Basketball Season Is Just Around The Corner
Sept. 18, 2008 Columbia, Mo. - 2008-09 Season Preview Entering year No. 3 of his rebuilding charge, Anderson is finally welcoming his first full recruiting haul to campus and will accent his heralded group of newcomers with a nucleus of players that led the Tigers throughout the final 12 games of the 2007-08 campaign. Back for Missouri are forwards DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons, both of whom earned postseason accolades last season, as well as guards Matt Lawrence and J.T. Tiller. Also returning is athletic forward Justin Safford as well as reliable reserve guard Michael Anderson, Jr. to give the Tigers a veteran group to help balance the largest influx of new players in over a decade. "I think we saw some good things take place with this team late last season," Anderson said. "The guys we had on the floor are coming back and they did some things to help us improve. Now that we have a new air of freshness coming in, there will be an opportunity to create depth. Once we have that depth in place, then we'll be able to more effectively play our brand of up-tempo basketball." It's no secret the Tigers found themselves short-handed last season. Coming off an 18-12 campaign the year before, Missouri expected to have all-five starters back, along with a developing bench. However, off-the-court troubles resulted in the dismissal of leading rebounder and shot-blocker Kalen Grimes as well as the team's leader in scoring, assists, steals and minutes, Stefhon Hannah, shortly after the start of Big 12 play. Playing without two key cogs, Missouri turned its focus to the future, creating an opportunity for its younger players... an opportunity they took advantage of. As Anderson alluded to, perhaps it was during that two-game stretch against Nebraska and Kansas State where his second squad came together. Playing short-handed the remainder of the way, Missouri won four games down the stretch, including a win over a ranked Kansas State team and a road win at Nebraska. On the year the Tigers grabbed three wins over teams that finished inside the Top 25, including four wins over teams that played in the NCAA Tournament that year, setting the table for another exciting season in 2008-09. Back Court Preview The return of starters Lawrence and Tiller spearhead Missouri's backcourt depth this season. The pair enjoyed a combined 43 starts a season ago, with Lawrence averaging 8.8 points and Tiller chipping in 6.8. A two-year starter for his home-state school, Lawrence was as valuable as ever for the Tigers last season, ranking among team leaders with 25 steals, while swishing home a team-best 72 three-pointers. A native of St. Louis, Lawrence currently ranks No. 8 in career three-point makes at Mizzou (162) and could jump as high as No. 2 on the list before the end of his career. One of the league's deadliest shooters, Lawrence diversified his game last season, recording career high numbers in assists and rebounds to accompany his 8.8 points per game. He also shot 34.8 percent from beyond the arc and made starts in 31-of-32 games, with that lone non-start coming on senior night. "Matt's a basketball player," Anderson said about his sharp-shooting senior. "He has a savvy about him, a feel for the game that allows him to be in the right place at the right time. Matt is more than just a shooter. He does the little things that help put our team in position to win and I really appreciate his work ethic to get better." Entering his third season with the program, Tiller was among Missouri's most improved players last season as he averaged 6.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and enjoyed a near 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (59-39) last season. Known for his defensive intensity, Tiller earned his 19.7 minutes per game due to his defensive presence and has become the club's top perimeter defender. A nominee for the Big 12's All-Defensive unit, Tiller also flashed some offensive ability in Big 12 action, where he logged improved scoring numbers of 7.4 points and 46.5 percent shooting from the floor. A physical presence at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, the Marietta, Ga., native burst onto the scene in mid-January, where he recorded back-to-back career high scoring nights vs. Nebraska and No. 22 Kansas State, initially dropping in 14 points and eight boards vs. the Huskers, before registering a career high 20 points in the upset win over the nationally-ranked Wildcats. Tiller led the short-handed Tigers to the thrilling come-from-behind win over K-State, converting both ends of a go-ahead three-point play in the game's final minutes, before sealing the win with a pair of free throws in the final seconds. For his efforts, Tiller was named the Big 12's Player of the Week and gave Missouri its third win over a team in the Top 25. "J.T. is a guy that leaves it all out on the floor," Anderson said. "He gives you everything he has, every night he steps out there. J.T. has really worked this off-season on improving his perimeter jumper, but it's the progress he has made on the defensive end of the floor that's really going to help this team. His ability to guard can turn into transition offense in a hurry." The Tigers will get added depth from senior walk-on Michael Anderson. Anderson was a quiet stalwart for Missouri last year, stepping in when the team had depth issues midway through Big 12 play. Anderson played in nine Big 12 games, including a career high 12 minutes vs. Nebraska, where he had two assists, a steal and hit a key first-half three-pointer. Four of Missouri's seven newcomers will add backcourt depth, led by redshirt transfer Zaire Taylor. Taylor was a two-year starter at Delaware before transferring to Missouri last year. Taylor was able to practice with the team and has a good feel for the system. A long, crafty player, Taylor will make his first impact on the defensive end, where his length should cause problem for smaller guards. The 6-foot-4 New Yorker also adds some offensive ability and has shown a propensity for attacking the rim off the dibble. Joining Taylor will be a trio of freshman, Marcus Denmon, Kim English and Miguel Paul. A local product out of Kansas City, Denmon was named the top high school player in the Kansas City Metro area as a senior after leading his high school to the Class 3 Final Four. A gritty, tough-minded competitor, Denmon ranked among the metro area's top scorers at 28.5 points per game, but showed a knack for distributing the basketball with 4.6 assists a night. Ranked among the Top 100 players by Scout.com recruiting guru Eric Bossi, Denmon will give the Tigers a versatile player on the edge and toughness to run Anderson's exhausting defensive system. Like Denmon, Paul is capable of playing either guard spot, but is expected to see a majority of his time at the point. Perhaps the best word to describe Paul is "gamer" as he routinely saved his biggest scoring nights for the state championship game, where he led his club to back-to-back appearances. Paul ranked among the state of Florida's top hoops prospects coming out of Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Fla., and averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds to earn All-State honors. English gives Missouri size and shooting ability after transferring from Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts. Ranked among the nation's Top Five prep school players and a Top 100 player nationally, English earned team MVP honors and averaged 17.3 points, doing much of his damage via the jump shot. A gym-rat, English is also a historian of the game and lists Larry Bird as his favorite player, a fitting standard for this 6-foot-6 shooter. "I think this incoming class is going to create competition," Anderson said. "One thing about this group, they are used to winning. They all won at a high level on their high school teams and they will bring an expectation and history of success to our program. Each player has their own style, but we are recruiting guys that we believe will excel in up-tempo basketball." Check back with MUTigers.com on Friday to read about the 2008-09 Tiger frontcourt. |
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