Missouri was pegged fifth in the 2014 Southeastern Conference preseason men’s basketball poll on Wednesday and junior guard Jabari Brown was selected as a Second Team Preseason All-SEC honoree by a panel of league and national media members.

Kentucky was the media’s preseason favorite to win the SEC and Wildcat freshman Julius Randle was selected as the league’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Brown is Mizzou’s lone returning starter from last season’s 23-11 campaign. The Oakland, Calif., native averaged 13.7 points and 3.4 rebounds and started the season’s final 23 games after becoming eligible following his transfer from Oregon. In SEC play, Brown was Missouri’s leading scorer (14.6 ppg) and ranked among league leaders in scoring (7th), free throw percentage (9th – .778) and three-point percentage (6th – .376) in conference games.

Overall the shooting guard topped 20 points five times in SEC action, including a career-high 23 points in wins at South Carolina and in the 2012-13 home finale vs. Arkansas. Missouri was 5-0 when Brown scored 20 points last season and the junior will help lead a new-look Tiger squad that begins exhibition play next Friday (Oct. 25) at Hearnes Center vs. Oklahoma City University.

That exhibition game is free to the public and Mizzou Athletics will recognize the undefeated 1993-94 Big Eight Championship squad.

Mizzou Head Coach Frank Haith and senior standout Earnest Ross are in Birmingham, Ala., at SEC Media Days today. The Tigers return to practice on Thursday following their Black & Gold Game scrimmage at Mizzou Arena on Oct. 15. Ross led all scorers with 24 points (including the game-winner) in the Mizzou Gold team victory.

2014 SEC Preseason Voting
First Team All-SEC
Trevor Releford – Alabama, G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Julius Randle – Kentucky, F, 6-9, 250, Fr., Dallas, Texas
Johnny O’Bryant III – LSU, F , 6-9 , 256 , Jr. , Cleveland, Miss.
Marshall Henderson – Ole Miss, G, 6-2, 177, Sr., Hurst, Texas
Jordan McRae – Tennessee, G, 6-6, 185, Sr., Midway, Ga.

Second Team All-SEC
Jabari Brown – Missouri, G, 6-5, 214, Jr., Oakland, Calif.
Scottie Wilbekin – Florida, G, 6-2, 176, Sr., Gainesville, Fla.
Patric Young – Florida, C, 6-9, 240, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Willie Cauley-Stein – Kentucky, F, 7-0, 244, So., Olathe, Kan.
Andrew Harrison – Kentucky, G, 6-6, 215, Fr., Richmond, Texas
Dakari Johnson – Kentucky, C, 7-0, 265, Fr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jeronne Maymon – Tennessee, F, 6-8, 260, Sr., Madison, Wis.
Jarnell Stokes – Tennessee, F, 6-8, 260, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

SEC Player of the Year: Julius Randle, Kentucky

Preseason Media Poll     Pts
1.     Kentucky (21)     371
2.     Florida (5)     353
3.     Tennessee (1)     320
4.     LSU         270
5.     Missouri     262
6.     Alabama     257
7.     Ole Miss     216
8.     Arkansas     197
9.     Texas A&M     139
10.     Vanderbilt     125
11.     Georgia     119
12.     South Carolina     108
13.     Mississippi State     59
14.     Auburn     39
First-Place Votes in Parentheses

— MU Sports Information —