year compared to last is part of Gates’ strategy to help better prepare his team for the challenges that lie ahead both in out of conference play, as well as the vigorous SEC schedule. 

“It’s a contrast to last season,” Gates said. “We want to see who we are so we can now use that information and that experience to continue to grow at this phase, because growing in November is different than growing in December preparing for the SEC.”

Although both Tigers have not played each other since their matchup in the 2009 Sweet 16, a game which Missouri won 102-91, there are some faces on Penny Hardaway’s squad which will be familiar to Missouri: Alabama transfer Jahvon Quinerly and Wichita State transfer Jaykwon Walton. 

Quinerly had some success against Missouri when they matched up in the regular season, scoring 13 points in a Crimson Tide victory. However, Missouri had his number when they matched up in the SEC tournament, holding the guard to just a single point on 0/9 shooting  from the field. 

Walton led the Shockers with 14 points in their overtime loss to the Tigers last season, and he  pulled down 10 rebounds as well to post a double-double. With graduate transfer Connor Vanover still sidelined for Missouri, slowing Walton down on the glass could prove to be a challenge. 

“They are great players, tremendous, tremendous experience and also come from great programs,” Gates said. “Jaykwon Walton … I believe he’s a pro. Jahvon Quinerly the same way. He’s seen basketball at a high level. These guys are talented, talented players.”

The key to success in Gates’ mind? A better assist-to-turnover ratio, as well as Missouri carrying over their high shooting percentages from the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

“I thought 13 turnovers was too many,” Gates said. “We had a single-digit number, and then there was a spell, maybe in the game or with my substitution pattern, that I got to be more cognitive of and not put guys in bad situations.”

Along with previewing Memphis, Gates also took the time to talk about the five members of the 2024 recruiting class who signed letters of intent with Missouri on Wednesday.

“You look at these young kids, but you look at their support systems, their families,” Gates said. “These kids stopped going on official visits because they knew they wanted to be here. They knew the connectivity they had with our staff, our current roster, but also the style of play and where they wanted their futures to go. I’m thankful.”

The class, led by 5-star wing Annor Boateng, is ranked as the best in the SEC and 2nd in the entire country behind Duke by 247 Sports. The Tigers still have one scholarship available, with 5-star center Jayden Quaintance naming Missouri as one of his final four schools along with SEC rivals Florida and Kentucky, as well as Ohio State. 

Missouri will tip off against Memphis inside of Mizzou Arena on Nov. 10. Tip-off is set for 8 P.M.

Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com