Jan. 23, 2004
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Tip-off: 5 p.m. CST
Arena: Hearnes Center (13,611)
TV: Mizzou Sports Network. Chris Gervino and Jon Sundvold
Radio: Tiger Radio Network. Mike Kelly, play-by-play: Gary Link, analyst
Rankings: Missouri was not ranked or receiving votes in either poll. Nebraska was not ranked or receiving votes in either poll.
Series: MU leads, 116-83 Last Meeting: MU, 70-61 in Dallas, Texas (Big 12 Tourney)
Coaches: Missouri: Quin Snyder (Duke '89) 91-56 at MU and overall (5th season).
Nebraska: Barry Collier (Butler '76) 49-54 at NU (5th season); 245-186 overall (15th season).
Tigers Face Nebraska in Saturday Afternoon Matinee
The University of Missouri basketball squad looks to extend its five-game winning streak over the University of Nebraska Huskers on Saturday when it faces NU in Columbia. The Tigers are 7-7 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 following a tough 75-69 overtime loss to Texas on Tuesday night.
Seniors Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson teamed for 36 points in the effort (20 for Paulding, 16 for AJ) while Johnson rejected a season-best six shots. Freshman Linas Kleiza also had a big night scoring 14 points and pulling down five boards, but it wasn't quite enough as UT hit a three at the buzzer to send it to overtime and went 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the OT to seal the win. Nebraska (11-4, 1-3 Big 12) is coming off of their first Big 12 win of season on Wednesday when they took out Baylor in Lincoln, 76-47.
The Tigers are currently in a tie for fourth in the Big 12 with Colorado at 2-2. Mizzou plays two of its next three contests at home, but then takes a two-game mini-road trip to Kansas and Nebraska to open the month of February.
The contest, which is set to tip at 5 p.m. CST, will be aired on the Mizzou Sports Network with Chris Gervino and Jon Sundvold handling the broadcast duties. MU is 4-2 so far this season on MSN. Mike Kelly and Gary Link will call all of the action on the Tiger Radio Network as well.
Quick Hits
* The Tigers are looking for their sixth straight win over Nebraska and have won eight of their last nine contests against the Huskers
* The Tigers are 4-3 at home, 3-2 on the road and 0-2 in neutral court contests.
* Mizzou has been to overtime three times so far this season and has needed free basketball in each of their last two contests. It was the first time a Tiger squad has played back-to-back overtime games since 1978 when they went to double overtime against Kansas State in the Championship of the Big 8 tournament and then went to double overtime against Utah in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
* The Tigers carry a 25-15 mark during the month of January under Head Coach Quin Snyder. They are also 19-3 in the month of January at home under Snyder.
* The Tigers lead the all-time series with NU, 116-83 including three wins over the Huskers last year.
* Senior Rickey Paulding has averaged 22.7 ppg. over the Tigers' last three games. He ranks fifth in the league in scoring averaging 16.2 ppg.
* Mizzou has played in front of a sold out Hearnes Center in each of their last three home games.
* Senior Arthur Johnson ranks second in the Big 12 in double-doubles. With his 16-point, 11-rebound effort against OU, he now has recorded five double-doubles on the year and 41 for his career.
* AJ currently ranks 11th on the Mizzou all-time scoring list with 1,458 points and is in fourth on the rebounding charts with 971 rebounds. He needs just 83 boards to eclipse the Mizzou mark and also to move into second on the Big 12 career boards list.
* Rickey is right on AJ's heels on the scoring chart with 1,447 points, putting him in 13th.
* Seven different Tigers have led the team in scoring through 14 games this season and four different Tigers have led in rebounding. Paulding has led the squad in scoring in each of the last three contests.
* As of Thursday's CollegeRPI.com report, the Tigers have played the 11th toughest schedule in the country.
* Coach Snyder is looking for win number 92 at Mizzou on Saturday. He has recorded more wins in his first 147 games at Mizzou than any previous Tiger coach had recorded in as many games in their careers.
* The Tigers are 40-30 under Coach Snyder against Big 12 opponents.
* With his first bucket against Texas A&M, Arthur Johnson became only the fourth Tiger to record at least 1,400 career points and 900 rebounds. The other three are Steve Stipanovich (80-83), Doug Smith (88-91) and Derrick Chievous (85-88).
Kleiza Named Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week
Columbia, Mo. - Freshman forward Linas Kleiza has earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors for second time, Big 12 Conference officials announced on Monday. Kleiza also earned the honor for the week of Dec. 8 earlier this season. He has been a key component in the Tigers' efforts.
The 6-8, 245-pound big man averaged 11.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in the Tigers loss to No. 16 Syracuse and win over No. 11 Oklahoma in Norman. In the 79-75 overtime win at Oklahoma, Kleiza had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Kleiza has recorded nine rebounds or more in 10 of the Tigers' 14 games so far this season and has reached double figures in boards four times. He has three double-doubles on the year and is fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding averaging 8.8 rpg, while also chipping in with 11.4 ppg off of the bench. If Kleiza can keep the 8.8 rebounds per game going, he will eclipse Arthur Johnson's Big 12 freshmen record of 7.8 boards per contest.
A Look at the Huskers
The Huskers enter Saturday's contest with a solid 11-4 mark, but are only 1-3 in the Big 12. They are coming off of a convincing 29-point win over Baylor on Wednesday and have quality wins over opponents such as Minnesota and Tennessee in early season play. Senior transfers Nate Johnson (12.5 points per game) and Andrew Drevo (11.1 points per game) lead an efficient Husker attack that is shooting almost 49 percent from the field (2nd in the Big 12).
The Huskers have also been lighting it up from long range, shooting a Big 12-best 42 percent from three (105-of-249). Senior Brian Conklin has connected on 26-of-49 threes so far while Drevo is shooting 39 percent (22-of-57) from three.
Head coach Barry Collier is in his fifth season as head coach at NU. He has led the Huskers to a 49-54 mark during that time and has a career mark of 245-186 mark in 15 seasons as a head coach.
Tiger Basketball Greats to Be Recognized at Halftime of Nebraska Game
Retired men's basketball numbers hanging in Hearnes Center rafters will be lowered and transferred into new arena upon its completion
Five of the premier basketball players in the history of Mizzou Basketball will be recognized on Saturday for their accomplishments during their amazing careers. Jon Sundvold (1980-83 - #20), Willie Smith (1975-76 - #30), Doug Smith (1988-91 - #34), Steve Stipanovich (1980-83 - #40) and Bill Stauffer (1950-52 - #43) all had their numbers retired following their illustrious careers at Mizzou and banners bearing those numbers now hang in the Hearnes Center rafters.
On Saturday, the banners will be lowered in a halftime ceremony honoring these five great individuals and their accomplishments while wearing the black and gold. Following the completion of Mizzou's new $75 million arena, which is scheduled for Oct. 1 of 2004, the jerseys will be raised and will once again overlook the home of the Tigers in the rafters of the new building.
The final retired number that will hang in the Hearnes Center is a tribute to former All-American and Tiger coaching great Norm Stewart (1954-56 - #22). Stewart will be recognized at halftime of the Tigers' game with Iowa State on Feb. 18, as he will be a member of the broadcast team for the contest. His banner will be lowered as well and transferred over to the new arena along with the other banners that will be lowered on Saturday.
Facts, Figures and Other Points of Interest Following the Texas Game
* OVERTIME! - This is Mizzou's third game to go into overtime this season and is now 1-2 in 03-04, this is Texas' second overtime game this season and their second on the road
* THE SERIES - The series is now tied at 8-8
* HEARNES - Mizzou is now 399-70 at the Hearnes Center, 816-270 all-time in their home court
* VS. RANKED OPPS - Missouri is now 4-5 against teams ranked #14
* FACTOID OF THE NIGHT - Missouri is now 33-33 against ranked teams at home whenever the Tigers aren't ranked
* FYI - This was the Tigers' first OT game at home since the 4 OT thriller against Iowa State in 2001, the Tigers one that one 112-109.
* STAT TRACK - Free throws in Overtime, Missouri 4-7, Texas 10-10
* FOUL OUTS - UT's Buckman fouled out with 3:47 to go in OT, MU's Jimmy McKinney fouled out with 3:27 to go in OT.
INDIVDUAL FEATS
* Arthur Johnson's six blocks is a season-high, he had a career-high of eight blocks against Stetson in the 2000-01 season.
* Paulding's 20 points was a team high and put him and Johnson at 11 and 12 all-time, Johnson now has 1458 in his career, Paulding 1447
GAME RUNS & STREAKS
* DRY FROM OUTSIDE - The Tigers started the game 0-of-5 from behind the three-point arc ... in fact Missouri's first 10 points came from the paint or a free throw.
* MIZZOU LATE FIRST HALF RUN - Missouri held Texas to no field goals over 7:02 late in the first half (8:22-1:20) and went on a 10-0 run to give the Tigers their first lead of the game ... the first lead came at the 3:29 mark after a Paulding old-fashioned three-point play was completed
* UT OUT OF THE GATE - To start the second half, Texas went on 13-4 run over the first 4:10 to recapture the lead for the second lead change of the game ... Mizzou was held without a field goal from 2:32 in the first half to 16:01 in the second
* MIZZOU SURGE - Mizzou went on a 11-4 run over 3:13 in the second (9:56 to 6:43) to secure a two-point lead, 48-46
* DRAMA - The game was tied 15 times and featured eight lead changes.
Reading Up on the Rick
Senior Preseason All-American Rickey Paulding continues to be one of the fiercest competitors in the Big 12 Conference.
Paulding leads the squad in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per contest while breaking the 20-point barrier in five of the Tigers' 14 contests and in each of the last three games. He earned All-Big 12 second-team honors last season and was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team. He was named to both the Wooden and Naismith Awards watch lists this season and also earned a preseason All-American nod from the Associated Press. He ranks 13th on the all-time Mizzou scoring charts with 1,447 points following his 20-point effort against Texas. He will now be chasing No. 12 Ricky Frazier (1980-82, 1,448 points) on the list and is moving up the chart like the Jefferson's.
Paulding was awesome in his hometown going 6-for-12 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line sharing team-high honors with Jimmy McKinney with 21 points on the night against Oakland in Detroit on Nov. 29.
Rick is now alone in sixth on the Mizzou all-time three point field goals made list with 163 career treys.
In Order to Be the Best ...
... you have to beat the best. The Tigers have definitely put that adage to the test this year with one of the toughest schedules in the country. As of Monday's Associated Press Poll, 9 (Oklahoma, Kansas, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Texas, Illinois, Texas Tech, Memphis, Oklahoma State) of the Tigers 2003-04 opponents are ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes.
You don't have to look to far down the Tigers schedule to see the toughest stretch (if the entire thing isn't tough enough) began with the new year when the Tigers faced (RV) Iowa on Jan. 3 (W, 76-56), lost a tough one at (RV) Iowa State (L, 70-65) where they are 0-5 under coach Quin Snyder, lost to defending national champion #17 Syracuse (L, 82-68), travel to #13 Oklahoma (W, 79-75 in OT) and faced #16 Texas (L, 75-69 in oT) ... all in a 20-day span.
Like the TNT Network, We Know Drama
Sorry MSN, but that one was just to good to let slip by. The Tigers have made some breathtaking comebacks and have experienced some heartbreaking losses so far this season. Eight of the Tigers' 13 games have been decided by five points or less and three of them have went to overtime. The Tigers are 4-4 in games decided by five points or less this season. The average margin of victory or loss for Mizzou has been 6.98 points per contest after its six point, overtime loss to Texas.
Prior to their 20-point blowout win against Iowa on Jan. 3, the Tigers lost three games in seven days by a total of seven points to wrap up 2003, a year the Tigers would be just as soon forget. They faced a 21-point deficit to Illinois in the first half, only to storm back and lose by one and were down by as many as 15 to Memphis, only to have their comeback come up just short, losing by two to the Tigers.
Balancing Act
The Tigers have been extremely balanced on the offensive end of the court so far this year. Five Tigers are averaging between 16.2 and 10.4 points per contest with senior Rickey Paulding taking top honors following the Tigers contest with Texas. Seven different players have led Mizzou in scoring over the course of the first 14 games and four different Tigers have led in rebounding.
King Arthur's Court
Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Arthur Johnson is on a mission. The objective: to leave the Hearnes Center in April as one of the best big men in school history. He has certainly had a remarkable career here at MU and continues to work his way up several career charts. The explosive big man with feather-soft touch around the basket already owns Mizzou's all-time shot blocking mark with 226 career swats. With his two-block effort against Coppin State, he became only the fifth player to record 200 or more career blocks in Big 12 conference history. He needs to average around 3.0 blocks per game during the rest of the regular season to become the Big 12 all-time swats leader.
Big 12 All-Time Blocked Shots Leadeer
1. 264 Chris Mihm, UT-1998-00
2. 243 Nick Collison, KU, 1999-03
3. 242 Eric Chenowith, KU, 1997-01
4. 224 Arthur Johnson, MU, 2000-present
5. 202 Venson Hamilton, NU, 1997-99
If all goes according to plan, he will also become the Tigers all-time leading rebounder right around the middle of February. Johnson is averaging 8.0 boards per contest following his seven rebound effort against Texas. He needs just 82 more boards to pass former Tiger great Doug Smith on the chart.
He also currently ranks 11th on the all-time scoring charts with 1,458 points after his 16-point effort vs. Texas. He will now be chasing No. 10 Jevon Crudup (91-94, 1,498 points).
Last season, Johnson became only the fourth Tiger since the 1949-50 season to lead the team in rebounding in three straight campaigns.
More On AJ
And if you just can't get enough info on the big fella they call "Doc," he is also creeping up on the Big 12 career double-doubles mark. With his 16-point, 11-rebound effort against Oklahoma, he recorded his 41st career double-double, putting him alone in 4th on the Big 12 All-Time Double-Double leaders list. A look at that chart follows:
Big 12 All-Time Double-Double Leaders1. 47 Chris Mihm, UT, 1998-00 2. 46 Venson Hamilton, NU, 1997-99 3. 44 Drew Gooden, KU, 1999-02 4. 41 Arthur Johnson, MU, 2001-Present 5. 40 Raef LaFrentz, KU, 1994-98
I Did Not Know That. Did You Know That Ed?
Pardon the tribute to Johnny Carson, but did you know that there have been 16 schools that have participated in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments? Five of the 16 are Big 12 schools - Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas. The other schools are Duke, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Arizona, Stanford, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Gonzaga. In a related note, this year's senior class of Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding, Josh Kroenke and Travon Bryant has played in the most NCAA Tournament games of any Tigers in school history with eight post-season tilts under their belts. Also of note, in each of Coach Quin Snyder's first four years, the Tigers have been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by an eventual Final Four Team (2000-North Carolina, 2001-Duke, 2002-Oklahoma and 2003-Marquette).
The Lithuanian Domination Tour Rolls On
Coming to a Big 12 town near you in the not-so distant future will be the Lithuanian Domination tour starring National Freshman of the Year candidate Linas Kleiza. Kleiza has certainly been impressive in his young 14-game career for Mizzou. He is averaging 11.4 points (third on the squad) and an amazing 8.8 rebounds, which is second in the Big 12. The power forward from Kaunas, Lithuania has recorded double-doubles in three games as a Tiger and just missed his fourth, fifth and sixth double-doubles in the Tigers' contests with Belmont, Iowa and Syracuse when he went for a career best 18 points while pulling down nine boards in both the IU and BU games and dumped in nine points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds against Syracuse. He was also close against OU, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine boards in the Tigers 79-75 win over the Sooners. While all of the those numbers and statistics are certainly impressive, the thing that has resonated the most with Linas has been the fact that he is putting up these numbers coming off the bench in only 23.7 minutes per game. Kleiza has also provided a huge emotional lift for the Tigers as he plays with a huge amount of fire and intensity.
Thanks for the Memories ... Here's to Many More
The Tigers are playing their final year in the Hearnes Center and will be moving into a state-of-the art arena starting in October of 2004. Mizzou has called Hearnes home for 31 years now and has registered a mark of 399-70 there as of its 75-69 loss to Texas. The 15,000 seat, $75 million new building will feature unbelievable player development facilities (weight room, practice gym, players lounge, film room) and will be the finest on-campus basketball facility in the country.
A Quick Check of the Polls
While the only poll that truly matters doesn't come out until the second week in April, its never to early to track how the Tigers are doing in the rankings.
Date USA Today Coaches Associated Press Poll Preseason #6 #5 Nov. 23-30 #6 #5 Dec. 1-7 #5 #4 Dec. 8-14 #4 #3 Dec. 15-21 #14 #10 Dec. 22-29 #14 #11 Dec. 30-Jan. 4 #22 #23 Jan. 5-11 RV RV Jan. 12-18 NR NR Jan. 19-25 NR NR
Head Coach Quin Snyder
With a 2003-2004 team poised to be among the nation's elite, Quin Snyder has proven that success can come quickly with hard work and determination. On the brink of his fifth season as head coach of the Missouri Tigers, Snyder is leading a team that has been ranked as high as number three in the national polls. Missouri's 15th head coach, Snyder has enjoyed impressive runs in the NCAA Tournament for four straight years. In fact, the 2002-2003 season was witness to a 22-win campaign that ended with an overtime loss in the NCAA Tournament to eventual Final Four contender, Marquette.
Given the excitement Snyder has generated in such a short span of time at the helm, it is not surprising that many people are waiting with anticipation for this season to begin and predicting great things for the Tigers. It is easy to see why expectations are high when you consider all of the following ...
* Mizzou continues to be a fixture on national and regional television broadcasts. With every game but one on television, Snyder's Tigers continue to create unprecedented exposure for the program.
* The program will be the direct benefactor of a new, state-of-the-art $75 million arena which athletic officials plan to have open in time for the 2004-05 season.
* Snyder signed a contract extension, which will keep him a fixture on the Tiger sidelines through at least the 2005-06 season.
* And while Mizzou's on-court achievements constantly grab the headlines, what takes place in the classroom remains at the top of Snyder's priority list. An academic All-American himself during his playing days at Duke, Snyder is quite proud of the fact that in his four years at MU, seven scholarship players have exhausted their eligibility and all seven have graduated. In addition, this past season saw the men's basketball team achieve the highest GPA in 15 years.