Where’s the love? After setting a school record with 31 wins, capturing the Big 12 Conference Tournament and making it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, the Missouri Tiger men’s basketball team was picked 7th in the Big 12’s Preseason Coaches Poll.
It’s true, the Tigers lost veteran leadership and inside scoring from DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons, plus the outside shooting of Matt Lawrence, yet the Tigers, built on defense brings back one of the best defensive backcourts in the and players who helped break the school record of 27 points per game off the bench.
The Missouri Tigers host their official media day today, and I’m interested to get the thoughts of veterans such ast J.T. Tiller (the Big 12 Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2009) and Zaire Taylor to see if this brings an extra chip on the shoulder of this squad?
Added to the starting mix this season is sophomore Kim English and the team’s leading shot-blocker and top post defender, Keith Ramsey. Ramsey led MU with 31 blocked shots. Other top returners from last year’s squad include, guards Marcus Denmon and Miguel Paul, along with junior Justin Safford and sophomores Laurence Bowers and Steve Moore.
Watch video of Mike Anderson discussing the upcoming season, Zaire Taylor talking about JT Tiller, Justin Safford and Kim English on the new players.