Columbia, Mo. - A select panel of media members picked Mizzou men's basketball to finish seventh in the SEC in Head Coach Kim Anderson's inaugural year at the helm. Kentucky was unanimously chosen as the favorite to win the conference, receiving all 20 first-place votes. Florida and Arkansas were selected to finish second and third respectively in the preseason poll.
Each conference school selected local media members and the SEC added national members from across the country to form the voting panel. Every member also voted for a five-player All-SEC First Team and Second Team. Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison was tabbed as the preseason SEC Player of the Year.
The Tigers enter the 2014-15 campaign coming off a season in which they tied for sixth overall in conference play and reached the second round of the SEC tournament. Anderson looks to transfer his success to the Mizzou program after clinching the Division II National Championship at Central Missouri in 2014.
The Tigers will return experienced veterans Ryan Rosburg, Jonathan Williams III and Wes Clark and introduce a talented crop of freshman including standout recruits Jakeenan Gant and Namon Wright. Senior Keanau Post, who recorded a team-high 14 points in the annual Black and Gold scrimmage last Tuesday, will help anchor the frontcourt along with Rosburg and Williams III.
Mizzou launches its regular season against UMKC on Nov. 14. and begins SEC play Jan. 8 at home against LSU. The 2015 SEC tournament is slated for March 11-15 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
For all the latest on Mizzou men's basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouHoops.