Oct. 21, 2010

Columbia, Mo. - For the first time since the 2003-04 campaign Missouri Basketball is ranked in the preseason college basketball polls. Led by a talented core of returners and a nationally-acclaimed recruiting class, the Tigers were picked 15th in the initial ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll released Thursday afternoon.

The ranking is Mizzou's highest overall since the completion of its historic 31-win season in 2008-09. That year the Tigers finished #9 nationally and were one win shy of the Final Four. Missouri ranked #5 nationally in the 2003-04 preseason ledger.

Head Coach Mike Anderson's squad welcomes back a stable of contributors this season, including its top three scorers, juniors Kim English (14.0 ppg), Marcus Denmon (10.2) and Laurence Bowers (10.2). Also back is senior Justin Safford, who averaged 8.6 points per game, and talented sophomore point guard Michael Dixon, who scored 11.5 points per game in NCAA Tournament play.

Tiger fans will get a rare look at one of Anderson's fast-paced practices on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. before that night's gridiron showdown between the Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners at Faurot Field. Fans attending the practice are encouraged to enter Mizzou Arena through the North Doors (Ticket Office side).

Mizzou Basketball will host its first formal outing of the highly-anticipated 2010-11 campaign on Oct. 28 as the Tigers play the annual Black & Gold Game inside Mizzou Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the yearly event are just $5 and proceeds go to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. Tickets will be on sale at the door through the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office the night of the event. Doors to Mizzou Arena open at 6 p.m. and fans can get autographs from this year's squad as they enter the concourse of Mizzou Arena. Parking at Mizzou Arena for this event is free to the public.

Season tickets are still the best way to guarantee your seat for all the action this season and start for as low as $209 for select seats. Single-game tickets for Big 12 Conference games (with the exception of the March 5 contest against Kansas) will be available for purchase on December 1.

For more information on Mizzou Basketball, please visit our website, mutigers.com.

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