The t ransfer portal can often be what makes or breaks a season in the modern landscape of college basketball. For Missouri, it's seen both the highs and the lows. There's been home-run additions under head coach Dennis Gates, like landing former five-star recruit Mark Mitchell ahead of the 2024-25 season, who would go on to lead the Tigers in scoring for the following two seasons and assert himself on program record boards. Other names like Jayden Stone — Missouri's second-leading scorer the past season — and Caleb Grill — the 2024-25 SEC Sixth Man of the Year — come to mind as successful portal additions. However, it's bitten Missouri back, too. There's John Tonje, who transferred to Missouri and averaged 2.6 points per game across 8 contests before transferring again to Wisconsin and becoming an All-American. Even the past season, transfers like Sebastian Mack and Luke Northweather didn't quite pan out planned, with neither playing meaningful minutes in conference play.…