Coming out of Scott County Central High School in Haywood City, Mo., Timmons was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Missouri after leading his team to a Class 1-A state title and a 130-3 record during his four years as a prep star.

After three years of paying his dues for the Dawgs, the pressure is back on Timmons as the 6,8 swingman was named the Missouri Valley Conference preseason player of the year.

However, SIUC head coach Rich Herrin said he doesn’t expect the preseason honors to distract Timmons.

Marcus Timmons has been a star since his freshman year in high school, Herrin said. If he gets six points, about five rebounds, five assists, a couple steals, couple blocked shots, somebody will say he didn’t have a very good ballgame tonight coach, he only got six points.’

That’s not right. Marcus Timmons is a complete player and a very, very consistent player, but I doubt he’ll lead us in scoring.

But he’s a fine player and he deserves the honor and we’ll just have to see what happens later on.

Timmons led the MVC in rebounding as a junior with 9.8 boards per game, while averaging 14.7 points an outing.

But have the fans of Saluki basketball seen the best of Marcus Timmons yet?

I think my first two years I was shell-shocked, or just trying to learn the system, Timmons said. Last year I just came out and I think this year, if I want to go to the next level (NBA), I just gotta come out and bust my butt every time.

This year’s Saluki team will lack a veteran point guard for the first time since Timmons arrived in 1991, which may mean the two-time All-MVC Tournament selection will have to take on even more responsibility.

I want to be the coach on the floor, Timmons said. I want to get everybody organized.