After winning 23 games and finishing tied for second in the MVC last season, coach Dana Ford will be re-tooling the lineup for 2022-23 as only one starter, Donovan Clay, and three total roster players return.

In Ford’s four seasons as head coach at Missouri State, the Bears have finished in the top three in The Valley standings on three occasions while posting a 40-18 combined record over the past two seasons. But a transfer-heavy rebuild in 2022-23 presents an opportunity for Ford and his staff.

Clay, who was a transfer himself just a year ago, headlines MSU’s short list of returnees. The MVC All-Defensive Team standout averaged 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in his first year in Springfield. He also added 59 assists 36 blocks and 21 steals to grow his reputation as one of the league’s best-rounded players.

Dawson Carper was the only other Bear to see action last year, as he played in 27 games, averaging 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds off the bench. Raphe Ayres took a redshirt season in 2021-22, but played in 10 games as a true freshman the year before, showing promise as a solid shooter and rebounder for Ford early in his young career.

The rest of Missouri State roster features 14 new squad members, which includes seven Division I transfers.  Three of those seven transfers started 20 or more games last year.  Matthew Lee averaged 6.8 points per game while starting 25 of 30 games for Saint Peters, while leading the Peacocks to the Sweet Sixteen and finding himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Kendle Moore started all 29 games at Colorado State and contributed 6.5 points per game; and Bryan Trimble Jr. started 22 of 23 games for Akron with 10.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest to bolster his 61 treys.

James Graham (Maryland), Alston Mason (Oklahoma), Chance Moore (Arkansas) and Dalen Ridgnal (Georgia) were all part of high-level programs last season and look to bring their experience and thirst to contribute to a potentially-deep Bears rotation this winter. Junior college transfer Jonathan Mogbo (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) led all Region 2 players in rebounding (10.5 rpg) a year ago, which placed him 17th in the country, while firing at an impressive 49.7-percent clip from the field.

   Missouri State will also have six freshmen looking to help lay the foundation for the team’s future and lead MSU back to postseason play again this season.