The Missouri men’s and women’s basketball teams were picked to finish 13th and 15th, respectively, in the Southeastern Conference preseason media polls.
The MU men, despite junior forward Mark Mitchell’s optimism, received no preseason All-SEC selections.
“I think we’re right up there at the top,” Mitchell said during the team’s media day. “I think we have everything it takes and everything we need to contend at the top of the (SEC).”
Alabama is the favorite to win the SEC men’s championship, led by preseason player of the year Mark Sears.
Defending national champion South Carolina is the pick to win the SEC women’s championship, returning four starters and boasting a highly rated recruiting class.
Preseason All-SEC first-team selections for the men were Sears, Auburn’s Johni Broome, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler, and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV.
For the women, the preseason first-team All-SEC picks were LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow, Texas’ Madison Booker, Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker, Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore, Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, and South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao.
Johnson, Morrow, and Booker shared preseason player of the year honors.
