 |
Justin Safford saw his playing time increase starting with Nebraska's 66-62 win in Columbia on Jan. 30.
|
Tiger Men Head to Lincoln
Game to be tape-delayed
Feb. 12, 2008
Missouri Tigers (13-11, 3-6 Big 12) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-7, 3-5 Big 12)
Regular Season Game 25 - February 13, 2008 - Lincoln, Neb.
FOR OPENERS
- Mizzou goes searching for its second road win of the Big 12 season on Wednesday when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., to face a much-improved Nebraska club that has won three of its last four games in league play ... Included in that surge for the Huskers was a 66-62 win in Columbia on Jan. 30, when the Tigers were playing with just eight available (only six on scholarship) players .. Although Nebraska led throughout, the Tigers battled back to tie the game at 60-60 in the final two minutes, before falling by four.
- Missouri is back near full-strength and seniors Jason Horton, Marshall Brown and Darryl Butterfield, as well as junior Leo Lyons, have since returned to action for the Tigers ... Lyons has played well since his return and is on a run of three consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career high 24 points vs. Texas A&M on Saturday.
- Missouri has enjoyed a number of career highs over the past four games, as four different Tigers have reached new heights in scoring during that stretch ... J.T. Tiller (20 points vs. Kansas State), Keon Lawrence (25 points at Kansas), Leo Lyons (24 points vs. Texas A&M) and Justin Safford (10 points vs. A&M) have each recorded career-bests and have accomplished it vs. ranked opponents nonetheless.
- Missouri has used the sophomore combination of J.T. Tiller and Keon Lawrence to pick up for the loss of Stefhon Hannah’s 14.7 points per game scoring average over the past four outings ... Tiller has seen his scoring average grow from 5.6 points over the first 20 games to 13.0 points without Hannah ... Lawrence’s scoring average has jumped from 10.0 points over the first 20 to 13.8 over the last four games, marking a net increase of 12.4 points between the two sophomore guards alone, nearly equaling Hannah’s 14.7 ppg. output.
- Lawrence is actually on a run of three consecutive double-figure scoring games and has been a much improved shooter during that three-game span ... During the surge he is averaging 16.3 points and 3.3 assists per game and has hit 20-of-31 shots from the floor, a 64.5 percent clip.
- Lawrence has been equally good on the road, reaching career highs in scoring in two of his last three road trips, initially a 24-point night at Texas Tech on Jan. 23, before pouring in a career high 25 at Kansas on Big Monday on 10-of-13 shooting ... He also dished six assists and had just one turnover vs. the Jayhawks.
MIZZOU QUICK-HITTERS
- Missouri goes searching for its second road win of the year on Wednesday when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
- Mizzou is in the midst of a rough five-game stretch that has them playing four games against ranked programs ... Mizzou has played No. 4 Kansas, No. 18 Texas A&M and No. 22 Kansas State already during this run, in addition to Wednesday’s road game at Nebraska ... The Tigers face K-State once again on Saturday.
- Not to harp on tough games, but of the Top 35 teams in this week’s USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, Missouri has already played nine games vs. those programs, with No. 10 coming Saturday at Kansas State ... So far the Tigers are 4-5 in those games this year, including wins over Texas, Kansas State and Purdue, who are currently in the Top 25.
- Of the five losses, Missouri has had second-half leads in three of those games.
- Mizzou has dropped four consecutive games to Nebraska, including a 66-62 meeting on Jan. 30 when the Tigers competed with just six scholarship player available.
- By the way, can you name the last Tiger coach to beat Nebraska? It was current associate head coach Melvin Watkins, who led Mizzou to a 64-63 Senior Day win over the Huskers on March 5, 2006.
- Mizzou has lost two consecutive games in Lincoln dating back to the 2004-05 season, a 56-53 Tiger win on Feb, 19, 2005.
- Although the Tigers haven’t won in Lincoln since 2004-05, Mike Anderson does have a more recent win at Nebraska under his belt ... His 2005-06 UAB Blazers claimed a 73-72 win at the Bob Devaney Center on Dec. 3, 2005.
- The Tigers have been close in nearly every game this season and have dropped eight games by eight points or less, including three games to opponents currently ranked in the Top 20, Kansas, Michigan State and Texas A&M.
- As is the case with many teams across the country, Mizzou has been a buzz saw at home this year ... In running their mark to 11-3 at Mizzou Arena, the Tigers have averaged a 17.5 ppg. margin of victory on Norm Stewart Court.
- In fact, Mizzou has enjoyed double-figure margins of victory in 10 of its 11 home wins this year, with six coming by 30+ points ... Included in that impressive run is a 97-84 win over then-No. 12 Texas.
- Missouri has been a much-improved team taking care of the ball over the last four games, averaging just 11.0 turnovers per contest vs. Nebraska, No. 22 Kansas State, No. 4 Kansas and No. 18 Texas A&M ... In the previous 20 games Mizzou averaged 13.8 miscues per night ... The Tigers turned it over just eight times in Lawrence, which was the fewest number of turnovers forced by KU all season.
- Although Mizzou is doing a much better job protecting the ball, Missouri continues to force turnovers at a high rate ... The Tigers have forced 430 turnovers (210 steals) in 24 games this season ... Last year, Mizzou led the Big 12 with 10.1 steals and 18.9 turnovers per game and are averaging 8.8 steals and 17.9 turnovers forced per game this year, including the 23 turnovers forced vs. 2007 NCAA Tournament qualifiers Maryland and Arkansas.
- Conversely, the Tigers are turning the ball over just 13.3 times per game, which ranks among the nation’s leaders.
- Mizzou has done an excellent job converting off those miscues and are averaging 21.0 points per game off turnovers ... When you break down the numbers, Missouri is scoring nearly 30 percent of its points off of turnovers (21.0-of-78.9 ppg).
- Overall, the Tigers are forcing a turnover once every six possessions, which allows them to average 7.3 more shots per game than their opponents.
- 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 (417 assists on 702 FG’s).
- When you take Missouri’s 69 “put-back” buckets out of the equation, the Tigers are averaging assists on 65.9 percent of their field goals.
- Overall, Missouri’s 17.4 assists per game rank No. 18 nationally and has the club on pace to finish third all-time with 560 assists.
- Missouri has flashed a balanced playing rotation, as nine Tigers (eight active) are averaging at least 12.8 minutes per game and no active player is averaging more than 27.6 minutes.
- Missouri has topped double figures in three-point makes four times this year, including a season high 12 vs. Texas ... The Tigers also hit 11 three-pointer vs. McNeese State and 10 three-pointer vs. Michigan State and Southern.
- ESPN’s Pat Forde named Mizzou Arena the No. 1 “New School” college basketball arena in America ... Who can argue?, the place is loaded!
TIGER TIDBITS (Individual Notes)
- The Junk Yard Dog has had a major impact in just his first season ... DeMarre Carroll, also known as J.Y.De, has reached double figures in 18-of-24 games this season to rank first on the team in double-figure scoring contests this year.
- Carroll has also been the team’s most consistent rebounder, and is averaging 8.6 rebounds per game in Big 12 play, including 13 boards at Iowa State and 12 vs. Kansas and Nebraska.
- Carroll has actually been close to producing double-double efforts in 14 games this year and is averaging 13.4 points and 7.2 boards to rank among team leaders in both categories.
- Carroll has been at his best at home, where he is averaging 14.3 points and 7.9 boards and 2.0 steals on 59.1 percent shooting from the floor.
- The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year front-runner also ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference in field goal percentage (.548), while ranking among league leaders in scoring (14th) and rebounding (6th).
- Even more incredible is that he is producing those numbers in just 25.6 minutes per game.
- Despite his size and position, Carroll ranks among the Big 12’s leaders with 1.3 steals per game.
- Carroll always seems to find a way to impact the game for Missouri and while he was saddled with foul trouble vs. Purdue, the junior forward blocked a career high three shots in the final 4:11 to help lead Missouri to the come-from-behind win ... Carroll actually scored three points, had three blocks, two assists and a steal in the final 7:35 of the MU win vs. Purdue ... The Birmingham native also added a career-high tying four steals vs. McNeese State and UMKC, showing another way he has impacted a Tiger win.
- 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 will miss the next 3-5 weeks with a fractured jaw that was suffered on Jan. 27 ... Prior to the injury Hannah had reached double figures in 24 of his last 27 games, including a four 20-point efforts this season.
- Hannah seemed to step up his game in Big 12 play and has reached double figures in 19-of-22 career league games, including a run of 10 consecutive Big 12 contests dating back to last season.
- Prior to the injury, Hannah’s scoring numbers were up dramatically in Big 12 action and the senior led the team with 16.8 points per outing ... In non-conference play Hannah averaged 13.9 points per game, marking a 2.9 ppg. improvement.
- Hannah has also improved his assist numbers this year and ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 with 5.3 dimes per game.
- Included in that improved assist average was a season high 11 dimes vs. UMKC, helping the senior record his second career point-assist double-double.
- Hannah flashed his toughness 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.
- Hannah broke out of an early offensive slump with 20 points vs. No. 11 Michigan State on Nov. 20 ... The consistent lead guard has reached double figures in 36-of-43 career games for MU.
- For his efforts, Hannah was named to the CBE Classic All-Tournament Team in Kansas City.
- Hannah scored a career high 28 points at Arkansas, marking the 10th 20-point effort of his career.
- In addition to his scoring numbers, Hannah’s assist totals were on the rise ... When you factor in his 5.3 assists per game this year, the senior guard is actually accounting for 26.9 of Mizzou’s 80.8 points per game (including assists on three-point field goals).
- Hannah’s 5.3 assists are the second most in school history, behind the 5.8 dimes per game dished out by Anthony Peeler (1989-90).
- Hannah also has 105 assists and 38 steals on the year ... For his short career, Hannah has had five or more dimes 28 times (including 14-of-20 games this year) and multiple steals 30 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 22 of his last 31 games, including a career high 25 points at Kansas on ESPN Big Monday.
- Lawrence now has multiple 20-point games this season, both of which came on the road, including a 24-point effort at Texas Tech.
- Because of those efforts, it’s not surprising that Lawrence is averaging an improved 12.0 points per game on the road this year.
- Lawrence has enjoyed some strong play vs. the Big 12 South ... In 10 career games vs. “The South”, Lawrence has reached double figures seven times, including 24 points vs. Baylor, 18 points at Oklahoma State and the game-winning jumper vs. Oklahoma last season.
- Lawrence also dumped in 18 points in the win over No. 12/13 Texas ... At one point, Lawrence scored 10 consecutive points in the first half for the Tigers setting the stage for the upset win.
- The dynamic guard is also third on the team with 14 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.
- Fellow sophomore J.T. Tiller has added a consistent offensive punch over the last four games in addition to being the team’s top perimeter defender ... Tiller is averaging 13.0 points during the surge.
- Tiller scored a career high 20 points vs. No. 22 Kansas State to lead the Tigers to the upset win, following a then-career high 14 points in the initial meeting with Nebraska.
- For his efforts, the Marietta, Ga., native was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Feb. 4.
- Although scoring production gets more publicity, Tiller is one of the Big 12’s top defenders and leads Mizzou with 87 deflections.
- The Georgia native earned his first career start vs. Coppin State and responded with 10 points, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes.
- Tiller also reached double-figures vs. Illinois on Dec. 22, scoring 10 points in a career high 28 minutes.
- While his scoring totals are up, Tiller played some key defensive minutes late vs. Purdue, helping to hold the Boilermakers to just one field goal in the final 7:47 of the game en route to Mizzou’s game-winning 24-4 run.
- Forming Mizzou’s kamikaze line along with Tiller is senior forward Darryl Butterfield ... Butterfield leads the team with 15 charges drawn this year, while adding 16 steals in just 14.6 minutes per game.
- The Miami native has drawn multiple charges four times this season, including four vs. Maryland.
- Matt Lawrence poured in a career high 28 points on Dec. 30 at Mississippi State ... The 6-foot-7 guard hit 6-of-11 treys and tied a season high with six rebounds.
- Over his last 19 games, Lawrence has hit multiple treys in 13 of those contests.
- A vocal leader for the Tigers, Lawrence tied up Kansas State’s Bill Walker under the Wildcat basket in the final seconds to help lift Mizzou to the win, a Walker put-back would have put K-State in front with just seconds remaining.
- In fact, the St. Louis native has been at his best on the road throughout his career and his shooting 42.1 percent from beyond the arc (48-of-114) from three-point range away from Mizzou Arena.
- Leo Lyons has played much-improved basketball this season and has reached double-figures in 13 of his last 16 contests.
- Lyons’ has already reached double figures 15 times this season, surpassing the nine double figure games he enjoyed his first-two seasons combined.
- Lyons led Mizzou to its 66-62 win at Colorado on Jan. 26, scoring 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting ... Lyons scored 16 of his points and dished all-three of his assists in the second half.
- He then scored a career high 24 points against Texas A&M on Feb. 9 for his fourth 20-point output of the year.
- Lyons recorded his first 20-point game in his hometown return to Kansas City and scored a career high 23 points and grabbed 11 boards vs. 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.
- Lyons also torched UMKC for 22 points on a career-best 10-of-12 shooing from the floor.
- Lyons recorded his second double-double of the year in the win over Purdue, chipping in 13 points and 10 rebounds.
- 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 37 assists, which is tops among Tiger post players.
- He just goes about his business quietly, but senior guard Jason Horton has dished out 64 assists compared to just 27 turnovers this season, to rank No. 3 in the Big 12 in assist-turnover ratio at 2.4-to-1.
- Horton now has 383 career dimes, which is No. 5 all-time in school history ... Horton passed Tiger great Jon Sundvold (382) for No. 5 on the list on Feb. 9 vs. Texas A&M.
- Horton is 48 assists shy of Lee Coward for No. 4 all-tme.
- Horton is also closing in on the career top 10 in steals and needs nine more thefts to pass Melvin Booker for No. 10 with 147.
- Senior forward Marshall Brown is closing in on 1,000 career points ... The Austin, Texas native currently has 847 tallies and needs 153 points to become the 38th member of the Mizzou 1,000-point club.
- The selfless senior was named team captain in December by teammates and coaches.
- The Texas product then earned his first start of the year vs. Coppin State and later scored a season high 14 points vs. his hometown Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 opener.
- 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.
- The versatile rookie has enjoyed increased playing time over the last four games, including a career efforts vs. No. 22 Kansas State and No. 18 Texas A&M ... Safford scored nine points, dished two assists and blocked two shots in a career high 21 minutes vs. the Wildcats, before scoring 10 points and grabbing four boards vs. A&M.
- Safford enjoyed a great game at Mississippi State on Dec. 30, scoring four points and grabbing four boards in nine second-half minutes vs. the Bulldogs.
- Senior forward Vaidotas Volkus earned his first career start vs. Kansas and recorded then-career highs of eight points and two assists ... Volkus also hit 4-of-5 shots from the floor vs. the Jayhawks.
- The Lithuania native returned to the starting rotation vs. Nebraska on Jan. 30 and scored a career high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while grabbing four rebounds in a career-best 26 minutes of action.
ABOUT NEBRASKA
Nebraska (14-7, 3-5 Big 12) comes into Wednesday’s game winners in three of its last-four contests, including a 73-62 win over Texas Tech on Saturday ... Alex Maric dominated the contest scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 boards, while Ryan Anderson added 19 points, seven boards and two steals ... On the year Maric leads the team with 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds, while Anderson and junior college transfer Ade Dagunduro each average 9.3 points per game ... Overall the Huskers are 13-2 at home this season with those lone losses coming to Kansas and Baylor.
THE SERIES WITH THE HUSKERS
Missouri and Nebraska are meeting for the 211th time in series history on Wednesday, which is Missouri’s third-longest existing rivalry ... Mizzou and Kansas have met 259 times and the Tigers and K-State have duelled 226 times ... The Tigers lead the all-time series 121-89, but the Cornhuskers have won four consecutive ... In Lincoln, the Cornhuskers own a 54-40 series advantage.
WITH A TIGER WIN:
- Missouri would push its Big 12 Conference record to 4-6 and improve to 14-11 on the year.
- Missouri would grab its second road win of the year and second road win in three games following their 66-62 win at Colorado on Jan. 26.
- The Tigers would halt a four-game losing streak to Nebraska.
- Overall, Anderson would improve to 121-64 in his six seasons as a head coach.
- Missouri would earn its 14th win of the year, moving within four victories of last season’s 18-win mark.
- The Tigers would move to 32-23 all-time under Anderson.
- Anderson would have his second career win over Nebraska and first as the head coach at Missouri.
LYONS PLAYING BETTER IN RESERVE ROLE
His playing time is virtually the same, but Leo Lyons is producing improved scoring numbers in a reserve role for the Black & Gold ... A starter in each of the season’s first 17 contests, Lyons has come off the bench in his last six outings and is averaging 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists during that stretch ... Through the first 17 games this year (all starts), Lyons averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 boards and 1.5 assists.
Lyons has enjoyed some big scoring nights off the pine as well ... He has reached double figures in 5-of-6 games, including 22 points in Mizzou’s 66-62 win at Colorado and a career high 24 points vs. No. 18 Texas A&M.
TILLER THE THRILLER STEPPING UP FOR MIZZOU
J.T. Tiller has become Missouri’s go-to man and over the last three games, as the sophomore guard is averaging 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in contests vs. Nebraska, No. 22 Kansas State, No. 4 Kansas and No. 18 Texas A&M.
Prior to his breakout efforts, Tiller averaged just 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game (first 20 games), marking a sharp increase in playing time and productivity for the improving guard.
Tiller reached double figures in three consecutive games for the first time in his career, reaching career highs in back-to-back games against Nebraska (14 points, eight rebounds) and Kansas State (20 points).
Tiller later scored 13 points at No. 4 Kansas, marking the second consecutive season the Marietta, Ga., native reached double figures in Allen Fieldhouse.
 |
|
| |
Tiller |
Lawrence |
| Avg. |
First 20 |
Last 4 |
First 20 |
Last 4 |
| PPG |
5.6 |
13.0 |
10.0 |
13.8 |
| RPG |
1.7 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
2.3 |
| APG |
1.4 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
3.5 |
| SPG |
0.6 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
| MPG |
15.9 |
31.5 |
26.6 |
32.8 |
| FG% |
44.7 |
48.8 |
39.7 |
57.5 |
|
THESE SOPHS AREN'T SOFT
J.T. Tiller and Keon Lawrence have filled some major shoes for the Tigers over the past two weeks and are among the club’s leaders in scoring, assists and shooting percentage during that four-game stretch.
At right is a comparison of the previous 20 games for both Tiller and Lawrence compared to the last four games ... That four-game stretch boasts games against a three Top 25 teams, including a game at No. 4 Kansas and a game vs. tonight’s foe, Nebraska.
HORTON ENTERS TOP 5 IN ASSISTS
Jason Horton moved to No. 5 in career assists at Mizzou with his five dimes Saturday vs. Texas A&M ... Horton currently has 383 helpers over his four-year career and is eyeing his third 100-assist season ... Horton currently has 64 assists this year and would need to average 5.0 assists the rest of the way to reach the century mark.
(621 kb)
