Mizzou hoops doesn’t mind being disrespected by media polls. The Tigers have a job to do and will play hard this season.
The SEC Media spoke Tuesday and they believe Mizzou hoops will not have a better year than last year.
Tuesday, it was the team’s turn to speak.
Mizzou players and coach Cuonzo Martin chatted Wednesday at SEC Media Days and denounced those beliefs.
Martin said the Tigers have a chance to be as good as anybody in the SEC. Throughout the day, Martin, Jeremiah Tilmon and Javon Pickett shrugged off the media’s projection of the Tigers as the 13th best of the 14-team league. Mizzou, which placed 12th in last year’s standings, appears to be a better team to those inside of Columbia, but to those outside, they believe Mizzou will drop a bit from its 15-17 record in 2018-19.
Mizzou’s coach said it doesn’t matter. The Tigers still have a job to do. The Columbia Daily Tribune detailed plenty of Martin’s comments throughout the day.
"Martin: For me, it doesn’t matter. My job is the same every day, making sure they’re successful student-athletes and making sure they understand the importance of being grateful for the opportunity. Whatever number you put in front of our team, that has nothing to do with me, because that’s not my number. I’ve never been consumed with that."
Still, even Martin was a bit shocked when the polls came out Tuesday and saw where Mizzou was slotted at.
Cuonzo Martin on #Mizzou being picked 13th: "It doesn’t bother me. And even for our players, if that has to fuel you, you’re not a very competive player. It’s about the work you put in and how hard you prepare in the offseason. I was a little shocked but it won’t stop us."
— Blake Lovell (@theblakelovell) October 16, 2019
Tilmon averaged 10 points a game last year to go with nearly six rebounds. Pickett was a big surprise, starting 30 games while averaging more than seven points per outing.
Part of the problem for many media members could be that Mizzou lost top scorer Jordan Geist. The senior had 14.8 points per game and three assists to lead Mizzou last season. The Tigers also lost four-year contributor Kevin Puryear. But Mizzou believes it is more deep this year.
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The Tigers may not have a go-to guy right now, but Martin said during his first press conference that he believes more people can be counted on to make shots from outside.
Mizzou hoops adds plenty of new talent, including freshmen Tray Jackson and Kobe Brown to go with transfer Dru Smith. The Tigers bring back plenty of other players who expect to have a bigger role this season, including Mark Smith and Torrence Watson.
And the team is young, so whatever comes of the season should only make the team better for years to come. Nine of the 15 players are freshmen or sophomores, while Mizzou has just one senior in forward Reed Nikko.
Here’s a look at the day the trio had in Birmingham, Alabama, from Mizzou Hoops’ #ToTheFinishLine video:
That’s a wrap from SEC Media Day 2019. @JavonPickett & @jeremiahtilmon_ nailed it 👊🏾#ToTheFinishLine 🏁🐅 pic.twitter.com/JOJoDAJZf0
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) October 17, 2019