# Mizzou Basketball Unranked in Preseason AP Poll

> Missouri Tigers start season unranked despite strong recruiting class.
- Title: Mizzou Basketball Unranked in Preseason AP Poll | Shortify
- Summary: Missouri Tigers start season unranked despite strong recruiting class. Missouri basketball begins 2026-27 season unranked in preseason AP Top 25 Poll with…
- Keywords: mizzou, basketball, preseason ap top 25 poll, dennis gates, jason crowe jr, toni bryant, aidan chronister, james jones, bryson tiller, trent pierce, kennard davis, jaylen carey
- Source: Missouri Tigers On SI — https://si.com/college/missouri/basketball/mizzou-basketball-unranked-in-preseason-ap-top-25-poll
- Published: 2026-10-19T18:24:51+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mizzou, basketball, preseason ap top 25 poll, dennis gates, jason crowe jr, toni bryant, aidan chronister, james jones, bryson tiller, trent pierce, kennard davis, jaylen carey
## Mizzou Basketball Unranked
Missouri basketball begins 2026-27 season unranked in preseason AP Top 25 Poll.
## Strongest Recruiting Class
Tigers enter season with highest-ranked recruiting class in program history.
## Key Players
Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant lead five-star freshmen, with Aidan Chronister as four-star freshman.
## Transfers and Veterans
Jamier Jones and Bryson Tiller join as top-50 transfers, while Trent Pierce returns as captain.
## Prospective Fifth-Year Players
Mark Mitchell and C.J. Gunn eligible for 2026-27 season, with Mitchell leading in points per game.
## NCAA Tournament History
Missouri lost in Round of 64 twice but finished above .500 in conference play both seasons.
## Preseason Top 25 Poll
Missouri ranked 25th in preseason AP Top 25 Poll with first five teams: Missouri, Nebraska, Purdue, Ohio State, North Carolina.
## Nonconference Schedule
Missouri plays four top-25 teams in nonconference slate including No. 3 Illinois and No. 17 Kansas.
## SEC Schedule
Seven ranked SEC opponents await including No. 1 Florida, beaten twice in regular season.
## Key takeaway

Missouri basketball begins 2026-27 season unranked in preseason AP Top 25 Poll with highest-ranked recruiting class in program history.