Missouri Tigers men's basketball


The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Missouri in the SEC. Prior to the 2012–2013 season, the basketball team represented the school in the Big 12 Conference. They are located in Columbia, Missouri, playing home games at Mizzou Arena. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2025. The Tigers' season in 2022–23 was their first under head coach Dennis Gates, who was hired away from Cleveland State to replace the fired Cuonzo Martin. The Missouri men's basketball program was a charter member of the Big 12 Conference, formed from the Big Eight Conference in 1996. Entering the 2023–24 season the Tigers had an all-time record of 1,691–1,245 and a winning percentage of.
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History

The Early Years and Conference Foundation (1907–1928)

The University of Missouri men's basketball program was founded in the 1907–08 season, with the team playing its first game on January 12, 1907, a decisive 65–5 victory over Central College of Fayette. The program was a charter member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the conference that would later evolve into the Big Eight. The Tigers achieved early conference success under coaches like Walter Meanwell and Craig Ruby.

Historical National Championship Selectors

While Missouri has never won the NCAA Tournament and has never been officially recognized by the NCAA as a national champion, the university was twice retroactively designated as being the top-ranked team of the season by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. The 1920–21 and 1921–22 teams, which won conference titles, were designated as the top teams in the nation by this poll, an unofficial, mathematical rating system for the pre-tournament era. These selections are not officially recognized by the NCAA, and the university does not claim being a national champion for either of these seasons.

The Big Six/Big Eight Eras and First NCAA Appearances (1928–1975)

Following the split of the MVIAA, Missouri became a member of the Big Six Conference in 1928, later evolving into the Big Seven and then the Big Eight. Under coach George Edwards, the Tigers won three Big Six regular-season titles. Edwards also led the program to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1944, where the Tigers advanced to the regional semifinal.
The team played in the Brewer Fieldhouse for decades before moving into the Hearnes Center in 1972, a move that significantly boosted the program's profile and attendance capacity.

The Norm Stewart Era: Big Eight Dominance (1976–1999)

The longest and most successful coaching tenure in program history belongs to Norm Stewart, an alumnus who coached the Tigers for 32 seasons. Stewart won 634 games at Missouri, more than the program had won in its entire 60-year history before his arrival.
The Stewart era was defined by Big Eight success and a fierce rivalry with the Kansas Jayhawks. Stewart's teams won eight Big Eight regular-season championships and six conference tournament titles. His teams reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament twice, though the 1994 appearance was later vacated by the NCAA. The 1993–94 team achieved a perfect 14–0 conference record, earning Stewart multiple national coach of the year awards. Stewart also co-founded the Coaches vs. Cancer program following his own battle with the disease.

Big 12 and Modern Runs (2000–2012)

Following Stewart's retirement, the program saw a renewed burst of NCAA Tournament success under Quin Snyder and Mike Anderson. Snyder led the Tigers to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run in 2002. Anderson, who ran a high-tempo style dubbed "The Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball," led the Tigers to a school-record 31 wins in the 2008–09 season. That team captured the Big 12 Tournament Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight. Anderson led the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2004, the team moved into its current home, Mizzou Arena. The program concluded its Big 12 membership in its final year, 2012, by winning the conference tournament championship.

The SEC Era (2012–Present)

The University of Missouri officially joined the Southeastern Conference in July 2012, concluding its long history in the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences. The transition brought new rivalries and challenges in one of the nation's premier basketball leagues. While the program has yet to win an SEC regular-season or tournament title, it has secured multiple NCAA Tournament berths during the SEC era, including a successful run under current coach Dennis Gates.

Coaching history

Current coaching staff

  • Dennis Gates – Men's Basketball Head Coach
  • Kyle Smithpeters – Associate Head Coach
  • Dickey Nutt – Assistant Coach
  • Steve Wright – Assistant Coach
  • Matt Cline – Offensive Coordinator
  • Ryan Sharbaugh – Defensive Coordinator
  • Griffin McHone – Director of Basketball Operations
  • Tim Fuller – General Manager
  • David Carter – Assistant to the Head Coach / Analytics
  • Sean Conaty – Director of Basketball Athletic Performance
  • Chris Perrin – Senior Athletic Trainer
  • Latisha Mayes – Executive Staff Assistant

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 30 times. Their combined record is 23–30. However, their appearance in 1994 has been vacated by the NCAA, making their official record 20–29.
1944Elite Eight
Regional 3rd Place Game		Utah
Pepperdine		L 35–45
W 61–46
1976Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		Washington
Texas Tech
Michigan		W 69–67
W 86–75
L 88–95
1978Round of 32UtahL 79–86 2OT
1980#5Round of 48
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen		#12 San Jose State
  1. 4 Notre Dame
  2. 1 LSU
W 61–51W 87–84 OT
L 63–68
1981#9Round of 48#8 LamarL 67–71
1982#2Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen		#7 Marquette
  1. 6 Houston
W 73–69L 78–79
1983#2Round of 32#7 IowaL 63–77
1986#11Round of 64#6 UABL 64–66
1987#4Round of 64#13 XavierL 69–70
1988#6Round of 64#11 Rhode IslandL 80–87
1989#3Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen		#14 Creighton
  1. 11 Texas
  2. 2 Syracuse
W 85–69W 108–89
L 80–83
1990#3Round of 64#14 Northern IowaL 71–74
1992#5Round of 64
Round of 32		#12 West Virginia
  1. 4 Seton Hall
W 89–78L 71–88
1993#10Round of 64#7 TempleL 61–75
1994*#1Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#16 Navy
  1. 9 Wisconsin
  2. 4 Syracuse
  3. 2 Arizona
W 76–53W 109–96
W 98–88 OT
L 72–92
1995#8Round of 64
Round of 32		#9 Indiana
  1. 1 UCLA
W 65–60L 74–75
1999#8Round of 64#9 New MexicoL 59–61
2000#9First Round#9 North CarolinaL 84–70
2001#9First Round
Second Round		#8 Georgia
  1. 1 Duke
W 70–68L 81–94
2002#12First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#5 Miami
  1. 4 Ohio State
  2. 8 UCLA
  3. 2 Oklahoma
W 93–80W 83–67
W 82–73
L 75–81
2003#6First Round
Second Round		#11 Southern Illinois
  1. 3 Marquette
W 72–71L 92–101 OT
2009#3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#14 Cornell
  1. 6 Marquette
  2. 2 Memphis
  3. 1 Connecticut
W 78–59W 83–79
W 102–91
L 75–82
2010#10First Round
Second Round		#7 Clemson
  1. 2 West Virginia
W 86–78L 59–68
2011#11First Round#6 CincinnatiL 63–78
2012#2First Round#15 Norfolk StateL 84–86
2013#9First Round#8 Colorado StateL 72–84
2018#8First Round#9 Florida StateL 54–67
2021#9First Round#8 OklahomaL 68–72
2023#7First Round
Second Round		#10 Utah State
  1. 15 Princeton
W 76–65 L 63–78
2025#6First Round#11 DrakeL 57–67

* Vacated by the NCAA

NCAA Tournament seeding history

The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.
Years →'80'81'82'83'86'87'88'89'90'92'93'94'95'99'00'01'02'03'09'10'11'12'13'18'21'23'25
Seeds→59221146335101889912631011298976

NIT results

The Tigers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament eight times. Their combined record is 2–8.
1972First RoundSt. John'sL 81–82
1973First RoundMassachusettsL 71–78
1985First RoundSaint Joseph'sL 67–68
1996First Round
Second Round		Murray State
Alabama		W 89–85
L 49–72
1998First RoundUABL 86–93
2004First RoundMichiganL 64–65
2005First RoundDePaulL 70–75
2014First Round
Second Round		Davidson
Southern Miss		W 85–77
L 63–71

NCIT results

The Tigers appeared in one of the only two ever National Commissioners Invitational Tournaments. Their record is 0–1.
1975QuarterfinalsPurdueL 74–87

Retired numbers

Missouri has retired eight jersey numbers, with the most recent ones being the numbers of Derrick Chievous and John Brown in 2019.

Tigers in the NBA

Current

Former

Tigers in the NBA G-League

Former

Tigers in European leagues

Current

Former

Tigers in other leagues

Current

Missouri Tigers All-Americans

Participations in FIBA competitions