Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Caleb Hightower

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO – DECEMBER 05: Jeremiah Tilmon #23 of the Missouri Tigers (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – DECEMBER 05: Jeremiah Tilmon #23 of the Missouri Tigers (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

7. team. 531. . . . Tigers

2019-20 SEC Record: 7-11 

I really like Missouri’s 2020-21 roster, because they have a bunch of skilled upperclassmen returning. Their top five scorers from a season ago all came back for more, and at least for the time being, they won’t have to deal with devastating injuries. Last season, they finished with a 7-11 conference record, and that was without having two of their best players in the lineup for multiple SEC contests.

Mark Smith (a guard who averaged 10.0 points last season and shot 37.1% from three) only appeared in 11 of the Tigers 18 conference games (due to a lower back injury), and Jeremiah Tilmon (forward who averaged 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and shot 58.9% from the field) only appeared in 6 of the Tigers 18 conference games (due to a left foot injury).

Related Story. Missouri adds Sean Durugordon. light

Smith shot an astounding 45.0% from three in 2018-19 but was unable to continue his spectacular shooting from behind the arc, due to a left foot injury that ended his season on January 23rd (and he was officially ruled out for the season on February 26th).

The bottom line is, Missouri has guys that have been around the program for a little bit, and I think that as long as injuries don’t get in the way of the Tigers’ success, they are a team that could finish in the top half of the league.

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