Nov. 29, 2007
Missouri Tigers (5-2) at Cal Golden Bears (4-0)
Regular Season Game 8 - December 1, 2007 - Berkeley, Calif.
|
GAME CENTRAL:
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
(382 kb)FOR OPENERS
- Missouri continues its two-game road swing on Saturday when it travels to Berkeley, Calif., to face the undefeated California Gold Bears in a late tip (10 p.m. Central) on the West Coast.
- Saturday's game is part of the Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series, which pits the Big 12 Conference against the Pac-10 in a series of contests ... As part of the agreement, the Bears will travel to Mizzou Arena next season ... The Big 12 currently leads the series 1-0 heading into Thursday's games following Kansas' win over Arizona at Allen Fieldhouse.
- Saturday's contest also marks Missouri's first trip to the West Coast since Dec. 13, 2003, when the Tigers faced Gonzaga in Seattle, Wash.
- Mizzou continues its difficult stretch of games at Cal and all but one of those games (Dec. 8 vs. Purdue) is away from home ... The Tigers opened the stretch Nov. 19-20 with a 86-83 loss to No. 11 Michigan State in Kansas City, before stopping Maryland 84-70 ... The Tigers then fell at Arkansas (a team that opened the year No. 18 in the Top 25 rankings) on Wednesday, 94-91.
- Despite the tough schedule, Missouri's two losses have come by a combined six points to two programs that opened the year ranked in the Top 25 (Michigan State and Arkansas) and return all-five starers from their 2006-07 clubs that qualified for NCAA Tournament play last season.
- A unique aspect of Missouri's tough schedule thus far is that Saturday's game will be their fourth game vs. a different high-major conference ... The Tigers have played Michigan State from the Big Ten, Maryland from the ACC, Arkansas from the SEC and Cal from the Pac-10 ... The Tigers will also face Purdue and Illinois from the Big Ten and Mississippi State from the SEC later on this month (December).
- For the second consecutive game senior Stefhon Hannah will square off against one of his Windy City brethren ... Hannah scored a career high 28 points in a dual with Chicago native Patrick Beverley of Arkansas on Wednesday and will face talented sophomore guard Jerome Randle of Cal on Saturday ... Randle is third on the team with 13.5 points per game, while Hannah paces the Tigers with 16.4 points ... Over his last four games Hannah is averaging 20.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting ... If we play the “Kevin Bacon Game”, Randle played his high school ball with Central Michigan standout Nate Minnoy (Mizzou's season-opening opponent) and Minnoy in turn began his college career at Purdue, Missouri's Dec. 8 foe at Mizzou Arena.
MIZZOU QUICK HITTERS
- Mizzou continues its 102nd season of college basketball on Saturday when it travels to Berkeley, Calif., to face the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion.
- Mizzou is playing its second of back-to-back road games on Saturday, which is the first time the Tigers have played two consecutive road games in non-conference action since playing at Arkansas and at Davidson in 2005-06.
- While the Tigers have lost six consecutive non-conference road games dating back to 2003-04, non-conference home games have been a different story ... Mizzou has won 22 consecutive vs. non-Big 12 opposition at home dating back to the 2005-06 season ... Overall, Mike Anderson is 12-0 vs. non-league opponents at Mizzou Arena.
- Speaking of Mizzou Arena, ESPN's Pat Forde named Mizzou Arena the No. 1 “New School” college basketball arena in America ... Who can argue?, the place is loaded!
- The Tigers and Bears will meet for the fifth time in school history ... Missouri owns a 3-1 series lead, but the two clubs haven't met since 1986 ... The series is tied 1-1 in Berkeley, Calif.
- Missouri is 21-19 all-time vs. the Pac-10 Conference ... The Tigers have faced Southern California more than any other Pac-10 school ... The Tigers and Trojans have split 10 all-time meetings.
- Head Coach Mike Anderson is playing his first game vs. a Pac-10 program since defeating Washington 102-100 (as head coach at UAB) in the opening round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament ... The Blazers went on to advance to the Sweet Sixteen that season.
- Missouri has been downright offensive in the first half this year ... The Tigers are averaging 47.3 points through the first 20 minutes and are outscoring opponents 47.3-34.0 during that span.
- A major reason for that scoring surge in the first period is Missouri's 51.4 percent field goal shooting and a remarkable 2.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Missouri has already topped 50 points in the first half four times this season after accomplishing that feat just twice over the last three years combined.
- Mizzou has actually reached 50 points in the first half in back-to-back games vs. Western Illinois and Arkansas.
- Mizzou's defensive pressure may actually be picking up following last season's school record 302 steals ... The Tigers have forced 144 turnovers (75 steals) in seven games this season ... Last year, Mizzou led the Big 12 with 10.1 steals and 18.9 turnovers per game and are averaging 10.7 steals and 20.6 turnovers forced per game this year, including the 23 turnovers forced vs. Maryland and Arkansas.
- Conversely, the Tigers are turning the ball over just 11.9 times per game.
- The Tigers have done an excellent job converting off those miscues and are averaging 27.1 points per game off turnovers ... When you break down the numbers, Missouri is scoring 31.1 percent of its points off of turnovers (27.1-of-87.1 ppg).
- In addition to steals, a trademark of Mike Anderson-coached teams has been assist totals and the Tigers are recording assists on 60.0 percent of their buckets this season (137 assists on 230 FG's).
- When you take Missouri's 26 “put-back” buckets out of the equation, the Tigers are averaging assists on 67.2 percent of their field goals.
- Even with the club's fast-paced style of play, Missouri boasts a 1.66-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season, which leads the Big 12 Conference and ranks among the nation's best.
- To put Missouri's assist/turnover numbers in perspective, through seven games last season (vs. a much lighter strength of schedule), Missouri had 136 assists and 108 turnovers and had just a 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team.
- This year Missouri has 138 assists, 83 turnovers and that 1.66-to-1 assist to turnover ratio.
- The Tigers boast a +8.7 turnover margin on the year, which ranks among the best in America.
- Missouri has flashed a balanced playing rotation, as nine Tigers are averaging at least 13.6 minutes per game and no player is averaging more than 29.0 minutes.
- Missouri hit 10 three-pointer vs. Michigan State, which tied a season high ... The Tigers have hit 10 treys in a game twice this season, including 10 triples vs. Southern.
TIGER TIDBITS (Individual Notes)
- The Junk Yard Dog has arrived ... DeMarre Carroll dominated the Columbia Regional of the CBE Classic en route to MVP honors and has reached double figures in each game this season, including a pair of 20-point efforts and his first double-double as a Tiger, a 20-point, 13-rebound night vs. Western Illinois on Nov. 25.
- Carroll has actually been close to producing double-double efforts in five games this year and is averaging 16.1 points and 7.3 boards to rank among team leaders in both categories.
- Even more incredible is that he is producing those numbers in just 22.9 minutes per game.
- If you pro-rated his averages over 40 minutes, he'd be averaging 28.2 ppg and 12.8 rpg.
- Carroll was recently named one of Seth Davis' (Sports Illustrated) Key Faces in New Places for 2007-08.
- ESPN's Andy Katz also said “there may not be a harder working interior player -- outside of Tyler Hansbrough -- than DeMarre Carroll.”
- In case you were wondering, Carroll dominates the classroom too and needs seven hours in the spring semester to finish his degree and begin his Masters work in Administration.
- Stefhon Hannah continues to be one of the nation's most dynamic point guards and has reached double figures in 14 of his last 15 games, including a three 20-point efforts over his last four games.
- The lone non-20 point night came vs. Maryland on Nov. 20 when he played with the flu and still managed 14 points and five dimes ... The Chicago native wasn't able to eat all day and spent the early portion of the second half in the locker room, but returned to score eight second-half points, leading MU to the win ... Now that's Tiger Tough!
- Hannah opened his scoring surge with 20 points vs. No. 11 Michigan State on Nov. 20 ... The consistent lead guard has reached double figures in 32-of-36 career games for MU.
- Hannah scored a career high 28 points at Arkansas, marking the 10th 20-point effort of his career.
- Over his last four games Hannah is averaging 20.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting from the floor and 20-of-23 shooting (.870) from the foul line.
- Hannah also has 34 assists, 16 steals and just 17 turnovers on the year ... For his short career, Hannah has had five or more dimes 19 times (including six of seven games this year) and multiple steals 22 times, which is no surprise since the 6-foot-1 senior was named the nation's ninth-best perimeter defender by Fran Fraschilla and ESPN.com.
- As you would expect, Hannah is a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy National Point Guard of the Year Award.
- Not to be outdone, Keon Lawrence has reached double figures in 14 of his last 15 games, including a season high 17-points and eight rebounds at Arkansas.
- Lawrence has been an outstanding mid-range jump shooter this year and is shooting 50.0 percent from inside the arc (27-of-44).
- Despite being just 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Lawrence is second on the club at 5.4 rebounds per game, including five games of six or more boards.
- The dynamic guard is also second on the team and leads all Big 12 guards with five blocks.
- As was documented by the Kansas City Star, there are no “off days” for Lawrence, as he makes 1,000 shots each day the team is given off by head coach Mike Anderson.
- Matt Lawrence is starting to heat up from three-point range and is shooting 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from beyond the arc over his last two outings.
- Lawrence opened the run with a 3-of-6 effort vs. Western Illinois on Nov. 25, before hitting 4-of-7 treys at Arkansas.
- The Big 12's No. 2 ranked three-point shooter at 44.3 percent last season, Lawrence opened the year just 7-of-25 (.280) from beyond the arc, but is now up to 37 percent on the year.
- Despite the tough start, Lawrence has shot 50 percent or better from bonus distance in four of his last five games.
- The St. Louis native has been at his best on the road throughout his career and his shooting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc (30-of-69) from three-point range.
- Lawrence also has seven steals over his last three games, including a season high four thefts at Arkansas.
- Coaches often say some of the largest strides for a player are made between his freshman and sophomore seasons and sophomore J.T. Tiller is proving them right ... Tiller has been strong thus far and poured in a career high 13 points in the win over Fordham.
- Noted more for his defense as a freshman, Tiller has increased his scoring average from last season and is averaging 6.3 points after averaging 4.2 points as a rookie.
- Leo Lyons made his hometown return to Kansas City a special one, as he poured in career highs of 23 points and 11 boards in the 14-point Tiger win over Maryland.
- Lyons earned Player of the Game honors from Dick Vitale and Co. as he hit 8-of-11 shots and 7-of-11 free throws en route to his first career double-double.
- The 23 points made him the third different Tiger to top the 20-point plateau this year.
- Lyons flashed his versatility vs. Western Illinois when the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder dished a career high six assists and recorded two steals ... Lyons has 18 assists compared to just seven turnovers, which is tops among Tiger post players.
- He just goes about his business quietly, but senior guard Jason Horton has dished out 22 assists compared to just nine turnovers this season.
- Horton now has 341 career dimes, which is No. 9 all-time in school history and the Dallas native needs just 39 more assists to move into the MU career top five.
- Horton needs just eight more assists to pass former teammate Jimmy McKinney for eighth all-time.
- Senior forward Marshall Brown is closing in on 1,000 career points ... The Austin, Texas native currently has 770 tallies and needs 230 points to become the 38th member of the Mizzou 1,000-point club.
- Brown broke out of an offensive slump vs. Michigan State and scored a season high 12 points and grabbed a season high eight boards in the near upset of the No. 11 Spartans.
- Freshman Justin Safford graced ESPN's Top 10 Plays on Nov. 8 with his alley-oop slam vs. Missouri Western ... Safford checked in at No. 6.
- Safford scored his first career points against Fordham on Nov. 13, scoring five points and grabbing five boards in nine minutes.
|
BIG 12/PAC-10 HARDWOOD SERIES |
||
| Date | Contest | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25 | at Kansas 76, Arizona 72 (OT) | Big 12, 1-0 | |
| Nov. 29 | Oregon at Kansas St. | ||
| Oklahoma at USC | |||
| Nov. 30 | Washington St. at Baylor | ||
| Iowa State at Oregon St. | |||
| Dec. 1 | Missouri at Cal | ||
| Washington at Oklahoma St. | |||
| Dec. 2 | Arizona State at Nebraska | ||
| Stanford at Colorado | |||
| Texas A&M at Arizona | |||
| Texas at UCLA | |||
| Dec. 22 | Texas Tech vs. Stanford | ||
|
|||
ABOUT CAL
Cal enters Saturday's game 4-0 on the season and receiving votes in the USA Today Top 25 poll ... The Bears boast one of the nation's tallest and deepest front courts, led by the 6-foot-10, 240-pound All-America candidate Ryan Anderson ... Anderson ranks among the nation's scoring leaders at 24.3 points per game and is second on the club with 9.8 boards per contest ... Ben Braun's club has another 20-point scorer, sophomore guard Patrick Christopher ... The Compton, Calif., native is pouring in 20.0 points on 49.2 percent shooting from his guard position ... One of the nation's elite rebounders is senior forward DeVon Hardin ... Hardin, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound bruiser, is averaging 14.5 caroms per game to go with 2.8 blocked shots per night ... The Bears are coming off a 74-68 win at Nevada on Wednesday ... Anderson turned in a monster game, scoring 36 points (14-of-23 FGs) and 13 boards, while Hardin grabbed 16 rebounds.
THE CAL SERIES
Missouri and Cal will meet for the fifth time in series history on Saturday with the Tigers owning a 3-1 series lead ... The series is tied 1-1 in Berkeley, with Cal claiming a narrow 64-63 win on Dec. 2, 1986 ... Missouri won the initial meeting (also played at Cal), 37-34, on Dec. 22, 1941, just 15 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941).
Today's game is part of the Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series and as part of the event agreement, California will play a return game at Mizzou Arena next season.
WITH A TIGER WIN:
- Missouri would improve to 6-2 on the young season and move to 24-14 all-time under Mike Anderson.
- Missouri would earn its first road win of the 2007-08 campaign and second over a club receiving votes for the Top 25 (also beat Maryland).
- The Tigers would also notch their first win over a Pac-10 opponent since defeating Southern California on Dec. 7, 2002, in Anaheim at the John Wooden Classic.
- The Tigers would earn their fourth road win of the Anderson era after winning at Colorado, Iowa State and No. 18 Oklahoma State last season.
- Missouri would grab a 4-1 series lead over Cal and give the Big 12 a point in the Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series standings.
- The Tigers would open the month of December with a win for the ninth time in 10 seasons.
- Mizzou would improve to 22-19 all-time vs. the Pac-10 Conference.
BIG 12/PAC-10 HARDWOOD SERIES
Saturday's game at Cal is part of the inaugural Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series ... Heading into Thursday, the Big 12 owns a 1-0 series lead following Kansas' 76-72 overtime win against Arizona at Allen Fieldhouse.
|
HANNAH VS. POSTSEASON TEAMS |
|||
| Pts | Opponent | Postseason | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Arkansas | NCAA | 11/28/2007 | |
| 27 | at Kansas State | NIT | 1/31/2007 | |
| 27 | Mississippi State | NIT | 1/2/2007 | |
| 25 | Baylor | -- | 2/14/2007 | |
| 23 | vs. Illinois | NCAA | 12/19/2006 | |
| 21 | Arkansas | NCAA | 11/30/2006 | |
| 21 | at Purdue | NCAA | 12/9/2006 | |
| 21 | Western Illinois | -- | 11/25/2007 | |
| 20 | Davidson | NCAA | 11/19/2006 | |
| 20 | vs. Michigan State | NCAA | 11/19/2007 | |
|
||||
BIG-GAME STEFHON
Big-time players make big-time plays in big time games and Stefhon Hannah has made a habit of producing some big time scoring outings in big games throughout his MU career.
Hannah has topped the 20-point plateau 10 times in his career, including a run of three 20-point nights over his last four games.
The Chicago native opened with 20 points in a near upset of No. 11 Michigan State in the semifinals of the CBE Classic in Kansas City, before dropping in 21 vs. Western Illinois and a career high 28 at Arkansas.
Of those 10 career 20-point games, eight have come vs. teams that qualified for post-season play (or were nationally ranked), including six NCAA Tournament teams (twice vs. Arkansas).
J.Y.De (Junk Yard DeMarre)
He plays the game with such passion and ferocity that just one season into his Tiger career DeMarre Carroll has earned the moniker J.Y.De. ... Carroll has ranked among Missouri's leaders in both scoring and rebounding in each game thus far and has reached double figures in scoring in seven consecutive games, including a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double vs. Western Illinois ... Carroll even led the team in assists with a season high five dimes against Southern.
Carroll made his Tiger debut by scoring a career high 23 points vs. Central Michigan on 10-of-12 shooting and narrowly missed a double-double with eight boards.
That opening night by the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward turned into a career night, as he eclipsed the 22 points he poured in on Kentucky as a Vanderbilt sophomore on Feb. 11, 2006.
The Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, continued his hot start with 14 second-half points and six second-half boards against No. 11 Michigan State, before that 20-and-12 night vs. WIU.