Feb. 17, 2004
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Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. CST
Arena: Hearnes Center (13,611)
TV: Mizzou Sports Network. Dan McLaughlin, play-by-play. Norm Stewart, analyst
Radio: Tiger Radio Network. Mike Kelly, play-by-play: Gary Link, analyst
Rankings: Missouri was not ranked or receiving votes in either poll. Iowa State was not ranked or receiving votes in either poll.
Series: MU leads, 138-78: Last Meeting - ISU, 70-65 on Jan. 7, 2004 in Ames, Iowa.
Coaches:
Missouri: Quin Snyder (Duke '89) 95-59 at MU and overall (5th season).
Iowa State: Wayne Morgan (St. Lawrence '73) 14-7 at ISU (1st season) and 105-91 overall (7th season).
Tigers Face Cyclones in Crucial Big 12 Battle
The University of Missouri men's basketball squad (11-10 overall, 5-5 in the Big 12) faces off with Iowa State in a crucial Big 12 matchup in Columbia. Both teams are coming off of impressive wins as the Tigers ran over the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV, 94-60, while Iowa State took out the No. 11 Texas Longhorns in Ames on Saturday. The two teams are currently tied with Colorado for sixth place in the Big 12 at 5-5 in the conference and are competing for seeding in next month's Big 12 Tournament in Dallas.
With the win over Vegas, the Tigers have won two straight contests and four straight at home. Mizzou is looking to win three straight for the first time since opening the season at 3-0 with wins at Oakland, versus Coppin State and at Indiana. The Tigers were extremely balanced on the offensive end on Sunday with five players reaching double figures in scoring and four Tigers recording eight rebounds on the afternoon.
The game, which will be aired in the state of Missouri by the Mizzou Sports Network and in Iowa on the Cyclone Television Network (ESPN+), will tip at 7:08 p.m. Dan McLaughlin will provide the play-by-play while former Tiger great coach and player Norm Stewart will offer the analysis. The Tigers are 5-2 this season on MSN. The game will also be broadcast on the Tiger Radio Network with "The Voice of the Tigers" Mike Kelly offering the play-by-play and former Tiger great Gary Link providing expert analysis.
Quick Hits
* Mizzou has played in front of capacity crowds at the Hearnes Center in six of its last seven home games.
* Mizzou has won four straight home games by an average margin of 19.0 points per contest. In those four games, freshman Thomas Gardner has led the Tigers averaging 16.0 point per game and is shooting 55 percent from three (11-of-20).
* Three of the Tigers six remaining regular season contests are at home.
* Mizzou leads the all-time series with Iowa State, 138-78. However, the Tigers have won three of the last five in the series including three straight in Columbia.
* The Tigers check in at No. 47 on the RPI charts and have played the 10th toughest schedule in the country as of Monday's CollegeRPI.com report.
* The Tigers are 8-3 at home this season and 21-4 over the past two years in the Hearnes Center.
* Senior Travon Bryant has gone 18-of-28 from the field in the Tigers last three games and has averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in the last four contests.
* Senior Arthur Johnson has gone a combined 36-of-62 (.581) from the field over the course of the last five games.
* AJ currently ranks 10th on the Mizzou all-time scoring list with 1,564 points (which also puts him in 10th on the career Big 12 list.) He is second on the Mizzou rebounding charts with 1,009 career boards and ranks fourth on the Big 12 career list.
* Arthur needs just 45 boards to eclipse the Mizzou mark and also to move into second on the Big 12 career boards list. He is the only player in school history to record at least 1,500 career points, 1000 career rebounds and 200 career blocks.
* Seven different Tigers have led the team in scoring through 21 games this season and five different Tigers have led in rebounding.
* Coach Snyder is looking for win number 96 at Mizzou on Tuesday.
A Look at the Cyclones
The Cyclones are coming off of a huge win on Saturday over Texas in Ames. In fact, ISU is 13-1 at home so far this season. Their only loss was to the Big 12's top squad, Oklahoma State, on Feb. 7. However, they have not been as fortunate on the road, registering a 0-4 mark on the road in the conference.
Freshman Curtis Stinson leads the squad in scoring averaging 15.2 points per game. He was a thorn in the Tigers side in January in Ames, putting in a game-high 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field. Senior Jake Sullivan has also been outstanding for the Cyclones, knocking down 58 threes on the year which leads the Big 12. Jackson Vroman and Jared Homan have been a formidable duo in the low post, averaging 13.0 and 11.7 points per game respectively while also ranking one and two in rebounding on the squad (10.0 and 6.3 boards per contest respectively.)
Lovin' Life at the Line
After finishing eighth in the Big 12 in free throw shooting last year and shooting 66.2 percent from the line, the Tigers have made a concerted effort to become more efficient at the charity stripe. And that effort has paid off in a major way as the Tigers are shooting a much improved 71.1 percent as a team, which ranks third in the Big 12. Freshman Thomas Gardner has been money from the free throw line, hitting at a 96 percent clip (23-of-24). Since going 1-of-2 in the Tigers season opener against Oakland, Gardner has knocked down 23 straight. In fact, five Tigers are shooting better than 75.0 percent from the free throw line this season.
Who's Line is it Anyway?
5-of-7 from the field, 17 points, nine rebounds and a career-best six assists. Not a bad nights work. That stat line belonged to Tiger senior forward Travon Bryant in the Tigers' much needed win over Colorado on Feb. 10 in Columbia. It also encapsulated what has been Bryant's most consistent season as a Tiger so far.
He is scoring 11.1 points per game (up from 9.8 points per game last year) and pulling down 6.4 rebounds per contest (up from 5.8 last season). Travon is shooting a team-best 57.1 percent from the field and 46.3 percent from three so far this season. In fact, after he missed his final shot of the game against Kansas on Feb. 2, Bryant went 9-of-11 from the field over the course of the Tigers' next two games with Nebraska and Colorado including making nine shots in a row.
Stewart to be Honored at Iowa State Game
Tiger coaching great and former All-American Norm Stewart's commemorative banner will be lowered from the rafters in preparation for its move to the new arena at halftime of the Iowa State game on Wednesday. The other five jerseys were lowered at halftime of the Tigers' win over Nebraska in January.
The new arena, which is set for completion in October of 2004 will host all six (#20 Jon Sundvold, #22 Norm Stewart, #30 Willie Smith, #34 Doug Smith, #40 Steve Stipanovich and #43 Bill Stauffer) retired numbers in its rafters high above the new home of the Tigers. The winningest coach in Mizzou school history, Stewart went 634-333 in his 32 seasons at the Tigers' floor general and led the Tigers to eight conference championships.
Facts, Figures and Other Points of Interest Following the UNLV Game
- Stat Track - The Tigers dominated the paint in the first half, outscoring the Runnin' Rebels 30-12. They also scored 18 second chance points compared to UNLV's six.
- The 94-60 win over UNLV was the Tigers largest margin of victory since Dec. 2, 2002 when they dominated the Sacramento State Hornets, 98-60 in Columbia.
- Five Tigers reached double figures in the game. Mizzou is 5-0 on the season when five players reach double digits in scoring.
- From the first media time out in the first half (15:53 in the 1st) to the first media time out in the second half (15:58 in the 2nd), the Tigers outscored the Runnin' Rebels, 62-28.
- The Tigers recorded season highs in the following categories;
o Three pointers made: 12
o Assists: 25
o Points in the first half: 54
-Mizzou dominated the boards on the night, 43-28. This is the largest differential for the Tigers on the year.
- Four Tigers recorded eight rebounds or more.
- The Tigers turned the ball over only two times in the first half.
- Over the past two contests, the Tiger have gone 22-of-48 (.458) from three.
- Mizzou wraps up a three-game home stand on Wednesday when they welcome the Iowa State Cyclones to Columbia for a 7 p.m. CST tip.
Player Notes
- Freshman Thomas Gardner scored a career-best 20 points (7-of-11 from the field, 4-of-6 from three) with 17 of those points coming in the first half
- Jason Conley had a huge night scoring 17 points, while handing out a career-best eight assists, grabbing a career-best five steals and pulling down eight rebounds. He was 6-of-12 from the field including 5-of-9 from three. He also played a career-high 27 minutes.
- Senior Arthur Johnson scored a season and game-high 23 points while pulling down eight boards. He continues to climb up the Mizzou ranks in both scoring and rebounding ranking 10th in scoring (1,564 career points) and 2nd in rebounding (1,009 career rebounds).
- Senior Arthur Johnson sank a season-best 11 field goals and took a career-high 20 shots on the night.
- Sophomore Kevin Young pulled down a career-best eight rebounds (seven of which were offensive).
- Senior Rickey Paulding scored 12 points and handed out a career-high nine assists. He currently ranks 11th on the Mizzou scoring charts with 1,536 career points. He also ranks 6th on the three-point field goals made list with 172.
- Junior Brian Dailey played a career-high four minutes grabbing two steals and handing out an assist.
- Senior Travon Bryant has averaged 14.3 points over the Tigers past three games and 7.8 rebounds over Mizzou's last four games. He scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field while pulling down eight rebounds.
- Senior Travon Bryant has hit 18 of his last 28 field goal attempts in the Tigers' last three games (.643 percent).
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 15.0 points per contest while breaking the 20-point barrier in five of the Tigers' 21 contests. 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 is in 11th on the all-time Mizzou scoring charts with 1,524 points following his 12-point effort against UNLV. He will now be chasing No. 10 Arthur Johnson, who has scored 1,541 career points.
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 173 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 last Monday's (Feb. 15) Associated Press Poll, nine (Oklahoma, Kansas, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, Memphis and Illinois) of the Tigers 2003-04 opponents are ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes.
Like the TNT Network, We Know Drama
Sorry MSN and ESPN+, 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' 21 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.
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.
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 233 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.
Big 12 All-Time Blocked Shots Leaders1. 264 Chris Mihm, UT-1998-00
2. 243 Nick Collison, KU, 1999-03
3. 242 Eric Chenowith, KU, 1997-01
4. 233 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 first part of March. Johnson is averaging 7.1 boards per contest. He needs just 45 more boards to pass former Tiger great Doug Smith on the chart.
He also currently ranks 10th on the all-time scoring charts with 1,564 points after his 23 point effort against UNLV. He will now be chasing No. 9 Kareem Rush (00-02, 1,584 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).
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 403-70 there as of its win over UNLV. 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.