Mizzou has five freshmen, two sophomores, and it's starting backcourt is comprised of first year transfers (Juco and grad). Their lone senior is a transfer who is playing his second season. And they have a new coach and staff to boot.
Wut? MU has three seniors and six juniors. Of their first six players in minutes played four are upper classmen averaging 107 minutes between them and the other two are freshmen, one of those 6'10 and one 6'11", averaging 38 minutes. St John's first five includes three second year players and two first year players who account for 150 minutes per game. Talk about choosing your own facts, good grief.
Mizzou has two seniors on scholarship and both are transfers. They have ten players who have averaged 10.3 mpg or more and have played all seven games:
Kassius Robertson - first year with Mizzou; grad transfer from the MAAC
Kevin Puryear - junior
Jordan Barnett - senior transfer playing in his second year with Mizzou
Jontay Porter - true freshman who turned 18 last week and re-classified from 2019 class
Jeremiah Tilmon - true freshman
Jordan Geist - first year with Mizzou; JUCO transfer
Cullen Vanleer - junior
Terrence Philllips - junior
Blake Harris - true freshman
Reed Nikko - sophomore
Ahmed - Senior
Alibegovic - Senior
Owens - Fourth year junior
Clark - Fourth year junior
Yakwe - Junior
Lovett- Third year soph
Simon - Third year soph
Ponds - True soph
Trimble - True freshman
I don't see how we are considered young every year and how that's a valid excuse compared to a team like Mizzou who is clearly overcoming more adjustments with a brand new staff, six new players, and their best player (a freshman) ruled out for the season the day before the tournament. Next year we will likely be younger when we replace Ahmed, Alibegovic, and Lovett with at least three freshmen and two redshirt sophs.