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 (15,061). 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 .576.
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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 (MVIAA), the conference that would later evolve into the Big Eight. The Tigers achieved early conference success under coaches like Walter Meanwell and Craig Ruby.
While Missouri has never won the NCAA Tournament (established in 1939) or been officially recognized by the NCAA as a national champion, the program was twice retroactively selected as a top team by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. The 1920–21 and 1921–22 teams, which won conference titles, were retroactively designated as the top teams in the nation by the poll, an unofficial mathematical rating system used to rank the strongest college basketball teams from the pre-tournament era. These selections are not officially recognized by the NCAA, and the university does not claim any national title.
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 (1926–1946), 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 (now known as the Elite Eight).
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 (1967–1999). 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 ("The Border War"). 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 (1976 and 1994), 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 (2009–2011).
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 (SEC) 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 (hired in 2022).
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 31 times. Their combined record is 23–30. However, their appearance in 1994 has been vacated by the NCAA, making their official record 20–29.
* Vacated by the NCAA
The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.
NIT results
The Tigers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) eight times. Their combined record is 2–8.
NCIT results
The Tigers appeared in one of the only two ever National Commissioners Invitational Tournaments. Their record is 0–1.
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
Jordan Clarkson (New York Knicks)
Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn Nets)
Dru Smith (Miami Heat)
Kobe Brown (Indiana Pacers)
D'Moi Hodge (Dallas Mavericks)
Tamar Bates (Denver Nuggets)
Former
Kareem Rush (Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers)
Keyon Dooling (Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies)
Larry Drew (Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers)
Jon Sundvold (Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat)
Steve Stipanovich (Indiana Pacers)
Doug Smith (Dallas Mavericks)
Byron Irvin (Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Washington Bullets)
Anthony Peeler (Los Angeles Lakers, Vancouver Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards)
Thomas Gardner (Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs)
Derrick Chievous (Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Melvin Booker (Houston Rockets)
John Brown (Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz)
Rickey Paulding (Detroit Pistons)
Linas Kleiza (Denver Nuggets)
Kim English (Detroit Pistons)
Jabari Brown (Los Angeles Lakers)
Al Eberhard (Detroit Pistons)
Tigers in the NBA G-League
Former
J. T. Tiller, Idaho Stampede
Thomas Gardner, Austin Toros & Reno Bighorns
Marshall Brown, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
DeMarre Carroll, Dakota Wizards
Leo Lyons, Dakota Wizards
Kareem Rush, Los Angeles D-Fenders
Alex Oriakhi, Erie BayHawks
Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles D-Fenders
Jabari Brown, Los Angeles D-Fenders
Stefhon Hannah, Reno Bighorns
Jordan Barnett, Wisconsin Herd & Fort Wayne Mad Ants
JaKeenan Gant, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Jonathan Williams, South Bay Lakers & Capital City Go-Go
Jontay Porter, Wisconsin Herd & Motor City Cruise
Tigers in European leagues
Current
Jason Conley, Kouvot (Finland)
JaKeenan Gant, Hapoel Be'er Sheva (Israel)
Marcus Denmon, Peristeri B.C. (Greece)
Tyler Stone, Israeli Basketball Premier League
Former
Rickey Paulding, EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany)
J.T. Tiller, Landstede Basketbal (Netherlands)
Linas Kleiza, Olimpia Milano (Italy)
Tigers in other leagues
Current
Leo Lyons, Altiri Chiba, (Japan)
Ricardo Ratliffe, Jeonju KCC Egis (South Korea)
Jeremiah Tilmon, Brampton Honey Badgers (Canada)
Johnathan Williams, Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya (Japan)
Missouri Tigers All-Americans
Fred Williams, 1916
Craig Ruby, F, 1918–1919
George Williams, C, 1920–1921
Herb Bunker, G, 1921–1923
Arthur Browning, F, 1922–1923
Marshall Craig, F, 1930
Max Collings, 1931
John Lobsiger, G, 1939–1940
Bill Stauffer, C, 1952
Norm Stewart, G, 1956, former head coach at Northern Iowa (1961–1967) and Mizzou (1967–1999)
Charles Henke, C, 1961
John Brown, F, 1972–1973
Willie Smith, G, 1976
Ricky Frazier, F, 1982
Steve Stipanovich, C, 1983
Jon Sundvold, G, 1983
Derrick Chievous, F, 1987
Doug Smith, F, 1990
Anthony Peeler, G, 1992
Melvin Booker, G, 1994
Marcus Denmon, G, 2012
Phil Pressey, G, 2013
Participations in FIBA competitions
1976 FIBA Intercontinental Cup: 5th place