Nov. 1, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri men's basketball team was ranked ninth in the nation according to the first "official" poll of the season, as the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll was released today.

The poll has Missouri, which went 20-13 a year ago, as the country's ninth-best team, with defending national champion Duke tabbed as pre-season No. 1. Three Tiger opponents are ranked ahead of MU, with Illinois, Kansas and Iowa ranking Nos. 2, 7 and 8, respectively. Four other Tiger opponents line the top 25, including No. 11 Virginia, No. 18 Oklahoma State, No. 22 Texas and No. 23 Oklahoma, while No. 13 Memphis, is a potential foe in the NABC Guardians Classic.

In other basketball-related news, Tiger freshman guard/forward Najeeb Echols was tabbed as the Big 12 Conference pre-season freshman of the year by ESPN.com's Jeff Potrykus.