Sept. 15, 2000

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri men's basketball team has been ranked 17th in the nation according to Basketball News' 2000-01 pre-season poll.

Basketball News picked Missouri to finish second in the Big 12 Conference race this year, behind Kansas. The Jayhawks are ranked third in the national top-64 rankings, behind top-ranked Arizona and Duke. Missouri ranked 17th, and was the only other Big 12 school to land among the magazine's top 25.

Five Tiger opponents ranked in the top 25, including Kansas (#3), Illinois (#5), Iowa (#22), Virginia (#23) and DePaul (#25).

Missouri sophomore forward Kareem Rush was tabbed as a pre-season second-team all-Big 12 selection.

Here's a look at Basketball News' top-25. The magazine's pre-season issue will hit newsstands in two weeks.

National Top 25
1. Arizona
2. Duke
3. Kansas
4. Maryland
5. Illinois
6. North Carolina
7. Michigan State
8. Tennessee
9. Stanford
10. Seton Hall
11. Kentucky
12. Connecticut
13. Arkansas
14. Wake Forest
15. Florida
16. Wisconsin
17. Missouri
18. USC
19. Georgetown
20. Cincinnati
21. Alabama
22. Iowa
23. Virginia
24. UCLA
25. DePaul

Here's a look at the Big 12 predictions, according to the magazine.

Big 12 predictions
First team All-Conference
Kimani Ffriend, Nebraska
Drew Gooden, Kansas
Bernard King, Texas A&M
Jamahl Mosley, Colorado
Jamaal Tinsley, Iowa State

Second team All-Conference
Cookie Belcher, Nebraska
Nick Collison, Kansas
Kenny Gregory, Kansas
Chris Owens, Texas
Kareem Rush, Missouri

Player of the Year
Jamaal Tinsley, Iowa State

Newcomer of the Year
Maurice Evans, Texas

Predicted order of finish
1. Kansas
2. Missouri
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. Oklahoma State
6. Iowa State
7. Nebraska
8. Colorado
9. Texas A&M
10. Baylor
11. Kansas State
12. Texas Tech