****Official 2017-2018 Missouri Tigers Basketball Thread****

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Back up in your ass with the resurrection. Follow the Cuonzo Martin era here.

Recruiting Commitments:

2017:
Michael Porter Jr., SF, *****, Gatorade National Player of the Year
CJ Roberts, PG, ****
Blake Harris, PG, ***/****
Jeremiah Tilmon, F/C, ****
Kassius Robertson, Grad Transfer
Jontay Porter (possible re-classification from Class of '18), ****

Departures: No one that matters
Returning Players: No one that matters

Overall class ranking: #6 nationally.

[Mizzou_8541]

Went to the game tonight and thought I'd share my humble thoughts. Probably not nearly as correct as someone like Duncan, DJ and others, but nevertheless, thought I'd share.
1. What a difference a year makes. The talent and coaching has improved immensely from last year.
2. The stink from Kermit is completely gone, and we haven't even played a game yet. This team has improved in every area.
3. kU is very good. But I think they will be as good as Devante Graham goes. He is a douchey punk, but a very good douchey punk (neither of which is an unknown). He might be the best player in NCAA.
4. For a 9-win team to give the No. 1 (or No. 3 team, depending on the rankings) all they wanted, it's, again, very impressive for Cuonzo.
5. Atmosphere was fantastic. Stadium was packed with fans that were clearly needing some basketball to help them forget their shitty football teams. kU didn't commit a foul all night, and every call against them was a melodramatic travesty, according to their fans.
6. Mizzou out rebounded kU. It's as weird to type that as it is to realize that Mizzou actually out rebounded someone.
7. MPJ is as advertised. He wasn't the best player on the court tonight (credit Graham), but he will be most nights. Tried to do too much in the second half. He needs to trust the offense more.
8. Jermiah Tilmon might be the best big man we've had since Oriakhi. He will be better than him by the end of the year. Big, strong, quick, with a better offensive game than most said coming out of HS. I look for big things from him this year, and maybe the next two years. Fouls might be an issue.
9. Jontay is 17 years old. 17. He was very good, the game didn't look too big for him. He needs to improve defensively. Made some plays but was out of position often.
10. Blake Harris hasn't played an official game yet, and is already a massive improvement at PG. He got a little ahead of himself at times, but runs the offense, is very good defensively, and sees the court.
11. Kassius Robertson can shoot the rock, but isn't good defensively. I could be wrong, but it looked like he was a liability there.
12. The Kermit holdovers: Barnett-fantastic. Puryear-ok. He missed several shots he should have made, but is a max effort guy and does the little things. Phillips-I like him a lot because he leaves it all out there, but he's just not very good. I think he gets fewer minutes as the season goes on and as CJ Roberts improves.
13. CJ Roberts didn't play much, but it seemed like he made some plays when in.
14. Free throw shooting was an issue. I think we shot 55%. We shoot 75% and it's a one point game. Who knows what happens then.
15. Cullen Van Leer played quite a bit and he didn't make me want to throw my beer at the TV. Didn't stand out, which could be viewed as good or bad.

I think this team wins 25 games and is a 6 seed. Very impressive for a club to look this good agaisnt the No. 3 team in the country when their best players have barely gotten past their first mid-terms (or should still be in HS). kU was the better team tonight, but if it's played again in March, I think Mizzou wins. We have much more potential to improve. Take this all FWIW. Just my thoughts.

[Priest31kc]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Porter didn’t play well, but he will.

Yep, and still scored 21 points with 8 boards in just 23 minutes despite forcing it a bit in the 2nd half. Tried to do too much to get the W he desperately wanted. He was really disappointed in himself and took the blame for the L and just looked distraught after the game. And this was an exhibition game. Love this kid.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Mizzou_8541

Went to the game tonight and thought I'd share my humble thoughts. Probably not nearly as correct as someone like Duncan, DJ and others, but nevertheless, thought I'd share.
1. What a difference a year makes. The talent and coaching has improved immensely from last year.
2. The stink from Kermit is completely gone, and we haven't even played a game yet. This team has improved in every area.
3. kU is very good. But I think they will be as good as Devante Graham goes. He is a douchey punk, but a very good douchey punk (neither of which is an unknown). He might be the best player in NCAA.
4. For a 9-win team to give the No. 1 (or No. 3 team, depending on the rankings) all they wanted, it's, again, very impressive for Cuonzo.
5. Atmosphere was fantastic. Stadium was packed with fans that were clearly needing some basketball to help them forget their shitty football teams. kU didn't commit a foul all night, and every call against them was a melodramatic travesty, according to their fans.
6. Mizzou out rebounded kU. It's as weird to type that as it is to realize that Mizzou actually out rebounded someone.
7. MPJ is as advertised. He wasn't the best player on the court tonight (credit Graham), but he will be most nights. Tried to do too much in the second half. He needs to trust the offense more.
8. Jermiah Tilmon might be the best big man we've had since Oriakhi. He will be better than him by the end of the year. Big, strong, quick, with a better offensive game than most said coming out of HS. I look for big things from him this year, and maybe the next two years. Fouls might be an issue.
9. Jontay is 17 years old. 17. He was very good, the game didn't look too big for him. He needs to improve defensively. Made some plays but was out of position often.
10. Blake Harris hasn't played an official game yet, and is already a massive improvement at PG. He got a little ahead of himself at times, but runs the offense, is very good defensively, and sees the court.
11. Kassius Robertson can shoot the rock, but isn't good defensively. I could be wrong, but it looked like he was a liability there.
12. The Kermit holdovers: Barnett-fantastic. Puryear-ok. He missed several shots he should have made, but is a max effort guy and does the little things. Phillips-I like him a lot because he leaves it all out there, but he's just not very good. I think he gets fewer minutes as the season goes on and as CJ Roberts improves.
13. CJ Roberts didn't play much, but it seemed like he made some plays when in.
14. Free throw shooting was an issue. I think we shot 55%. We shoot 75% and it's a one point game. Who knows what happens then.
15. Cullen Van Leer played quite a bit and he didn't make me want to throw my beer at the TV. Didn't stand out, which could be viewed as good or bad.

I think this team wins 25 games and is a 6 seed. Very impressive for a club to look this good agaisnt the No. 3 team in the country when their best players have barely gotten past their first mid-terms (or should still be in HS). kU was the better team tonight, but if it's played again in March, I think Mizzou wins. We have much more potential to improve. Take this all FWIW. Just my thoughts.

Thanks, I didn't see the game, appreciate the input

[Strongside]

Huge KU fan here. I was at the game tonight sitting just behind Kansas' bench. Missouri is going to have a hell of a team this year. Loads of size and talent, and a good coach to boot. Should be a fun year for y'all. Hopefully a tournament rematch is in the cards!

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Hopefully a tournament rematch is in the cards!

Don't think I could stomach that. I barely survived the 2007 football game.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Don't think I could stomach that. I barely survived the 2007 football game.

Boy, what a game that was!

[Priest31kc]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Huge KU fan here. I was at the game tonight sitting just behind Kansas' bench. Missouri is going to have a hell of a team this year. Loads of size and talent, and a good coach to boot. Should be a fun year for y'all. Hopefully a tournament rematch is in the cards!

Man, a tournament game vs KU would be pretty close to the 2007 football game. The later in the tournament, the bigger obviously. Could you imagine an Elite 8 game to get into the Final 4?

Getting ahead of myself here lol.

[Chiefspants]

As a KU fan, you all have a lot to look forward to. The sky is limit with the talent you all have on the court. If Martin and your young talent can put it together? Watch out.

[Only158]

Mizzou 8541... agreed with almost your entire post. Lifelong KU fan so I wasn't too sure about the feminine hygiene part in relation to Graham but you also said he might be pretty high up there in the entire NCAA. So hey, potato potawto..I hear ya.

I have lived in Central Mizzery for quite a while and consider myself a college hoops fan not just a KU fan. So I went to see the Porters play. I have been trying to tell my crimson and blue brethren how good they are to no avail. But I think lots of people saw tonite something else I have been shouting...Jontay could be scary good as a 19 year old sophomore. Another little nugget...don't be shocked if after a really good year and a decent run in the tourny MPJ does the unthinkable and comes back to play another season with his brother. Yeah..I know. Unthinkable. That family is different. Those two kids look like they do and are freakin VEGANS! All bets are off.

Tilmon is a beast. That dude is going to make some folks in Lexington KY spew things from orifices they forgot they had. Good get.

Barnett is pretty good too. 19 pts and 5/7 from 3? Yeah we'll see what old Squid thinks about him? Do you get the idea I want you guys to beat Korntucky twice? Well I do.

Its been a sad thing since Norfolk State (sorry, had to do it), but I think these players and this coach are THE people to right the hoops ship in Columbia.

I watched the game on ppv and was so pleased BOTH teams didn't treat it like an NFL preseason game, only playing the starters for a few minutes. Both teams obviously haven't played that much yet but both teams looked like they have good seasons ahead of them. Hope to see you guys in March. Believe me, the committee members took note of this game.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Only158

Mizzou 8541... agreed with almost your entire post. Lifelong KU fan so I wasn't too sure about the feminine hygiene part in relation to Graham but you also said he might be pretty high up there in the entire NCAA. So hey, potato potawto..I hear ya.

I have lived in Central Mizzery for quite a while and consider myself a college hoops fan not just a KU fan. So I went to see the Porters play. I have been trying to tell my crimson and blue brethren how good they are to no avail. But I think lots of people saw tonite something else I have been shouting...Jontay could be scary good as a 19 year old sophomore. Another little nugget...don't be shocked if after a really good year and a decent run in the tourny MPJ does the unthinkable and comes back to play another season with his brother. Yeah..I know. Unthinkable. That family is different. Those two kids look like they do and are freakin VEGANS! All bets are off.

Tilmon is a beast. That dude is going to make some folks in Lexington KY spew things from orifices they forgot they had. Good get.

Barnett is pretty good too. 19 pts and 5/7 from 3? Yeah we'll see what old Squid thinks about him? Do you get the idea I want you guys to beat Korntucky twice? Well I do.

Its been a sad thing since Norfolk State (sorry, had to do it), but I think these players and this coach are THE people to right the hoops ship in Columbia.

I watched the game on ppv and was so pleased BOTH teams didn't treat it like an NFL preseason game, only playing the starters for a few minutes. Both teams obviously haven't played that much yet but both teams looked like they have good seasons ahead of them. Hope to see you guys in March. Believe me, the committee members took note of this game.

Appreciate the take. I think Zo will strongly encourage MPJ to go pro. Even if the team would be better with him, going top 1-2 is good for the program.

[Only158]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Appreciate the take. I think Zo will strongly encourage MPJ to go pro. Even if the team would be better with him, going top 1-2 is good for the program.

Agreed. But remember...2 legit 7 footers...and did I mention...they are VEGANS? I'm sure he will be advised to go, I'm just sayin a year and a half ago getting either one of them to Mizzery was almost unthinkable and I kept telling people it was a done deal. You just never know.

[DJ's left nut]

My seats were a hell of a lot better than I realized; we were in card chairs set up right off the floor right next to the Mizzou tunnel; maybe 7 rows back. Great seats and a damn good game.

Impressions:

Jontay Porter - just doesn't look ready. He's soft in the same way Trayvon Bryant was soft when he got here. His youth is just so apparent. He isn't powerful despite being big and he isn't explosive. He has to gather himself up to get off the floor so he's not as effective a rebounder or defender as his size says he should be. And Azubuike is a tough matchup for anyone but he was especially ineffective early against him. If Azubuike got the entry, it was 2 points. He could just body Jontay wherever he needed him to go and Porter wasn't quite quick enough to get in front of him and earn the charge. He started trying to get around the pass a little more as the game progressed to deny the entry and got a little better, but he's just not physically equipped to bang underneath right now. He'll be very good, but he needs a year in the weight room to turn some of that bulk into muscle and get more explosive in his legs.

Blake Harris - Just looked sped up. He'll be a good player as well but he was one of the guys where the game just looked a bit too much for him, IMO. You could see the phsyical skills, the tenacity and the quickness, but he was feeling for the game for the most part. At times played smaller than he is; wasn't using his length like I'd expected.

Kevin Puryear - Man, I missed the physical transformation on this kid. I remember thinking he was going to be a poor man's Rush when he first came in; longer, leaner, instant offense type who would float between the 2 and the 3 depending on the matchups. Nope - that is a grown ass man these days; he's a legit college 4 who could play some space/pace 5 in a small ball. Great footwork as well. If the guy could finish 1/2 the easy buckets he creates for himself, he'd be a 15 ppg player. He just can't finish at all; missed at least 3 easy buckets after making great plays to get to the rim. Exciting potential if he can just get them to fall more.

Kassius Robertson - the shooting stroke is legit; great shooter. Better handles than I expected and nice court vision. He's a more rounded player than I thought he would be and not just the stand up shooter I expected. Defense was 'game' but he's a little slight so he can be moved around a bit. It'll never be a strength but I didn't feel like it was a liability (Graham was just very good).

Terrence Phillips - More aggressive than I had seen; looked like the veteran on the floor we'd have expected him to be. Still don't like his shot but I think he's going to embrace his distributor role. Actually liked his defense quite a bit, just doesn't have the size to challenge truly great wings. He has the speed and willingness to stay in front of guys and the strength to body them up, but it's a little too easy to just pull up over him.

Jeremiah Tilmon - Well guys, I hope you enjoy having him for the next 30+ games because damn. When we got him I thought "man, he's gonna be a hell of a building block over the next 3 years; he'll be a stud as a JR and SR..." Uh...about that. This kid might be another 1 and done. I was shocked by how easy he got off the floor and his touch/feel around the hoop was a hell of a lot more advanced than I expected. I don't think he'll be able to develop legit 3-pt range and that may keep him in college another year or two because the league isn't looking for 6-10 forwards that aren't shooting threats right now, but that guy could be a hell of a complementary garbage man kind of player for the right team. I could see him going in the late teens, early 20s to a team that has shooters and needs someone with the athleticism to run but the desire to do the dirty work. A potentially outstanding 4 if he could get 16 foot range or so. Was really impressed by him.

Jordan Barnett - I hate that this kid went to Texas and am dumbfounded that Smart couldn't find a way to use him. He was Mizzou's best player yesterday and I didn't think it was that close. He stayed within the offense, played solid D and just did everything well. A great all-around game from a kid who really looks like he gets it out there. If he'd have been a freshman here and played all 4 years, he'd be one of those guys Mizzou fans remember for years after his career is over. I really like him and I hope we get a tourney run this year to send him off the right way; he deserves that much after Smart wasted 2 years of his career.

MPJ - Haven't had a finisher like him since Paulding. There's not a play on the court that he's not capable of making. He is just silky smooth finding holes in the defense and his first step gets him there the instant a lane opens. His play on the inbounds was something we haven't had a guy capable of pulling off in a decade. This game is just so easy for him. That said, when he came back off the bench after KU had started to pull away, you could see the youth. Early in the 2nd half he pulled down an offensive board and found Tilmon in the same motion for the easy 'And 1' (and of course we missed the FT). That vision is there but he scrapped it when the game started to go sideways and he took some baaaaaaad shots. It blew the offensive momentum and became contagious. His youth was pretty apparent there but the skills were just immense. Early in the game he was stopping his drive a step short to avoid contact and it was creating misses. He should've finished those drives and I think he could've gotten the bucket and the foul. If Cuonzo gets him playing a more physical brand of offense, the sky will be the limit for him. He needs to realize that contact can be his friend.

KU impressions - Well, I have a new Jayhawk to hate. There is zero doubt in my mind - absolutely none - that Azubuike played soccer growing up. That guy outweighs everyone on the court by 50 lbs and if you breathed on him, he acted like you'd shot him. Meanwhile, if he actually went down he laid there acting like every breath could be his last. Seriously man - you're a giant; stop being such a pussy. Graham....fu*******. That guy is good. He knows it, but I can't fault him there. Best player on the court by a fair amount and a genuine Naismith candidate. Self is just such a mopey dickhead. The entire game he just has this scowl on his face like he can't believe that he has to be there. Even when they were doing the check ceremony after half he had this look on his face like he'd just smelled an old lady fart or something. Is he really still that bent out of shape? I don't see the depth with this team that they've had in years past but admittedly I'm not as versed on them as I was in the XII days. If Graham doesn't go for 20+ every night, I'm not sure where else they get it, especially if Azubuike gets in foul trouble (which will happen; he got away with murder a handful of times including a play where he literally dove on top of Harris's head and no foul was called).

Nice effort from Mizzou and if they'd have not completely lost the handle for about 7 minutes there in the middle of the 2nd, they could've easily won it. The holdovers suck and couldn't hang (duh). When the starters came back out, they'd lost their rhythm and MPJ started forcing shots to delay them finding it again. I suspect that'll happen a few times this year before they get more confidence in their ability to battle back without playing hero ball.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

My seats were a hell of a lot better than I realized; we were in card chairs set up right off the floor right next to the Mizzou tunnel; maybe 7 rows back. Great seats and a damn good game.

Impressions:

Jontay Porter - just doesn't look ready. He's soft in the same way Trayvon Bryant was soft when he got here. His youth is just so apparent. He isn't powerful despite being big and he isn't explosive. He has to gather himself up to get off the floor so he's not as effective a rebounder or defender as his size says he should be. And Azubuike is a tough matchup for anyone but he was especially ineffective early against him. If Azubuike got the entry, it was 2 points. He could just body Jontay wherever he needed him to go and Porter wasn't quite quick enough to get in front of him and earn the charge. He started trying to get around the pass a little more as the game progressed to deny the entry and got a little better, but he's just not physically equipped to bang underneath right now. He'll be very good, but he needs a year in the weight room to turn some of that bulk into muscle and get more explosive in his legs.

Blake Harris - Just looked sped up. He'll be a good player as well but he was one of the guys where the game just looked a bit too much for him, IMO. You could see the phsyical skills, the tenacity and the quickness, but he was feeling for the game for the most part. At times played smaller than he is; wasn't using his length like I'd expected.

Kevin Puryear - Man, I missed the physical transformation on this kid. I remember thinking he was going to be a poor man's Rush when he first came in; longer, leaner, instant offense type who would float between the 2 and the 3 depending on the matchups. Nope - that is a grown ass man these days; he's a legit college 4 who could play some space/pace 5 in a small ball. Great footwork as well. If the guy could finish 1/2 the easy buckets he creates for himself, he'd be a 15 ppg player. He just can't finish at all; missed at least 3 easy buckets after making great plays to get to the rim. Exciting potential if he can just get them to fall more.

Kassius Robertson - the shooting stroke is legit; great shooter. Better handles than I expected and nice court vision. He's a more rounded player than I thought he would be and not just the stand up shooter I expected. Defense was 'game' but he's a little slight so he can be moved around a bit. It'll never be a strength but I didn't feel like it was a liability (Graham was just very good).

Terrence Phillips - More aggressive than I had seen; looked like the veteran on the floor we'd have expected him to be. Still don't like his shot but I think he's going to embrace his distributor role. Actually liked his defense quite a bit, just doesn't have the size to challenge truly great wings. He has the speed and willingness to stay in front of guys and the strength to body them up, but it's a little too easy to just pull up over him.

Jeremiah Tilmon - Well guys, I hope you enjoy having him for the next 30+ games because damn. When we got him I thought "man, he's gonna be a hell of a building block over the next 3 years; he'll be a stud as a JR and SR..." Uh...about that. This kid might be another 1 and done. I was shocked by how easy he got off the floor and his touch/feel around the hoop was a hell of a lot more advanced than I expected. I don't think he'll be able to develop legit 3-pt range and that may keep him in college another year or two because the league isn't looking for 6-10 forwards that aren't shooting threats right now, but that guy could be a hell of a complementary garbage man kind of player for the right team. I could see him going in the late teens, early 20s to a team that has shooters and needs someone with the athleticism to run but the desire to do the dirty work. A potentially outstanding 4 if he could get 16 foot range or so. Was really impressed by him.

Jordan Barnett - I hate that this kid went to Texas and am dumbfounded that Smart couldn't find a way to use him. He was Mizzou's best player yesterday and I didn't think it was that close. He stayed within the offense, played solid D and just did everything well. A great all-around game from a kid who really looks like he gets it out there. If he'd have been a freshman here and played all 4 years, he'd be one of those guys Mizzou fans remember for years after his career is over. I really like him and I hope we get a tourney run this year to send him off the right way; he deserves that much after Smart wasted 2 years of his career.

MPJ - Haven't had a finisher like him since Paulding. There's not a play on the court that he's not capable of making. He is just silky smooth finding holes in the defense and his first step gets him there the instant a lane opens. His play on the inbounds was something we haven't had a guy capable of pulling off in a decade. This game is just so easy for him. That said, when he came back off the bench after KU had started to pull away, you could see the youth. Early in the 2nd half he pulled down an offensive board and found Tilmon in the same motion for the easy 'And 1' (and of course we missed the FT). That vision is there but he scrapped it when the game started to go sideways and he took some baaaaaaad shots. It blew the offensive momentum and became contagious. His youth was pretty apparent there but the skills were just immense. Early in the game he was stopping his drive a step short to avoid contact and it was creating misses. He should've finished those drives and I think he could've gotten the bucket and the foul. If Cuonzo gets him playing a more physical brand of offense, the sky will be the limit for him. He needs to realize that contact can be his friend.

KU impressions - Well, I have a new Jayhawk to hate. There is zero doubt in my mind - absolutely none - that Azubuike played soccer growing up. That guy outweighs everyone on the court by 50 lbs and if you breathed on him, he acted like you'd shot him. Meanwhile, if he actually went down he laid there acting like every breath could be his last. Seriously man - you're a giant; stop being such a pussy. Graham....fu*******. That guy is good. He knows it, but I can't fault him there. Best player on the court by a fair amount and a genuine Naismith candidate. Self is just such a mopey dickhead. The entire game he just has this scowl on his face like he can't believe that he has to be there. Even when they were doing the check ceremony after half he had this look on his face like he'd just smelled an old lady fart or something. Is he really still that bent out of shape? I don't see the depth with this team that they've had in years past but admittedly I'm not as versed on them as I was in the XII days. If Graham doesn't go for 20+ every night, I'm not sure where else they get it, especially if Azubuike gets in foul trouble (which will happen; he got away with murder a handful of times including a play where he literally dove on top of Harris's head and no foul was called).

Nice effort from Mizzou and if they'd have not completely lost the handle for about 7 minutes there in the middle of the 2nd, they could've easily won it. The holdovers suck and couldn't hang (duh). When the starters came back out, they'd lost their rhythm and MPJ started forcing shots to delay them finding it again. I suspect that'll happen a few times this year before they get more confidence in their ability to battle back without playing hero ball.

Great write up. Damn, it's been a long time since I was looking forward to a Mizzou BB season.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Michael Porter Jr. makes AP preseason All-America team, Devonté Graham receives votes

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...#storylink=cpy

Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., the nation’s top ranked incoming college basketball recruit, made the five-member Associated Press preseason All-America team announced Monday.

Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, was the leading vote-getter by a wide margin with 61 votes from the 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25 poll, 14 more than Notre Dame senior forward Bonzie Colson — the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year and the No. 2 vote-getter.

Arizona junior Allonzo Trier, Villanova junior Jalen Brunson and Porter Jr. rounded out the rest of the team.

KU senior guard Devonté Graham received the eighth-most votes. Wichita State’s Landry Shamet, a Park Hill grad, received one vote.

The 6-10 Porter is the fifth freshman to make the preseason AP All-America team — joining North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor and LSU’s Ben Simmons.

“I feel there’s a lot of people that would like to be in my situation,” Porter said. “But I try to stay grounded, stay humble and realize I’m nowhere near where I want to get to, so I just have to take all the attention with a grain of salt and just keep getting better and better.”

Bridges was forced to play inside last season for the undersized Spartans, but averaged 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks. Second-ranked Michigan State has more size and depth this season, so Bridges will likely see more time at small forward on the perimeter.

“He’s got some things he’s got to get better at,” coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s going to be moving around different positions. Got to get better with the ball, better guarding. There are going to be some things that are more difficult for him. I can’t think of a guy that’s worked harder all summer to make sure he’s ready. I think he'll be more than ready for an incredible season.”

The 14-vote gap between Bridges and Colson marked only the third time there was a double-digit difference between the top two vote-getters since the AP preseason All-America team launched for the 1995-96 season. The last time was in 2003-04.

The 6-6 Colson averaged 17.8 points and an ACC-best 10.1 rebounds to go with a league-best 19 double-doubles. He knows that he'll wear a target this season; assistant coach Ryan Humphrey recently gave him a poster featuring Colson sporting a photoshopped bullseye on his chest and the message of “Every game.”

“I’m always going to be humble and hungry,” Colson said. “That’s just who I am, that’s just how my parents raised me. Just going out there every day and playing loose.”

The 6-5 Trier was third with 39 votes. He opted to return to the third-ranked Wildcats instead of entering the NBA draft after averaging 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds last year despite missing the first 19 games due to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

“Allonzo has a special place in my heart because I don’t know if I’ve been around a player that has overcome so much adversity and at the same time continued to be an outstanding player,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said, adding: “He’s had a terrific offseason, and I think all of us are hoping that he can do it from start to finish, from the first game to the end.”

The 6-3 Brunson, who earned 33 votes, averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 54 percent last year for the Wildcats.

“Last year he stepped up a little bit more,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “But this year, he’s stepped up to become the player and leader that he is. He’s just a natural born leader.”

North Carolina senior Joel Berry II, last year’s Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four for the reigning national champions, was the top vote-getter who missed the squad. Berry, who had 25 votes, is recovering from a broken bone in his hand that could sideline him for the start of the season.

Duke senior Grayson Allen, a preseason AP All-American last season, had 20 votes.

[Beerthirty]

Is CJ Roberts fitting in anywhere? Haven't heard much about him