For the first time since the league formed, Big 12 coaches have voted Missouri first in their pre-season poll. Mizzou got eight first place votes. Their highest pre-season conference ranking before this season was in 2001 when they checked in at second place. Mizzou has never been picked lower than fifth since the conference began. The Tigers were also recipients of some individual honors as well. Seniors Arthur Johnson and Rickey Paulding were named to the Big 12 preseason all-conference first team. Jason Conley was named the pre season new comer of the year. He’ll be eligible to play in game five. The Tigers open their season in Detroit against Oakland University on November 29. Johnson and Paulding hail from Detroit.