If the preseason projections are close to accurate, life in the Southeastern Conference isn’t getting any easier for the Missouri men’s basketball team. After a 20-win season and an NCAA Tournament berth under first-year coach Cuonzo Martin, the Tigers were picked ninth in the preseason media poll released Wednesday.
A conference record eight SEC teams made the NCAA Tournament last year, and the SEC appears even deeper this season thanks to recruiting reinforcements at several programs, including Louisiana State and Vanderbilt, both picked ahead of Mizzou despite missing the NCAA Tournament last year.
For the 14th time since 1998-99, Kentucky was picked to win the conference, followed by Tennessee and Auburn, last year’s co-league champions.