2000-01 record: 20-13; 9-7 in Big 12 (6th) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Duke 94-81 in second round of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Rush 21.1 ppg | Rebounds: Johnson 7.8 rpg | Assists: Gilbert 3.5 apg | FG %: Johnson 51.8% | 3pt %: Rush 44.8% | FT %: Mohr 81.1% 00-01 Stats: Missouri | Big 12

		Thursday, Nov. 1 There is excitement in Tiger land. The biggest key may be getting out of Kareem Rush's way. But also, can they be physical and tough enough inside to rebound and match some of the aggressive play from other Big 12 teams? Arthur Johnson, their leading rebounder a year ago, is back. The Tigers can score, but they need to rebound to take a step up in the Big 12.

Missouri No. 8 in ESPN.com Top 25

Outlook
Meet the team given the best chance of preventing Kansas from winning the regular-season title.

Third-year coach Quin Snyder has assembled a roster that has scoring punch, inside presence, versatility and tenacity. Now if these guys will only hang around long enough to mature.

Junior guard/forward Kareem Rush (21.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) decided to stick around for one more season and he was rewarded by being named the Big 12 preseason player of the year last week. The Tigers need him to play a full season, though. He was suspended by the NCAA for nine games as a freshman for receiving extra benefits and he missed seven games last season with a thumb injury.

Guard Clarence Gilbert (16.5 ppg) is the lone senior and can shoot the Tigers into a game or out of one. But it appears he has finally learned to care more about the team than his own shot. Gilbert can play point guard if necessary, but that job belongs to sophomore Wesley Stokes (6.4 ppg, 2.0 apg). Sophomore guard Rickey Paulding (7.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) isn't a perimeter scoring threat, but compensates by slashing to the basket.

Snyder is quietly beaming about 6-8 freshman Najeeb Echols. Snyder isn't quite sure where Echols will play because Echols might be athletic enough to play all five positions. He shouldn't have to play center or power forward, though. Sophomore forward-center Arthur Johnson (9.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg) returns after blocking a school-record 65 shots. And the addition of 6-11 junior Uche Okafor should make the Tigers' interior defense even more imposing.

What we like: Snyder has a ton of young talent, a situation ripe for issues such as playing time and number of shots to become divisive. But last season when he suspended Gilbert for one game with the Tigers still fighting for an NCAA tournament berth, it showed the players he was in charge of the team. Gilbert responded positively and the team gained in the long run. This team has talent at every position. All that's missing is experience.

What we don't like: It would sure be nice to have more than on senior on the roster for the close games that lie ahead. A senior point guard would be especially comforting. But we're nitpicking.

The bottom line: Kansas has as much talent, more veterans and a more experienced coach. But the Tigers have enough cockiness to match their talent and depth and can easily win the league title. After having to fight for an NCAA berth in each of the last two seasons, the Tigers' goal should be to secure one early and shoot for a high seed. There is no reason that goal can't be accomplished.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Kareem Rush	Jr.	F	6-6/218	PTS: 21.1 | REB: 6.7 | AST: 2.0
Clarence Gilbert	Sr.	G	6-2/194	PTS: 16.5 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 3.5
Arthur Johnson	So.	F/C	6-9/270	PTS: 9.0 | REB: 7.8 | AST: 0.8
Rickey Paulding	So.	G/F	6-5/210	PTS: 7.0 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 0.9
Wesley Stokes	So.	G	5-10/175	PTS: 6.4 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 2.0

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Brian Grawer	G	6-0/165	PTS: 8.4 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 2.6
Tajudeen Soyoye	F/C	6-9/236	PTS: 6.9 | REB: 6.6 | AST: 0.6

Missouri Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Najeeb Echols	F	6-7	Chicago/Morgan Park
Jeffrey Ferguson	F	6-10	Benton Harbor, Mich./Benton Harbor
Duane John	F	6-6	Toronto, Ontario/Boylen/Berkshire H.S.
Uche Okafor	C	6-11	Nigeria/College of Southern Idaho