Missouri men’s basketball picked last in SEC media preseason poll

Kentucky was dubbed the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference men’s basketball championship, while Missouri checked in last — by a wide margin — in the annual preseason media poll, which was released Wednesday.

It’s the 11th time the Wildcats have been picked to win the conference since 1998-99, but coach John Calipari’s squad doesn’t have the preseason player of the year.

LSU freshman guard Ben Simmons took home that honor, becoming only the second freshman to earn the distinction. Kentucky’s Julius Randle in 2013 was the other.

Simmons was joined on the preseason first team by Texas A&M’s Danuel House, Vanderbilt’s Damian Jones, Mississippi’s Stefan Moody, and Wildcats teammates Tyler Ulis and Skal Labissiere.

Florida’s Dorian Finney-Smith, House, Ulis and Jones also received player of year votes.

Finney-Smith headlined the second-team preseason All-SEC along with Mississippi State’s Malik Newman, Georgia’s Charles Mann, Kentucky’s Alex Poythress, LSU’s Tim Quarterman and Texas A&M’s Alex Caruso.

2015-16 SEC men’s basketball preseason media poll

Preseason All-SEC team

Player of the year: F Ben Simmons, LSU

First team

G Danuel House, Texas A&M, Sr., 6-7, 212; C Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, Jr., 7-0, 245; F Skal Labissiere, Kentucky, Fr., 6-11, 225; G Stefan Moody, Mississippi, Sr., 5-10, 179; F Ben Simmons, LSU, Fr., 6-10, 225; G Tyler Ulis, Kentucky, So., 5-9, 160.

Second team

F Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida, Sr., 6-8, 220; G Malik Newman, Mississippi State, Fr., 6-3, 178; G Charles Mann, Georgia, Sr., 6-5, 215; F Alex Poythress, Kentucky, Sr., 6-8, 230; G Tim Quarterman, LSU, Jr., 6-6, 190; G Alex Caruso, Texas A&M, Sr., 6-5, 186.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Missouri men’s basketball picked last in SEC media preseason poll."