Coda: What we’ve learned at the end of Kellie Harper’s first year at the helm of Mizzou

The Mizzou women’s hoops yet closed its play pinch a nonaccomplishment successful nan 2nd information of nan WBIT. While this is nan seventh consecutive play Mizzou has missed nan NCAA Tournament, it snapped a two-year postseason drought. Under first twelvemonth caput coach Kellie Harper location was a larger consciousness of excitement astir nan programme pinch nan additions of caller players and a reinvigorated offense. However, a seven-game losing streak to extremity nan regular play and nan blowout nonaccomplishment to BYU successful nan WBIT has near a bad sensation successful nan mouths of fans.

With nan five-month play officially over, let’s return a look astatine immoderate of nan champion and nan worst from Harper’s first play down nan bench; and what comes adjacent for Mizzou.

Compared to nan last seasons nether Robin Pingeton nan Tigers opportunity maturation successful twelvemonth 1 nether Harper. Mizzou’s 16 wide wins and 4 successful SEC play were nan astir successful nan programme since nan 2022-23 season. The Tigers picked up non-conference wins against powerfulness teams for illustration Northwestern and California. In SEC play nan squad scored cardinal roadworthy wins against Mississippi State and Arkansas arsenic portion of a three-game winning streak against convention foes.

The discourtesy greatly improved nether Harper, jumping from 68.6 points per crippled past play to 72.4. Grace Slaughter led nan measurement offensively, finishing arsenic nan sixth highest scorer successful nan SEC aft averaging a career-high 18.7 points per game. The 3.7 PPG summation her inferior twelvemonth was nan main logic she received Second Team All-SEC honors this season.

The secondary scorer was Shannon Dowell, nan astir impactful transportation summation from nan past year. During nan 2024-25 season, nan secondary scorer was existent Texas Longhorn Ashton Judd astatine 11.6 points. Dowell provided a immense spark pinch 14.9 points per crippled to return immoderate of nan unit disconnected Slaughter. A awesome illustration of this came erstwhile she scored 25 points successful nan roadworthy triumph complete Arkansas, starring nan Tigers to a large triumph distant from Mizzou Arena.

Another awesome betterment that thief nan Mizzou scoring was an improved ratio and measurement astatine nan free propulsion line. Compared to nan erstwhile year, this year’s Tiger squad changeable 2.7 much free throws astatine a 7% amended clip. In 2024-25, Mizzou only had 2 players that changeable 80% aliases amended from nan line; that number jumped to 5 this season.

Perhaps nan astir awesome subordinate was Jayla Smith, making nan astir of her 1 twelvemonth astatine Mizzou. Smith changeable 88.2% from nan statement connected a full of 51 attempts. Smith averaged 7.8 points this twelvemonth while shooting 43.5% from nan section and 29.6% from three. She was a 50/40/90 subordinate for astir of nan play earlier her averages went down arsenic her usage accrued later successful nan year.

Freshman Reka Toman was technically a 50/40/90 subordinate for astir of nan season, but her comparatively mini usage keeps her from being recognized for her accomplishment nationally. Toman had nan highest free propulsion percent connected nan squad astatine 91.7% connected conscionable 12 attempts.

While location was plentifulness of bully successful nan first play of this caller era, location is still overmuch to beryllium improved for Coach Harper and her staff. The biggest struggle was nan protect broadside of nan ball. The Tigers allowed 76.5 points per game, ranking 353rd retired of 363 Division I teams. Now, immoderate of this is simply a denotation of playing successful nan SEC. The convention has 4 of nan apical 8 scoring teams successful nan nation. But this rumor was prevalent moreover successful nan non-con, arsenic Mizzou gave up 100 points successful its nonaccomplishment to Troy.

While nan Tigers’ halfcourt defense wasn’t unspeakable this year, they struggled pinch easy points either disconnected turnovers aliases opposing violative rebounds. Mizzou averaged 16.1 turnovers which turned into an mean of 16.6 points allowed per game.

Another rumor that was little successful nan Tigers’ power was injuries. Mizzou missed a mixed 118 games from players this year, often forced to suit up only 8 aliases 9 players per game. The bulk of those games were missed by Averi Kroenke, Hannah Linthacum and Sydney Mains, who each suffered a season-ending wounded during nan preseason.

This short chair seemed to return a toll connected Mizzou’s endurance down nan stretch, ending nan regular play connected a 7-game losing skid. This losing streak included losses connected nan roadworthy t0 Harper’s alma mater Tennessee by 45 points and a program-record 53-point nonaccomplishment to LSU. While each losses count nan same, these sorts of blowouts tin weaken a team’s resume if they find themselves connected nan bubble towards nan extremity of nan season.

While nan Tigers intelligibly improved during Harper’s first twelvemonth arsenic nan caput of nan program, nan jump wasn’t rather arsenic drastic arsenic galore expected. I understand, it tin beryllium difficult to beryllium excited pinch different 1st information exit successful nan SEC Tournament and nary postseason. But I person a sneaking suspicion that Coach is conscionable getting started.

The Tigers are projected to suffer 3 players pinch Jayla Smith, Jordana Reisma and Saniah Tyler each group to graduate. While these were 3 cardinal rotational pieces for Mizzou (averaging a mixed 21.6 points and starting 36 games), nan bulk of nan roster is group to return.

This includes some Slaughter and Dowell, coming backmost for their elder seasons. Next year’s squad will besides see nan returns of Kroenke, Mains and Linthacum from wounded who adhd extent astatine cardinal positions. The remainder of nan roster will return pinch a full bunch of added activity and acquisition to nan Harper strategy successful nan off-season to develop.

But possibly astir importantly is Harper’s 5 incoming freshman recruits. The group includes a trio of four-stars talents successful nan shape of Natalya Hodge, Khloe Ford and Jada Maples. Just this past week Ford and Maples each won authorities titles, ending their precocious schoolhouse careers pinch a bang. You tin publication much astir each of nan caller additions here.

As nan merchandise connected nan tribunal improved and plentifulness much talent coming down nan pipeline, Mizzou women’s hoops is group to nutrient its astir breathtaking squad successful years successful 2026-27. But we’ll conscionable person to hold and see.