Cuonzo Martin's Roster Overhaul Brings New Energy to Missouri State Basketball

Missouri State basketball coach Cuonzo Martin is ushering in a new era for the Bears, with a roster that features 15 newcomers as the team prepares for its final season in the Missouri Valley Conference. The revamped squad includes a mix of Division I and junior college transfers, as well as a handful of promising freshmen, all aiming to help the Bears defy preseason expectations and make a statement in their conference swan song.

Reloading for a Final Run in the Valley

Newcomers Poised to Make an Impact

The Bears' roster overhaul includes several players who are expected to make an immediate impact. Freshman forward Baldwin, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound prospect, averaged an impressive 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in high school, and held offers from several notable programs. Guard Brady, a transfer from IUPUI, started 52 games and made 63 appearances over his first two seasons, averaging 10 points and 86 3-pointers made. Downing-Rivers, a junior college transfer, could be the Bears' starting point guard after leading his previous team to a national title, averaging 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.

Returning Pieces and Injury Concerns

The Bears' roster features just two returning players from last season, with one, Kramer, sidelined for the year due to an offseason knee surgery. Kramer started two games and was effective when healthy, shooting 36.4% from deep and averaging 14.9 minutes per appearance. The other returner, Pinegar, played in eight games as a redshirt freshman, logging seven minutes of action.

Transfers Seeking a Fresh Start

The Bears have also brought in several transfer players looking to revive their careers. Murray, a former reserve at Murray State, is considered a great athlete with untapped potential. Oba, a transfer from Delaware State, started seven of his 34 appearances last season, averaging 6.2 points and 6.2 rebounds as a 6-foot-8 forward. Udemadu, who spent his first season of Division I basketball at Florida Southwestern, posted seven double-doubles and shot 60% from the field.

Promising Freshmen Joining the Fold

The Bears' roster also features several promising freshmen, including King, who averaged 28.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2 steals per game in high school, and was named the Sunflower League Player of the Year and area player of the year. Stanback, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 20.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game in high school. Valentine, a 6-foot-3 guard, was named Pennsylvania's Class 3A Player of the Year after averaging 33.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.

Familiar Faces and Unexpected Additions

The Bears' roster also includes a few familiar faces, such as Martin, the son of head coach Cuonzo Martin, who is joining the team after being a walk-on for the national championship runner-up Purdue Boilermakers. The team has also added a few unexpected pieces, including Epes, a walk-on Division II transfer from Midwestern State, and Gaines, a 5-foot-8 walk-on freshman who averaged 15.5 points per game in high school.

Expectations and Challenges Ahead

Despite the significant roster overhaul, the Bears have been picked to finish 11th in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, with most of the league's standouts from last season entering the transfer portal. However, the Bears' new-look roster, led by the experienced Cuonzo Martin, is poised to defy expectations and make a statement in their final season in the conference.