‘We have the right pieces’: Mizzou hoops in midst of training for highly-anticipated season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The 2026-27 Mizzou men's basketball season is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated campaigns in recent memory, as the Tigers bring in a new-look roster filled with a highly-touted transfer and freshman class.
As always, head coach Dennis Gates and company are setting their goals high. Each year, the objective remains to make it to March and, from there, make a run to the national championship game. Of course, there's a long way to go before the Final Four is played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan at the start of April, as the Tigers are in the midst of summer work.
"We have the right pieces," forward Bryson Tiller said. "We have great veteran players, great young players, so that'll mesh very well. As long as we give it all we got each night on the court and I feel like [our goals are] accomplishable."
There are quite a few new faces on the court, out at Mizzou Arena, this summer, and the team is focusing on building the chemistry that is so necessary for finding success during the season.
All-in-all, there are nine new players on the roster for the 2026-27 season, including three freshmen and six transfers. You can find a full look at the roster for the upcoming season below.
- Freshman guard Jason Crowe Jr.
- Freshman guard Aidan Chronister
- Freshman forward Toni Bryant
- Redshirt freshman guard Aaron Rowe
- Sophomore center Trent Burns
- Sophomore forward Bryson Tiller
- Sophomore forward Nicholas Randall
- Sophomore guard Jamier Jones
- Junior guard Annor Boateng
- Senior guard Kennard Davis Jr.
- Senior guard Jordan Crawford
- Senior guard Cord Stansberry
- Senior forward Trent Pierce
- Senior forward Jaylen Carey
- Senior forward Luke Northweather
A couple of those standout transfers, Tiller and forward Jamier Jones, sat down with ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones, after Wednesday morning's practice. They said they can't believe how quickly this team is coming together.
"It's clicking quickly," Jones said. "I think we're doing a lot of teams bonding. Last year, [at Providence], I didn't really have a lot of team bonding, so this year that stood out to me that I'm able to do a lot of team bonding and get to know my teammates very well. I mean, we all live next door to each other, so that makes it even better. We get to see each other every day and know just embrace each other, just show love to each other and be there for one another when we need each other."
Both Tiller and Jones are optimistic about what this team can bring to the court in just over 100 days, when the Tigers open up the season in November.
"I think we got a little bit of trace of everything: physical, fast, we got shooters, I think we got everything. That's what makes us so special and I can't wait for us to show that," Jones said.
In addition to his Top-15 transfer class, Coach Gates brought in one of the top-rated freshman classes in the entire country. Five-stars Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant, as well as four-star Aidan Chronister are officially beginning their Tiger careers.
Of course, expectations for that trio are sky-high, but Tiller emphasized that it's important to take things day-by-day and practice-by-practice.
Tiller, a transfer from Kansas, is hoping he can pass down some of the knowledge that he took from his freshman season with the Jayhawks to Crowe Jr., Bryant and Chronister, this season. The forward said the biggest thing he's been telling those guys is to keep a grind mindset everyday, compete and be loud on the floor. Those are the things that can separate you, at such a young age.
Despite only being a sophomore, Tiller has managed to separate himself, as well, showing he can be a leader on this Tiger team.
"[Being a leader is] just a decision that I had to make," he said. "Either I stay where I am, stay complacent and not reach the goals that I want to, or take that next step and, you know, be uncomfortable and, you know, just talk to these guys, lead lead by example and by voice, which I've been able to do."
The former Kansas forward came across state lines to join the Tigers for the 2026-27 season, as he said Coach Gates instilled confidence him, off the jump. He quite a journey in Lawrence, as he redshirted in his true freshman season, after ending his high school career, at Overtime Elite, with a severe ankle injury. As a result, he enrolled early at KU and spent time taking in the game from the sidelines.
In the 2025-26 season, he made his debut for head coach Bill Self, starting in 31 of the last 32 games of the season, only missing the Jayhawks' senior day clash. He averaged 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest, ranking second on the team with 45 blocked shots.
"[I bring] a dominant presence, rebounding, scoring, blocking shots and then leadership again is one area where I'm really trying to take that next step," Tiller said.
As for Jones, he's also had a interesting journey to Columbia. The forward went viral when he was in middle school for his innate ability to dunk the basketball. From there, he decided to start his college career at Providence, where he played under former MU great Kim English.
Jones averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Friars in the 2025-25 season. As a result, he was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team.
"[I'll bring] winning plays, for sure," Jones said, when asked what he'll bring to the court, this season. "I just always been that type of guy to bring winning anywhere I am, I don't like to lose. So, I think I'm going to do whatever it takes for us to win and put my body on the line for my team and my coaches."
Tiller, Jones and the Tigers are on their final week of summer practices and will hit the ground running, once the school year begins.
