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Missouri Tigers With some help in the paint, Mizzou could contend
Last season18-13, 10-6 Big 12 (NCAA first round, lost to North Carolina)
CoachQuin Snyder (2nd season, 18-13; 18-13 overall)
Projected starting lineupG Brian Grawer, 6-0, Sr.The scrappy label is a cliche, but unavoidable; best bet in Big 12 on the line, he shot 67-for-74 (90.5 percent) to lead the league last year.
G Clarence Gilbert, 6-2, Jr.
F Kareem Rush, 6-6, So.
F Johnnie Parker, 6-6, Sr.
F Tajudeen Soyoye, 6-9, Sr.
Top guy off the benchF Arthur Johnson, 6-9, Fr.Detroit product headlines recruiting class ranked among the nation's best; should give Soyoye much-needed help.
Key gamesat Iowa (Dec. 16). Two of college hoops' hottest young coaches square off when Steve Alford hosts Snyder's crew.vs. Kansas (Jan. 29). Always fun game with higher stakes now that both teams are surging. at Texas (Feb. 26). Mizzou went 0-4 against Texas, Oklahoma and Okie State last year; that must change.
OutlookIf big things happen for Missouri this year, they will come from small packages. Last year, the Tigers won 10 Big 12 games despite ranking last in rebounding (33.5 per game) and rebounding margin (minus-5.0). They did so by canning 291 threes, 28 more than anyone else. The departure of Dooling hurts, but most of Mizzou's ensemble of riflemen returns, and Soyoye, Johnson and Rush in for a full year ought to even out some of the inequality down low. If that recruiting class lives up to its billing, they could even make a longshot run at the league title.--Adam Thompson
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