Media not high on Mizzou basketball heading into Media Days

Coach Cuonzo Martin may think Mizzou basketball could be a tournament team this year, but the media does not.

SEC Basketball Media Days is this week, but before we tip off the two-day event, the media released its teams and predictions for the season. Mizzou basketball was not high.

The media picked Mizzou to place 13th out of 14 teams this season. The Tigers finished 12th in 2018-19, and expect to be better this year.

Those outside of Columbia see it differently.

The basketball team tipped off practice last month for the first time and coach Cuonzo Martin said this team “has the parts” to be a tournament team. Mizzou could place in the middle of the pack of the SEC, and the conference typically gets six or so teams into March Madness, so it’s not out of the question that Mizzou could get into the dance.

Tuesday’s release of the media preseason poll suggests Mizzou is not close, however. Only Vanderbilt, which didn’t win a game last year, is lower than Mizzou.

Not one Mizzou basketball player made the first or second team, which is understandable. The Tigers will be led by junior big man Jeremiah Tilmon among many new faces, and it’s tough to say which player will be the go-to guy right now.

The media selected Kentucky as the top team out of the SEC, and Florida’s Kerry Blackshear as the SEC Player of the Year.

The Tigers bring back Tilmon, Javon Pickett and Mark Smith to add to some new faces in Tray Jackson, Dru Smith and Kobe Brown.

On Wednesday, Martin, Tilmon and Pickett will be at Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama. SEC Network will be live on site.

Then on Thursday, the women will be at the show. Representing Mizzou will be coach Robin Pingeton and Amber Smith.

Mizzou officially tips off the season Wednesday, Nov. 6 against Incarnate Word. The Tigers will hold an exhibition on the Friday before that game, taking on Central Missouri at Mizzou Arena.