Who will fill out the lineups when when Missouri basketball starts the 2023-2024 season?

A new season of Missouri basketball starts this week.

The Tigers' men's and women's basketball teams begin the 2023-2024 season on Monday, with Robin Pingeton's squad starting the day at 11:30 a.m. against Belmont and Dennis Gates' squad providing the late action at 7 p.m. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Both games are at Mizzou Arena.

What should Missouri basketball fans expect with the beginning of a new season? Here's what to anticipate for both teams from Monday's doubleheader.

The future starts early for Missouri women's basketball

Of the three incoming graduate transfers, only two will provide minutes for MU this season after the NCAA denied De'Myla Brown's medical waiver application.

With that in mind, the Tigers' rotation will look different early on this season. That's different from previous Pingeton teams.

"Traditionally, I think we've been pretty set on our starting five and really have stayed pretty consistent with that throughout the course of the season," Pingeton said. "I think this is a year that you'll see a lot of different lineup looks early in the non-con and certainly by the time we get to SEC we'll get a little bit more consistent with that."

It's a safe bet Hayley Frank will be a consistent starter, as well Mama Dembele now that MU's point guard rotation is down to two players in Dembele and Averi Kroenke.

Graduate transfers Angelique Ngalakulondi and Abby Feit will factor into that lineup. Ngalakulondi is MU's best post option; given her efficiency on offense and height, it's fair to expect her to start. Feit is one of a few players who will be in Pingeton's different lineup looks.

Feit, Ashton Judd and Kroenke will figure into the rotation with different lineups, as will Sarah Linthacum and Micah Linthacum in the post.

Freshmen Abbey Schreacke and Hannah Linthacum can play their way into minutes. International freshmen Helke Feldrappe and Lucija Milković will most likely need more time to get acclimated to the speed of the college game.

That's why Grace Slaughter should see significant minutes early. The highly rated freshman has been ahead of schedule when it comes to picking up MU's system and could be a starter consistently.

"Grace Slaughter I think is just getting more comfortable every day being more aggressive offensively, really feeling a little bit more comfortable with our system," Pingeton said. "She's a young lady that I think has got a really, really high ceiling."

The 'old guys' lead the way for Missouri men's basketball

During MU's team media day in October, associate head coach Charlton Young referred to the trio of Missouri's most experienced players as "old."

"I think their own parents call them old," Young told the Tribune.

It was light-hearted but, in reality, MU is going to lean on those three – Sean East, Nick Honor and Noah Carter – as the cornerstones of this season. Missouri head coach Dennis Gates said as much Friday, noting those three are clear starters.

"That would probably be the three guys that I could tell you that has cemented themselves in a way for our program," Gates said.

Among the newcomers, freshmen and transfers alike, MU will start with those three and piece together successful lineups from there. Carter, East and Honor all fit what Gates wants to see in his players: a high assist-to-turnover ratio and the ability to shoot from the perimeter.

Creating other lineups around those three could be something Missouri tries Monday night. The three also offer a safety net in case certain lineups struggle or don't work. MU can always go back to the Three Musketeers of Carter, East and Honor.

"When you look at our team, we can play with different lineups, and that's what you have to look at," Gates said. "We can maybe start a unit and then have a completely different halftime starting group. Those things matter when you have the depth and obviously the experience that we have, and I'm excited about it."

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What to expect when Missouri basketball starts the 2023-2024 season