Jan. 9, 2003
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Tigers Open Big 12 Play Against Baylor
The University of Missouri basketball team opens the Big 12 portion of its season on Saturday evening when they welcome the Baylor Bears to the Hearnes. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m. on the Mizzou Sports Network as Chris Gervino and former Tiger great Gary Link call the action.
The Tigers are 9-1 on the season heading in conference action and have won their last three games since dropping a pre-Christmas contest to Illinois. Mizzou's latest conquest came against the Gents of Centenary on Tuesday. Junior Rickey Paulding scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field.
This is the first of two games in 48 hours as they take to the road for the second time this season on Monday when they travel to Syracuse to take on the Orangemen in an ESPN Big Monday matchup. The Tigers were sucessful in their only road game so far this season as they took out Iowa last Saturday, 88-82.
About the Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears are also kicking off their Big 12 campaign on Saturday. They enter the matchup with a 9-2 mark after taking out Mount St. Mary's last Saturday, giving them a week off to prepare for Mizzou.
Youth has definitely been the movement down in Waco as the freshman and sophomores on the squad account for 62% of their scoring so far this season.
Sophomore Lawrence Roberts leads the Bears into Columbia boasting a 15.8 ppg. scoring average. Fellow sophomores John Lucas, who is the son of Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Lucas and Kenny Taylor are also averaging 13.0 points per contest or better to give the Bears a balanced offensive threat.
The Bears are averaging 9.8 3-point field goals and 26.9 attempts per game this season both of which are tops in the Big 12. Look for BU to try to get out of the gates quick in this one. They have held opponents (North Texas, Texas Pan-American and Mount St. Mary's) to 22 or fewer first half points in each of its last three games. That tight scoring defense has resulted in average halftime leads of 20.3 points over the last three contests.
Head coach Dave Bliss leads the Bears into Columbia. He is 8-7 all-time vs. MU.
Big 12 ... Big Time
The time has come for the pretenders to go home and the contenders to step forward. The Big 12 portion of Mizzou's schedule is upon them as they take on the Bears of Baylor, a team that toppled the Tigers in Waco less than one year ago.
The Big 12 has certainly lived up to its early season hype as one of the premier conferences in the country as of late.
With four non-conference regular season games remaining , Big 12 teams, according the Big 12 Conference office, have won a combined 30 straight non-league games since Dec. 28. The league is 111-28 against non-conference foes and is one win shy of tying the 2001-02 season, which finished the regular season 112-40, which is the most regular season non-conference wins since the inception of the league in 1996-97. Not too shabby.
The Tigers face the gauntlet that is the Big 12 in the next two months with goals of improving on their sixth place finish and 9-7 conference mark in the past two seasons.
In the Zone
Junior Rickey Paulding has been outstanding all season for Mizzou (18.6 ppg., 5.5 rpg and so on...). But the sensationally talented junior has taken his game to a whole other level the past three games. He has averaged 20.0 point per contest and has shot a phenomenal 62% (23-of-37) from the field since just after Christmas. He has led the Tigers in scoring in two of those three games including 22 points against Valpo to round out 2002 and 21 points against Centenary.
Sicking the Bears
If you have ever been to a Baylor home sporting event, you are familiar with the "Sick 'em Bears" chant that they use to fire up their crowds.
Junior Arthur Johnson has turned the tables on the Bears in his two encounters with the folks from Waco. He has ... well "sicked" them. AJ has recorded double-doubles in each of his two career games against the Bears going for 11 points and 10 boards his freshman year in Columbia and 12 points (5-of-6 from the field) and 11 rebounds last year in Waco.
He has also had some shot blocking success against BU with four career blocks against the Bears.
Here is a look at how all active Tigers have fared against the Bears:
Arthur Johnson Gms. Ppg. Rpg. 2 11.5 10.5Rickey Paulding Gms. Ppg. Rpg 2 8.0 3.0
Travon Bryant Gms. Ppg. Rpg. 2 5.5 4.5
Josh Kroenke Gms. Ppg. Rpg. 2 1.5 1.0
Jeffrey Ferguson Gms. Ppg. Rpg. 1 6.0 4.0
Noting Centenary Some things that were of interest following the Centenary game.
*The Tigers out-rebounded the Gents, 58-22. That is the by far the largest rebounding margin of the season.
* Junior Arthur Johnson recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 boards.
* The Tigers equaled a season high with 22 assists as a team.
* Junior Jeffrey Ferguson had a huge game on the board pulling down 10 rebounds (four of which were offensive).
* The Tigers have averaged 88.0 points in their last two games (88-82 vs. Iowa, 88-58 vs. Centenary.)
*Missouri extended streaks: home wins (7)...wins against non-ranked opponents (10)...wins against non-ranked, non-conference teams at home (18, last loss Winthrop, 1/4/2000 [46-51])...and the totally worthless fact, MU has 5 straight wins when playing the 1st week of the month, last loss was that game last year with Kansas (3/3/02)
Spreading the Wealth Junior Ricky Clemons led Mizzou to an electric 88-82 win over Iowa last Saturday on the road with a career-best 27 points while handing out seven assists.
While he only shot 3-of-12 from the field in the Tigers' following game against Centenary, Clemons found another way to contribute handing out a career-best eight of the Tigers' 22 team assists in the win.
Sophomore Najeeb Echols and junior Rickey Paulding were also in a generous mood as Echols handed out a career-best five assists while Paudling handed out four in the 88-58 win.
Clemons Earns Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week Honors for Second Time
Columbia, Mo.-University of Missouri junior point guard Ricky Clemons was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the week of Dec. 30-Jan. 5, it was announced by the Big 12 Conference Office on Monday. This marks the second time he has received the award this season (Nov. 18-Nov. 25)
Clemons averaged a team-best 22.5 points and 7.0 assists per contest in the Tigers' two wins over Valparaiso and Iowa. He scored a career-high 27 points while handing out seven assists to lead the Tigers' last Saturday to their first win at Iowa since 1931. He also rang in 2003 with a career-best six 3 pointers including a 25-foot bank shot that extended the Tigers' lead to five with 1:20 left to play. Earlier in the week, Clemons scored 18 points and handed out seven more assists against Valparaiso.
He currently ranks sixth in the Big 12 in scoring at 16.9 ppg and sixth in assists per game with a 5.5 average. He has reached double figures in points in eight of the Tigers' ten games and has topped the 20-point plateau in two contests so far this season. Clemons is also shooting a team-best 46% from behind the 3-point arc.
The Three Amigos
No, this is not a commentary on the excellence of the 1980s comedy flick starring Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin. Nor is it a look back at one of the best receiving corps in Denver Broncos history (which featured Mark Jackson, Vance Johnson and Ricky Natiel). But this note is about two Rickys and a Johnson.
Juniors Ricky Clemons, Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson have led the Tigers to a 9-1 record so far this season. The talented threesome represents nearly 60% of the Tigers offense and 68% of their three-point shots made.
Over the past three games, all three have shot better than 45% from the field and have all averaged 12.7 points or more.
Paulding leads the pack averaging 18.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest through ten games. He has led Mizzou in scoring in four of its ten games played.
Clemons went off against Iowa scoring a career-high 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting including a career-best six threes. He has also been a great distributor at the point for Mizzou averaging 5.2 assists per contest. Clemons had a career-best eight assists against Centenary on Tuesday night while also pitching in with nine points, marking only the second time he has not made it to double figures in a game this season.
AJ continues to be one of the most complete players on the Tiger squad and in the Big 12. He is averaging 15.5 points and a mammoth 8.9 rebounds per contest while also rejecting 1.9 shots per game.
In Iowa City, the Bank is Open On Saturdays
For all of those reading this note in Iowa City, Iowa, don't take this headline as the gospel truth, check with your local bank.
However, junior point guard Ricky Clemons used the "bank" shot to his advantage on Saturday. The lighting quick guard scored the last of his six three-point baskets on the evening with a 25-foot rainbow from the left wing that banked off the backboard and into the basket with the shot clock winding down. The shot extended the Tigers' lead to five at 83-78 with 1:20 left in the second half and ultimately extended its record to 8-1.
This was not the first time Clemons had used the glass on a three-point shot that day. He nailed a three early in the first half from the left wing.
Noting Iowa
The Tigers successfully took to the road on Saturday afternoon for the first time, taking out Iowa, 88-82. There were several items of note in the game including:
* Coach Quin Snyder won the 70th win of his career at Mizzou. He is now 70-39 in his four seasons at MU.
* Junior Ricky Clemons eclipsed or equaled career-highs in eight statistical catergories.
* Clemons handed out seven assists for the second straight game.
* The win marked the first time a Tiger squad had won in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes since 1931.
* Junior Arthur Johnson recorded his fifth double-double in nine games which ranks third in the Big 12.
* The Tigers allowed Iowa to shoot 51.5% in the first half, the highest percentage allowed in a half this season.
* Mizzou promptly put the clamps on the Hawks in the second half allowing them to shoot only 37.9% in the second stanza.
Several Former Tigers Returning for Alumni Weekend
The University of Missouri basketball team will be hosting a former player reunion and basketball alumni game this coming weekend surrounding the Tigers' game with the Baylor Bears.
More than 50 former players will be back in Columbia and will be recognized at halftime of the game. Those former greats will also have the opportunity to lace 'em up again and play in an exhibition game, which is set to tip at 3:30 p.m.
Among the former Tigers playing in the alumni game will be John Brown, Lynn Hardy, Julian Winfield and Stan Ray. The exhibition game is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the men's basketball game. Gates will open prior to the women's game at 11:30 a.m.
Johnson Grabs MU Blocks Record
With the fourth of his five blocks against Valparaiso, Arthur Johnson became the all-time blocked shots leader at Mizzou. He now has 155 swats following his three-block performance against Iowa, displacing former Tiger great Steve Stipanovich for the top spot on the chart.
Johnson, who ESPN analyst Tim McCormick called one of the "top five big men in the country right now," accomplished the feat in just 77 games played for his career while Stipanovich set the record in 128 games. Besides being one of the top defensive players in MU history, Arthur is off to a great offensive start as well this season averaging 16.1 points and 8.7 boards per contest through the first nine games. Below is a look at the Top 10 shot-blockers in school history.
Blocked Shots1. Arthur Johnson, 00-Pres. 155 2. Steve Stipanovich, 80-83 149 3. Doug Smith, 88-91 129 4. Jevon Crudup, 91-94 116 5. Gary Leonard, 86-89 96 6. Chris Heller, 90-91, 93-94 89 7. Monte Harge, 95-99 72 8. Greg Cavener, 82-85 69 Sammie Haley, 95-96 69 10. Dan Bingenheimer, 85-86 66
R.ickey P.aulding I.ndex
Mizzou is off to a flying start with a 8-1 record through nine games. While it may be early in 2003, it's never too early to talk RPI rankings. The Tigers currently own the second-best RPI in the Big 12 Conference with a #9 rank, trailing only Texas, who is #6 in the country according to CollegeRPI.com.
It is mere coincidence that the first two letters of RPI are RP, which are also junior Rickey Paulding's initials. However, Paulding will play a major role in what the Tigers' RPI rank is the rest of the season. He has been up to the task so far averaging 18.5 points per contest and 20.0 points per game the past three games. He is shooting 52% from the field over the past four contests including 11of-20 from three point land.
Despite battling the stomach flu, Rick poured in a game-high 22 points (17 of which came in the second half) against Valparaiso on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from three.
He then went for 17 points against Iowa on Saturday in the Tigers' 88-82 win. Paulding was 5-of-11 from the field and also handed out two assists.
The Skinny on McKinney
Freshman Jimmy McKinney made his first start as a Tiger against Valparaiso. McKinney was extremely efficient scoring eight points and handing out four assists in the win.
McKinney made the second start of his career on Saturday, but struggled with foul trouble against Iowa picking up two quick fouls in the early going, limiting him to only 16 minutes of playing time. However, he was effective when he was in the contest scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field including 2-for-3 from three. He also pulled down three boards in the Tiger win.
While the Tigers took it on the proverbial chin against the Illini, McKinney made the most of his return to his hometown of St. Louis and the Savvis Center.
McKinney poured in a career-best 15 points and handed out two assists in 27 minutes off of the bench in the contest. He was 4-of-10 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
The 15-point outing marked the second straight contest McKinney has recorded a career-high as he went for 13 points against Memphis on Dec. 14.
He has reached double figures in scoring in five of the nine contests he has played in so far this season and is Mizzou's leading free-throw shooter, hitting at a 85% clip (28-of-33). He also leads the team in assist/turnover ratio weighing in with a 2.8 assist to turnover ratio.
Back to Somewhat Normal
So far this season, good shooting against the Tigers has been the exception to the rule. Mizzou has held opponents to shoot only 37% from the field while forcing them into 154 turnovers (15.4 per game).
After allowing Iowa to shoot a blazing 51.5% from the field and giving up a season-worst 49 points in the first half, Mizzou clamped down in the second stanza holding Iowa to only 38% from the field and only 33 points.
The Tigers returned to defensive form against the Crusaders of Valparaiso. The Tigers held them to only 33.3% shooting from the field and only 19% from the three-point line.
The Tigers continued that stingy defensive theme against Centenary on Tuesday when they held Centenary to 38% from the field (18% from 3-point land in the second half) in their 88-58 rout of the Gents.
Mizzou allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40% for the first time this season against the Illini when they shot 45% (27-of-60).
Ricks Squared
1980s rock icon Huey Lewis, whom I met once in the San Francisco airport, had a hit single with "Its Hip to be Square" back in 1986 on his "Fore" album.
While they may share the same first name, the play of back court mates Rick(y Clemons) and Rick(ey Paulding) has been anything but square so far this season. In fact it's been pretty hip daddy-o.
Paulding has led the Tigers in scoring in four of their 10 games and is averaging a team-best 18.5 points per contest while pulling down 5.5 boards per contest. He has also committed larceny (stealing) 14 times this year, which ranks second on the team.
He is shooting 44% from three-point land and is averaging 2.2 three-point field goals per contest.
Clemons has also been a spark for Mizzou. He has averaged 18.0 points per contest the last three games. Clemons only scored nine points (just the second time this season he has not reached double figures in points this year) against Centenary, but ran the Tiger offense masterfully handing out a career-best eight assists.
He came up huge in the second half in the Tigers win over Valpo. RC dumped in 14 of his 18 points in the second stanza and handed out seven assists as the Tigers rolled to a 65-47 win after being up just 21-20 at halftime.
Clemons was unbelievable at Iowa, scoring a career-best 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting including 6-of-11 from three. He set or equaled career-highs in eight statistical catergories against the Hawkeyes and cashed in at the bank to clinch the game with a 25-foot bank shot with just over 1:30 left in the game to give Mizzou a five point lead. They would go on to win by six.