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(AP) -- Alex Oriakhi celebrated a national championship with UConn in 2011

Now, the forward is ready to do his part for No. 15 Missouri.

The Tigers were a 30-win team and No. 2 NCAA regional seed in coach Frank Haith's first season. Hopes are high for the second season that begins Saturday against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville despite a radically remade roster.

Oriakhi is among a group of heralded additions to a team that has just one returning starter, preseason SEC player of the year Phil Pressey, but also has dynamic forward Laurence Bowers back
after missing last season with a knee injury.

Missouri opens the season without guard Michael Dixon, perhaps the nation's top sixth man last season, because he violated team rules.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)