The University of Missouri recapped a record-breaking 2008-09 basketball season on Monday evening, as the team hosted its postseason awards banquet on the floor of Mizzou Arena.

 

The Tigers were greeted by a tremendous turnout of fans and students, as nearly 500 supporters looked back on a seasons that included a school-record 31 victories, a Big 12 Conference Tournament title and a run to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in Glendale, Ariz.

 

The Mizzou coaching staff handed out 15 awards on Monday, including the prestigious Most Outstanding Player Award, which was shared by senior forwards DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.

 

Carroll was Missouri's leader in both scoring (16.6) and rebounding (7.2) this season and closed out the year by reaching double figures in 19 of his final 20 games. Carroll ranked among the Big 12's Top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage (.558) and steals (59) and was the first player in Mizzou history to earn both First Team All-Big 12 on the hardwood and First Team Academic All-Big 12 for his work in the classroom. Carroll was recently named the MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational and was an honorable mention All-American after helping carry the Tigers to a Big 12 Tournament Championship and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

 

Lyons was incredibly consistent for Mizzou throughout his senior season, and logged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. A Third Team All-Big 12 honoree, Lyons took his game to another level in NCAA Tournament action, where he recorded two double-doubles in four games, including a 15-point, 12-rebound night against #2 Memphis in the Sweet 16. The Kansas City, Kan., native finished the year with five double-double and reached double figures in 14 of 15 Big 12 Conference games played.

 

Carroll was also recognized as Missouri's Chairman of the Boards winner for leading the team with those 7.2 rebounds and was one of three players recognized for the Tiger Pride Award for leading the club in minutes played. Lyons received the team's Free Throw Award thanks to his team-high 245 total charity tries.

 

It was no surprise that junior guard J.T. Tiller won the club's Defensive Award on Monday. Tiller shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors with Kansas' Cole Aldrich and led MU with 68 steals in 38 ball games. Tiller did a masterful job shutting down opposing program's top perimeter scorers as a junior and was the only unanimous selection to the Big 12's All-Defensive Team.  The Marietta, Ga., native also claimed the Assist Award for pacing Missouri with 138 assists and won the Tiger Hustle Award for his unwavering intensity on the basketball court.

 

Matt Lawrence and Zaire Taylor were also two-time winners on Monday. Taylor was honored with the Tiger Pride Award after leading Missouri in charges taken and shared the Tiger Service Award with freshman guard Kimmie English for their commitment to community service both in Columbia and on the MU campus.

 

Lawrence received the Iron Tiger Award for his commitment and dedication to strength training and shared Most Improved Player honors with sophomore Justin Safford. Lawrence saw his scoring numbers improve from 8.8 points in 2007-08 to 9.2 in 2008-09, but it was the steady improvement in his overall game that made the St. Louis native a prime candidate for the All-Improved honor. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged a 2-to-1 assist/turnover ratio as a senior, ripped away a career high 34 steals and shot a much-improved 41 percent from three-point range.

 

Safford finished the season as one of Missouri's hottest performers, which included a career high 15 points at Texas A&M to close out the regular season, seven points in the Sweet 16 win against Memphis and nine tallies in the Elite Eight contest against Connecticut. Safford hit 10 of his final 13 three-point attempts on the year and finished the season shooting 65 percent from beyond the arc (13-of-20).

 

Senior Michael Anderson, Jr., won the Tiger Coaches Award for his commitment to attaining team goals. Anderson's leadership both on and off the court was instrumental in Missouri's success this season as the club raced to a program-best 31 wins. Anderson also made the first start of his collegiate career on March 4 vs. Oklahoma, where he played five minutes, recorded two steals and dished an assist in MU's 73-64 win vs. the #4-ranked Sooners.

 

Newcomers Keith Ramsey and Marcus Denmon rounded out the awards on Monday. Ramsey also received the Tiger Pride Award for leading the club in blocked shots. Ramsey had a team-best 31 swats this season, including momentum changing rejections at Georgia and at home vs. Nebraska. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native recorded multiple swats in seven games, including three in that win over the Cornhuskers and two in that road triumph at UGA.

 

Just a freshman, Denmon was the team's top free throw shooter at 79.5 percent. The Kansas City, Mo., native hit 31-of-39 charity attempts on the year en route to averaging 6.0 points and 2.2 boards as a rookie. Denmon also hit one of the more spectacular shots in Tiger NCAA history, as he swished home a 65-foot buzzer-beater at the half of Missouri's 102-91 win against Memphis in the Sweet 16.

 

Monday's banquet was just the start of a busy 48 hours for the Tiger Basketball program. On Tuesday the club will travel to Jefferson City for a public recognition from the Missouri Legislature and will then join Governor Jay Nixon for dinner in the Governor's Mansion.

 

For more information on Mizzou Basketball, please visit our website at mutigers.com.

 

 

Iron Tiger Award - Matt Lawrence

For outstanding effort and performance in strength training

 

Tiger Service Award – Kimmie English and Zaire Taylor

For commitment to community service

 

Tiger Pride Award - Keith Ramsey

Leading the team in blocked shots

 

Tiger Pride Award - DeMarre Carroll

Leading the team in minutes played

 

Tiger Pride Award - Zaire Taylor

Leading the team in charges taken

 

Tiger Hustle Award - J.T. Tiller

For playing with great intensity

 

Tiger Assist Award - J.T. Tiller

For leading the team in assists

 

Tiger Free Throw Award - Leo Lyons

For leading the team in free throw attempts

 

Tiger Free Throw Award - Marcus Denmon

For leading the team in free throw makes

 

Tiger Free Throw Award - Matt Lawrence and Justin Safford

For improving overall basketball skill level

 

Tiger Coaches Award - Mike Anderson, Jr.

For commitment to attaining team goals

 

Chairman of the Boards - DeMarre Carroll

For leading the team in rebounding

 

Defensive Award - J.T. Tiller

For outstanding desire and effort on defense

 

Most Outstanding Player Award - Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll

For overall performance