The 2023-24 season was one of the worst in Mizzou history. After starting November with a 6-2 record, the team unraveled, finishing 2-22 the rest of the way and closing the season on a staggering 19-game losing streak. Its 8-24 overall record was the worst for Mizzou in over 50 years and included a league-worst 0-18 conference performance.

With that said, there’s plenty of room for improvement. However, with an active transfer portal this offseason and a stellar recruiting class, now is the time for a significant jump in the win column. These three players are poised to help the team make that leap.

One of the biggest offseason additions for Mizzou is 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward Mark Mitchell. He transferred from Duke, one of college basketball’s elite programs, particularly over the past few decades. In his freshman season, Mitchell played under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, during a year when Duke won 32 games, captured the conference championship, and made a run to the Final Four. With big-game experience early in his collegiate career, Mitchell’s presence will be invaluable to the Tigers. Averaging 6 rebounds per game last season, his contributions on the boards are exactly what Mizzou needs. The Kansas City native’s decision to transfer to Columbia was a surprising move, but he aims to bring significant improvement to the squad with his veteran leadership. Mitchell offers athleticism, aggressive defense, and the ability to score inside with ease.

Speaking of veteran transfers from Kansas City, the Tigers added Tamar Bates from the Big Ten last season. A skilled scorer, Bates saw significantly more playing time last season at Mizzou than he ever did at Indiana. During his two seasons at Indiana, he started just two games and saw limited minutes. However, in his three years of college basketball, Bates has shown consistent improvement across all aspects of his game. He shot below 34% from the field in 2022, but that number jumped to nearly 50% last season at Mizzou, where his minutes doubled. His three-point shooting and rebounding also improved, despite his 6-foot-5 frame. Bates was a standout in what was otherwise a tough season for Mizzou, and heading into his senior year, he’s expected to step up as a leader on a team filled with younger players—a role the Tigers have sorely needed. Coming off the best season of his collegiate career, Tamar will look to build on that success and contribute to more wins for the Tigers in 2024.

Among the more experienced portal additions is Tony Perkins, a talented guard who spent four years at Iowa. Perkins started 81 games for the Hawkeyes, including every game over the past two seasons. Last year, he averaged 31 minutes per game—one of the highest on the team—showcasing his durability, a quality Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates will surely appreciate. Perkins is a versatile player, averaging over 4 rebounds, nearly 5 assists, and almost 2 steals per game last season, all while contributing 14 points per game. Despite being just 6-foot-4, he’s proven to be a well-rounded player who can impact the game in multiple ways. Perkins is expected to log heavy minutes for Mizzou and will likely fill the box score across all statistical categories, providing a much-needed boost to the team.

This is a make-or-break season for Mizzou, and it all began with its offseason recruiting. They needed to land key targets and enter the season ready to compete. With tipoff against Memphis just over a month away, the Tigers appear poised for action.