March 12, 2002
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Missouri is making its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance overall, and its 4th straight, including 3 straight in 3 years under Head Coach Quin Snyder. MU's current streak of 4 straight "Big Dances" is the 2nd-longest streak in school history, just one shy of the record of 5 straight from 1986-90.
MU's #12 seed, while the lowest seed received by the Tigers since seeding began in 1979, does give Mizzou a break from the dreaded 8-9 game. Each of Missouri's last 4 NCAA appearances have come as either the #8 or #9 seed.
MU's 21 wins is the school's most in 8 seasons, since the 1993-94 Elite Eight squad went 28-4.
MU ended the pre-tournament campaign ranked 54th in the RPI rankings (according to www.collegerpi.com). MU earned 3 wins against the RPI top-25 (3-7 overall), and only 13 other schools in the country had more than 3 wins against that same group.
MU's strength of schedule is a deceivingly low 79th, despite the fact MU has played more games (10) against top-25 RPI teams than all but 3 other schools (Oklahoma [11], Texas [11] and South Carolina [11]).
MU has never played against Miami, Fla. nor Davidson previously, but stands 5-4 vs. Ohio State, with the last meeting coming back in 1984.
MU ranks 6th nationally in 3-pt. field goals per game (9.2), and 26th in the NCAA in 3-pt. accuracy (39.0%). Clarence Gilbert (3.3 3FGs p/g) and Kareem Rush (3.2) rank 1-2 in the Big 12 in treys per game. Gilbert has made a school-record 107 threes this season, while Rush is right behind with 102. Their combined 209 treys is more than all but 3 Big 12 Schools.
MU has established single-season school records in 3-pt. field goals made (294) and blocked shots (140).
Clarence Gilbert is the Big 12 Conference's active leading career scorer (1,619 points), and ranks 4th on the league's alltime scoring list. He also ranks 7th alltime at MU in scoring and is the school's career leader in 3-pt. field goals (321). He set a Big 12 and MU record this season at Colorado when he nailed 12 threes in a 40-pt. effort.
Junior Kareem Rush was named 1st-team All-Big 12 last week for the 2nd straight season. He ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in scoring (20.1 p/g), 2nd in 3-pt. field goals (3.2 p/g) and 10th in 3-pt. accuracy (41.6%). Rush is coming off a career-high 33-pt. effort Friday vs. Texas in the Big 12 Quarterfinals.
Sophomore big man Arthur Johnson was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick by league coaches. He ranks among league leaders in blocks (2nd - 2.03 p/g), field goal percentage (55.1%), rebounding (6th - 8.1), off. rebounding (5th - 3.34) and double-doubles (4th - 10).