Missouri State Bears
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #74
Conference Rank: #3 Missouri Valley
Besides a four game stretch of tough games against Drake and Loyola-Chicago, Missouri State had a great 2020-2021 season. The Bears finished the year with a 17-7 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Missouri Valley play. The Bears made a nice push up the conference standings and now will be eyeing an even better season and perhaps their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1999, when they made a run to the Sweet Sixteen. With four starters back and plenty of depth, Coach Dana Ford has the tools to do it, but they will have to find a way to get past Drake and Loyola.
2020-21 Record: 17-7, 12-6
2020-21 Postseason: None
Coach: Dana Ford
Coach Record: 49-40 at Missouri State, 106-105 overall
Key Departed Players:
Jared Ridder, Forward, 7.4 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Isiaih Mosley, Junior, Guard, 19.8 ppg
Gaige Prim, Senior, Forward, 16.7 ppg
Ja’Monta Black, Junior, Guard, 9.6 ppg
Demarcus Sharp, Senior, Guard, 8.2 ppg
Keaton Hervey, Senior, Guard/Forward, 7.4 ppg
Lu’Cye Patterson, Sophomore, Guard, 2.5 ppg
Elijah Bridgers, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Nick Tata, Senior, Forward, 1.9 ppg
Skylar Wicks, Sophomore, Guard, 1.0 ppg
Raphe Ayres, Sophomore, Guard, 0.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Donovon Clay, Junior, Guard/Forward, Transfer from Valparaiso
Isaac Haney, Freshman, Guard
Jaylen Minnett, Senior, Guard, Transfer from IUPUI
Projection:
Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Primm are an amazing duo who can carry this team a long way. Mosley, a 6-5 wing, averaged 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He is not a prolific outside shooter, but he is consistent. Prim, a 6-8 senior, can do everything. He averaged 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks. He is a beast in the paint on both ends of the floor. This team is not just about Mosley and Prim though. Ja’Monta Black and Keaton Hervey are returning starters who can both knock down some three-pointers. Black averaged 9.6 points per game and could again be the team’s third scoring option. Demarcus Sharp is not a great shooting threat, but he dished out a team high 3.7 assists and is very capable of scoring by attacking the basket. Donovan Clay is a big 6-8 wing that transferred in from Valparaiso. During his sophomore campaign last year, he averaged 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. His size and versatility will be huge for this team. Jaylen Minnett is another proven scorer. He is a great three-point shooter and spent the last four years with IUPUI where he ended last season averaging 16.4 points per game. This is an experienced group that has a lot of offensive weapons. It remains to be seen if they can get past the best of the best in the MVC, but Missouri State should be right in the mix for a conference title.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.4 (113th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.4 (59, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.8 (25, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.0 (46, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (143, 4)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.0 (116, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.2 (61, 1)
Rebound Margin: 5.0 (41, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (141, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.7 (136, 8)
