5 thoughts on the Mizzou men’s basketball team

Last year at this time, Dennis Gates was in the process of finalizing his first roster at Missouri.

He had the majority of his staff in place and was about a week away from landing Isiaih Mosley from the transfer portal.

Here are five thoughts on the Missouri men’s basketball team as the month of May switches to June.

The most important player this offseason is Aidan Shaw

With Mohamed Diarra’s departure, DeAndre Gholston’s graduation and the potential of Kobe Brown staying in the NBA Draft, Missouri would lose much of its rebounding production and potential from last season.

Brown was the team’s best rebounder, but Gholston helped rebound in the midrange and Diarra was a player that improved as the season went on coming off the bench.

This puts the onus on one of MU’s returning players in Aidan Shaw.

Gates challenged Shaw last year by asking him to be a better rebounder. Shaw responded to that challenge and showed his potential, but he finished the season still behind Brown, Noah Carter and Diarra at times in the rotation.

This year, he becomes one of the most important players for MU this offseason. That challenge still remains for Shaw, especially if Brown departs through the draft.

Missouri would need a rebounder. Shaw could be that player, especially if he spends this summer training his body and adding muscle in the weight room.

The potential is there, and when Brown missed a January game against Alabama Shaw started in Brown’s place. The next step for Shaw is to show he can take over that role full-time if need be.

If Shaw can be the rebounder Gates needs him to be, he would fill a massive role next season.

More:What Jesus Carralero’s commitment means for Mizzou basketball

The unsung hero could be Jesus Carralero

Gates must be hearing a broken record at this point.

Missouri needs a big man. The Tigers missed all the available transfer centers and forwards. Who can rebound?

While that’s not incorrect, MU still needs a plan when it comes to bigger teams it could face like Ole Miss, MU’s bench is bringing in talent. Freshmen Jordan Butler and Trent Pierce stand at 6-foot-11 and 6-foot-10, according to MU athletics.

This need for rebounding and a productive post-player is what makes Campbell transfer Jesus Carralero a potential unsung hero.

The 6-foot-9 forward can score, but he can also pass and rebound. If he can handle the ball carefully and consistently off the bench, Carralero would be the kind of player that would deepen the Tigers’ bench. That’s something MU could have used against Princeton in the NCAA Tournament.

The biggest question with Carralero is if he can do it at the SEC level. The counterpoint is that Gates took a handful of mid-major players and pieced together a team that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The opportunity for Carralero will be there.

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