Frank Haith: Tigers are good enough to make it back to NCAA Tournament

Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith knows he had a great team last season and expects the same with a talented team returning for the 2012-13 season.

The Tigers finished last season with a 30-5 record but that fifth loss - a first-round loss to Norfolk State in the NCAA Tournament - inked a permanent blemish on the season. Normally, a gut-wrenching loss like the one suffered by Missouri to suddenly end their season would be used as fuel to motivate the team as they prepare for the next season.

According to Haith, he doesn't rely on that bitter taste for motivation and he doesn't expect his team to either. At SEC Media Day, Haith explained that the Tigers are always motivated to play their best and not looking back:

"We're motivated to win always; I don't think that has anything to do with our motivation. That was a difficult moment for us, it was disappointing, but I think our team and our staff are focused on having a team good enough to get to the tournament and advancing in the tournament."

The No. 15 Tigers play their first regular season game at home on Nov. 10th against SIU-Edwardsville.