The Tigers do not hide from the reality that their success hinges on the big man in the middle, 6-10 junior Jeremiah Tilmon. Coach Cuonzo Martin was stunned the center from East St. Louis didn’t crack the preseason All-SEC team, but the bigger concern is keeping Tilmon on the floor and out of foul trouble. The staff spent the offseason sharpening his defensive fundamentals — “Hands up and hands out,” Martin said — and on the offensive end, Tilmon has become more decisive as a passer and finisher, giving opponents less time to draw charging fouls in the paint.
Mizzou basketball: Five things to watch
