Web Extra: Mizzou women’s basketball picked 16th in preseason poll

COLUMBIA – USA Today’s coaches poll predicts the Mizzou women’s basketball team to finish 16th in the country.

The Tigers are returning key players such as Amber Smith, Cierra Porter and Sophie Cunningham. The Tigers said they are happy with the recognition, but they are not finished. Head coach Robin Pingeton said this team has a long way to go to get back to the NCAA tournament.

Mizzou has made the NCAA tournament each of the past two seasons. Cunningham said this team, however, is the best Mizzou women’s basketball team ever. She said it is just a matter of meshing the veteran pieces with the younger players.

Mizzou opens exhibition play Nov. 2 against Southwest Baptist. The Tigers open regular season play in the Hawkeye Challange on the road against Western Kentucky on Nov. 10.