KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On the strength of the first 3-0 start in seven seasons, the University of Missouri men’s basketball got some love Monday — though not from Associated Press poll voters.
Despite beating Oregon on a neutral court last Wednesday and winning Sunday at Wichita State, the undefeated Tigers remained outside the AP’s Top 25 ranking and received fewer votes than the Ducks, who were ranked No. 21 when Mizzou beat them 83-75 in Omaha.
The Southeastern Conference did take note of MU’s sizzling start, picking senior guard Mark Smith as the SEC Player of the Week.
Smith, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Edwardsville, Illinois, averaged 17 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the Tigers’ two wins last week.
This is the first weekly conference honor for Smith and first for a Mizzou player since Jeremiah Tilmon won the award two years ago.
Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin also received acclaim as ESPN’s National Coach of the Week, according to Jeff Borzello.
The tough tests keep coming this week for Mizzou with home games against Liberty at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and No. 6 Illinois at 7 p.m. Saturday for the Braggin’ Right on Campus. Both games are at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
The Flames already owns wins against fellow SEC opponents Mississippi State and South Carolina, while Illinois has lost to Baylor and plays Tuesday at Duke before traveling to Mizzou.
