March 10, 2008
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri junior forward DeMarre Carroll (Birmingham, Ala. / John Carroll) was named the Big 12 Conference's Newcomer of the Year on Monday after averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game for the Tigers.
A transfer from Vanderbilt, Carroll made 29 starts for Head Coach Mike Anderson's squad and battled through a lingering high-ankle sprain most of the season to earn the award. Carroll led all Tigers with 21 games in double-figures and ranked among the Big 12's Top 15 in scoring (15th), rebounding (eighth) and field goal percentage (.539 - fourth).
Tied for the team lead and sixth overall in the Big 12 with four double-doubles, Carroll was also named an honorable mention pick to the All-Big 12 Team and has closed the year in furious fashion, averaging 20.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in his final three games. Carroll concluded the home season with a career high 26 points and seven boards against Iowa State, with 21 of his tallies coming in the second half and the deciding second overtime.
Carroll is the second consecutive Tiger named Newcomer of the Year. Stefhon Hannah won the award last year. Prior to Hannah and Carroll winning the award, Oklahoma teammates Taj Gray (2004-05) and Michael Neal (2005-06) won back to back Newcomer of the Year awards, as did Oklahoma State Cowboys Tony Allen (2002-03) and Joey Graham (2003-04).
Carroll and teammate Leo Lyons (Kansas City, Kan. / Piper / Coastal Christian Academy) also earned praise from the Big 12 Media on Monday, as Carroll was named the Newcomer of the Year and selected to the All-Newcomer Team, while Lyons was named to the All-Improved Team.
Carroll joined Nebraska teammates Ade Dagunduro and Steve Harley, Iowa State's Bryan Petersen and Kansas State's Andre Gilbert on the All-Newcomer squad, specifically awarded to four-year and junior college transfers.
Lyons has without question been one of the Big 12's most improved players and is teetering on the cusp of becoming one of the league's most dominating post players after averaging 21.5 points and 12.8 rebounds over his last four games. The Big 12's leader in field goal percentage (.602), Lyons paces the club with six 20-point games and has reached double figures in 20 of his 30 games played this year, including a career high 27-point, 18-rebound effort against Oklahoma State on Feb. 26. The 18 rebounds were a Mizzou Arena record and were the most boards recorded in a regulation Big 12 game this season, joining the 18 rebounds grabbed by Texas' Damion James on March 9 vs. Oklahoma State. Baylor's Kevin Rogers grabbed 18 rebounds vs. Texas A&M in their five overtime game on Jan. 23.
Last season Lyons averaged 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30 games and has nearly doubled his scoring numbers to a team-leading 13.3 points and 5.7 boards as a junior. To put Lyons' improvement in perspective, the Kansas City, Kan., native has reached double figures 20 times this season after registering double digits just nine times during his first two seasons combined.
Lyons was joined on the All-Improved team by Conner Atchley (Texas), Longar Longar (Oklahoma), Alan Voskuil (Texas Tech) and Darnell Jackson (Kansas).
Missouri returns to action on Thursday in the opening round of the 2008 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships in Kansas City's Sprint Center. The 10th-seeded Tigers face the 7th-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers at 6 p.m.
Mizzou fans can catch an early glimpse of their Tigers on Wednesday (March 12) at a brief shoot-around inside the Sprint Center. The team will take the floor from 3:45-4:25 p.m. This shoot-around is open to the public.
For more information on Missouri Basketball, please visit our website, mutigers.com.