The Morning Commute for April 14, 2025.

Welcome to the Morning Commute

Today we’re talking about big men. And really big men.

If you’re like the rest of us over at Rock M+, you’ve been anxiously awaiting Mizzou Hoops inevitable move into the front court market of the transfer portal. With Josh Gray exiting the roster (also to the portal, somehow?), Mizzou was in desperate need of some help down low. And they got it on Sunday… oh wait, until they suddenly found themself in need again.

Mizzou landed its fourth commit of the transfer class when former LSU and Arizona State big Shawn Phillips, Jr., pledged his signature (can you sign a non-contract).

Landing Phillips comes after a week or so where MU’s staff canvassed its options exiting a recruiting dead period. The vetting included High Point’s Juslin Bodo Bodo, Oregon State’s Parsa Fallah, and Central Arkansas’ Nehemiah Turner. Ultimately, Phillips’ frame, athleticism and three seasons combined at LSU and in Tempe won out.

Harris’s trademark deep dive reveals that Mizzou fans shouldn’t expect a world-beater. Rather, Phillips gives the staff another experienced, stable option to turn to should the likes of Trent Burns and Nicholas Randall and Peyton Marshall not develop as they’re hoping.

Wait, what’s that?

So Mizzou will be starting the 2025-2026 season with a front court composed of Shawn Phillips and two players who’ve never logged a minute of college basketball?

Cool. Cool cool cool.

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Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+

• In which the hoops staff keeps track of the list of potential transfers for Kellie Harper:

Mizzou WBB currently has quite the limited roster, after losing four players to graduation and six to the portal (as of 4/9). As of this writing, they’ve brought in one new transfer and a HS recruit who will join six returners. So, that means new head coach Kellie Harper has seven spots to fill over the next month.

Nothing like hitting the ground running, eh, Kellie?

• In which Mizzou Baseball is slowly brushing its way to history… the bad kind!

The three losses this weekend move the Tigers to 0-15 in the SEC, extending what was already the program record for most losses to begin conference play. A winless conference season remains highly unlikely; it hasn’t happened in the SEC since 1962.

But each close loss is a key opportunity lost, bringing the team closer to that mark.

Things are looking grim for Kerrick Jackson.

• In which Mizzou Softball continues to struggle for consistency, and the time for finding it may have already passed:

A disturbing trend is emerging, and as we get deeper and deeper into season with just three series left, if the Tigers don’t get things figured out, and IMMEDIATELY, they face a very real possibility of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

Diamond sports are baAaAaAd right now. And they just lost their top hitter in Julia Crenshaw with a broken wrist.

• Over at Rock M+, we’re talking about Phillips commitment, Marshall’s transfer and what else the staff could be planning with a nearly-full roster.

As for Marshall’s market, I’m not sure where it will land. Maybe some programs close to the Atlanta area like UGA or Georgia Tech get involved. Until MU swooped in late, it looked Ole Miss might be a player for his services. Could Peyton go to another P4 program? Sure. But I think he’d be in the same spot: having to develop and elbow out other guys.

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