Jan. 6, 2003
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#13 Mizzou Takes On Centenary On Tuesday
The University of Missouri men's basketball team plays its first of two home games this week on Tuesday when it welcomes the Gents of Centenary (which is located in Shreveport, La.). Mizzou enters the contest with a 8-1 mark and a 2-0 lead in the all-time series against Centenary. After dropping their final contest before holiday break, the Tigers won back-to-back contests and, dating back to last season, have won 11 of their last 13 games.
The latest win for the Tigers came last Saturday at Iowa, 88-82. Junior Ricky Clemons recorded a career-best 27 points while fellow juniors Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson pitched in with 17 and 16 points respectively.
The game will be aired on the Mizzou Sports Network with tip set for 7 p.m. That does not bode will for the Gents, as Mizzou is 10-1 over the past two seasons against non-Big 12 opponents on MSN.
About the Centenary Gents
After opening the 2002-02 campaign at 4-3, the Gents enter Tuesday's contest having lost their last four contests and five of their last six.
Centenary has played only three games at home this year so far and is 3-0 in those contests. The road and neutral sites have not been as kind though as they are 2-8 in those contests. The Gents just wrapped up a mini-Texas swing last week falling to Texas A&M on Thursday and then to Texas Christian on Saturday.
Andrew Wisniewski, a 6-3 guard from Staten Island, New York, leads the Gents offensive attack averaging 19.6 points per contest. He also leads Centenary with 30 steals and is averaging a team-best 3.5 assists per contest. While Wisniewski is the only Gent to average double-figures, three others are averaging better than eight points per contest.
Coach Kevin Johnson is in his fourth year at Centenary. He brings a 37-58 mark in Tuesday's contest.
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 17.4 ppg and sixth in assists per game with a 5.2 average. He has reached double figures in points in eight of the Tigers' nine games and has topped the 20-point plateau in two contests so far this season. Clemons is also shooting a team-best 47% from behind the 3-point arc.
Clemons and Tigers, who are now 8-1 on the year, welcome the Gents of Centenary to the Hearnes Center for a 7 p.m. tip on Tuesday. On Saturday, Mizzou will open the Big 12 portion of the season when it welcomes Baylor for a 6 p.m. tilt. Tickets are still available for both games and may be purchased via the World Wide Web at www.mutigers.com or can be ordered by phone at 1-800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
The Three Amigos
No, this is not a commentary on the excellence of the 1980's 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 8-1 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 four games, all three have shot better than 50% from the field and have all averaged 14.8 points or more.
Paulding leads the pack averaging 18.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest through nine games. He has led Mizzou in scoring in three of its nine 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.
AJ continues to be one of the most complete players on the Tiger squad and in the Big 12. He is averaging 16.1 points and a mammouth 8.7 rebounds per contest while also rejecting 2.0 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 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 154 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 Shots 1. Arthur Johnson, 00-Pres. 154 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 intials. 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 18.3 points per contest and 19.5 points per game the past four 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 four of the seven contests he has played in so far this season and is Mizzou's leading free-throw shooter, hitting at a 91% clip (25-of-28). He also leads the team in assist/turnover ratio weighing in with a 3.7 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 144 turnovers (16.0 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.
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 three of their eight games and is averaging a team-best 18.3 points per contest while pulling down 5.4 boards per contest. He has also committed larceny (stealing) 14 times this year, which ranks second on the team.
He is shooting 45% from three-point land and is averaging 2.3 three-point field goals per contest.
Clemons has also been a spark for Mizzou. He has averaged 19.3 points per contest the last four games. 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.
The Guns 'n' Roses Factor
Mizzou was able to run past Valparaiso Monday night to earn its seventh win of the season. However, before they could sprint out to 44 points in the second half en route to the 65-47 win, the Tigers displayed patience (which was a hit for G & R from the Lies album) on the offensive end in the first half. Mizzou attempted only 14 shots in the first half, hitting on seven of them to shooting 50% for the half to take a 21-20 lead into half time.
The Tigers were lethal in the second stanza, opening the half with a 16-5 run the first 6:46 of the second half. Mizzou shot 64% in the half and 59% for the game, while holding Valpo to 33% shooting in the contest.