March 6, 2006
Dallas, Texas -
Dallas, Texas - University of Missouri Men's Basketball standouts Thomas Gardner and Jimmy McKinney were rewarded for their fine 2005-06 seasons on Monday, when the League's head coaches named the duo to its Big 12 All-Conference Team. Gardner was selected to the Third Team, while McKinney was an Honorable Mention honoree.
Also named to the Big 12's "All-Improved Team" by the Big 12 Media, Gardner finished the regular season second in the Big 12 with 19.9 points per game and led the Conference with 3.44 three-point field goals per contest. Those 3.44 treys per game are the highest average in Mizzou history and the third highest average in Big 12 history. Gardner topped the 20-point scoring barrier 16 times in 2005-06, including a career high 40 points in a dramatic 89-86 overtime win against Kansas on Jan. 16. That 40-point night was the second highest scoring performance in the Big 12 this season and the sixth most points in Big 12 history. Gardner was one of the League's most consistent scorers and failed to reach double figures in points just twice in 27 appearances. Gardner was a Midseason Candidate for the coveted John R. Wooden Award and was a Second Team National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District choice. Perhaps you could say that no player in the Big 12 Conference was more valuable than Gardner. The Portland, Ore., native averaged 8.2 of his 19.9 points in the final 12:46 of Mizzou's 27 games, including 18 points in the final 11:34 in the win against Kansas and 11 points in the final 3:34 in Sunday's win over Nebraska. Gardner also scored 20+ points against nine of the 11 Big 12 teams he faced this season.
The leading senior scorer in Big 12 play this season (13.8), McKinney has been rock-steady in his final season in Columbia, averaging career high numbers with 12.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 27 consecutive starts. One of four Mizzou players all-time to record 1,100 points, 400 rebounds and 300 assists for his career, McKinney played in 122 consecutive games for the Tigers, after missing his first career game with a broken frontal sinus. McKinney is one of Mizzou's career leaders with 114 career starts and will finish his Mizzou career in the top 10 in three-point field goals (118), three-point attempts (120), assists (350) and minutes played (3,733). A product of St. Louis' Vashon High School, McKinney elevated his game with the commencement of Big 12 play, pouring in a career high 23 points in the Big 12-opener against Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-3 guard hit 9-of-14 shots vs. the Cowboys, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. McKinney nearly equaled that feat with 22 points at home against Colorado and 19 in the win against Kansas. Overall, McKinney reached double figures in 12-of-16 Big 12 times, including a career-best stretch of seven consecutive games.
Gardner, McKinney and the Tigers return to action on Thursday (March 9) when they take on Nebraska in the opening round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament in Dallas, Texas. Game time is slated for 8:20 p.m. on ESPN2.
2005-06 All-Big 12 Teams (Voted on by the Big 12 Coaches)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
P.J. Tucker, Texas, F, Jr., 6-5, 225, Raleigh, N.C./Enloe
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas, F, So., 6-10, 237, Dallas, Texas/Seagoville
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Michael Neal, Oklahoma, G, Jr., 6-3, 191, Mesquite, Texas/Lon Morris Junior College
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Brandon Rush, Kansas, G, Fr., 6-6, 202, Kansas City, Mo./Mt. Zion Academy (N.C.)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill Self, Kansas
Overall Record: 276-128; 13th season Record at Kansas: 69-23; 3rd Season
All-Big 12 Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Richard Roby, Colorado G 6-6 195 So. San Bernardino, Calif.
Brandon Rush, Kansas G 6-6 202 Fr. Kansas City, Mo.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas F 6-10 237 So. Dallas, Texas/Seagoville
P.J. Tucker, Texas** F 6-5 225 Jr. Raleigh, N.C./Enloe
Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech G 6-1 185 Jr. Monroe, La./Ouachita
All-Big 12 Second Team
Curtis Stinson, Iowa State G 6-3 215 Jr. Bronx, N.Y.
Cartier Martin, Kansas State F 6-8 220 Jr. Houston, Texas
Terrell Everett, Oklahoma G 6-4 188 Sr. Charleston, S.C.
Taj Gray, Oklahoma F 6-9 238 Sr. Wichita, Kan.
Joseph Jones, Texas A&M F 6-9 250 So. Normangee, Texas
All-Big 12 Third Team
Will Blalock, Iowa State G 6-0 205 Jr. Boston, Mass.
Thomas Gardner, Missouri G 6-5 213 Jr. Portland, Ore.
Brad Buckman, Texas F 6-8 235 Sr. Austin, Texas
Daniel Gibson, Texas G 6-2 190 So. Houston, Texas
Acie Law, Texas A&M G 6-3 185 Jr. Dallas, Texas
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Aaron Bruce (Baylor), Mario Chalmers & Julian Wright (Kansas), Jimmy McKinney (Missouri), Aleks Maric & Wes Wilkinson (Nebraska), Kevin Bookout & Michael Neal (Oklahoma), Mario Boggan & JamesOn Curry (Oklahoma State), Martin Zeno (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Mario Chalmers, Kansas G 6-1 182 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska
Russell Robinson, Kansas G 6-1 196 So. New York, N.Y.
Taj Gray, Oklahoma F 6-9 238 Sr. Wichita, Kan.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas F 6-10 237 So. Dallas, Texas
P.J. Tucker, Texas F 6-5 225 Jr. Raleigh, N.C.
Big 12 All-Rookie Team
Curtis Jerrells, Baylor G 6-1 200 Fr. Austin, Texas
Mario Chalmers, Kansas** G 6-1 182 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska
Brandon Rush, Kansas** G 6-6 202 Fr. Kansas City, Mo.
Julian Wright, Kansas F 6-8 218 Fr. Chicago Heights, Ill.
Michael Neal, Oklahoma G 6-3 191 Jr. Mesquite, Texas
** - Unanimous Selection