Dec. 9, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -
Mizzou Basketball Game Notes 
Mizzou Basketball News and Notes 2008-09
University of Missouri Tigers (7-1) vs.
Murray State University Racers (5-2)
2008-09 Regular Season Game 9 - December 13, 2008 - Columbia, Mo.
Tip-off: 6 p.m. CST
Arena: Mizzou Arena - Columbia, Mo. (15,061)
TV: MSN (Dan McLaughlin play-by-play; Jon Sundvold analyst)
Radio: Tiger Radio Network (Mike Kelly play-by-play; Gary Link analyst)
Rankings: Mizzou: RV/RV, Murray State: NR/NR in Associated Press / USA Today Coaches polls
Series: Missouri leads Murray State 3-0 all-time; last - Mizzou won 59-55 on Nov. 28, 2004
Tickets: Call 1-800-CAT-PAWS
Coaches:
Missouri: Mike Anderson (Tulsa ’82); 130-70 overall (7th season); 41-29 at Mizzou (3rd)
Murray State: Billy Kennedy (SE Louisiana ’86); 143-155 (11th season); 39-29 at MSU (3rd)
For Openers
> Missouri Basketball returns to action on Saturday evening when it hosts the Murray State Racers at 6 p.m. inside Mizzou Arena ... The Tigers are offering a 4-for-$40 ticket package to the game and Mizzou hoping to improve to 8-1 on the young season.
> The Tigers are on a season-long five game winning streak which dates back to the second game of the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off ... During that run Missouri is averaging 90.0 points, a 25.8 ppg margin of victory and is shooting 49.4 percent from the floor.
> Missouri is closing in on the Top 25 rankings with each passing win and is among the Top 25 in both the Sagarin and Pomeroy “power rankings” ... While the Tigers are receiving Top 25 votes in both major polls, Missouri is No. 16 in the Sagarin and No. 11 in the Ken Pomeroy rankings.
> The last time Missouri was ranked in Associated Press or ESPN Coaches polls was the sixth week of the 2003-04 season (No. 23) ... Missouri started that season off No. 5 in the preseason AP ledger.
> The Tigers rank among the nation’s leaders in several statistical categories heading into Saturday’s game ... Mizzou is No. 5 nationally in scoring at 88.8 ppg, No. 2 in assists per game at 20.8, No. 4 in steals per game at 11.5 and No. 3 nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 1.8 ... Conversely, Missouri ranks No. 9 in the fewest turnovers allowed at 11.6.
> Missouri has found an extra gear scoring-wise at home this season and is averaging 93.8 points per game at Mizzou Arena and owns a 27.8 ppg scoring margin in five games (all wins).
> Missouri will look to keep its 32-game non-conference home court winning streak intact, which dates back to the 2005-06 campaign ... That 32-game run is a school record, topping the 29 consecutive non-conference home wins from 1979-83 ... That streak ended with an overtime loss to Marquette ... Missouri’s last non-conference loss at home came against Sam Houston State in the 2005-06 season opener.
> Mizzou Arena has been a terror dome for non-league opponents during the Mike Anderson era... In running their record to 25-0, the Tigers are averaging a 23.6 ppg. margin of victory vs. non-conference foes at home, including quality wins over Arkansas, California, Davidson, Mississippi State, Oral Roberts and Purdue.
> DeMarre Carroll and fellow senior forward Leo Lyons are off to tremendous starts this season and are the No. 3 forward scoring tandem in Missouri history ... Carroll and Lyons are combining for 36.5 points a night, just off the 38.0 points per game pace the outstanding duo of John Brown and Al Eberhard averaged in 1972-73 ... Eberhard and Gary Link combined for 37.0 in 1973-74.
Mizzou Quick-Hitters
> Missouri will look to extend its current five-game winning streak on Saturday evening as it faces Murray State at Mizzou Arena.
> That five-game streak is the longest for the Tigers since MU opened the 2006-07 campaign 9-0 ... One difference between that 9-0 start and this season’s 7-1 spurt is that the Tigers have a pair of neutral-court wins and a win over a Top 25 foe (No. 19 USC), while the 2006-07 club won all nine of those games at home vs. unranked opposition.
> The Tigers have been downright overpowering at home this season and have outscored their five home opponents 93.8-to-66.0.
> A big reason for that scoring margin has been the 46.5 points per game the Tiger bench is averaging over the last two games.
> Missouri has scored 90 points in three consecutive games ... The last time the Tigers did that was at the start of the 1991-92 campaign vs. Nebraska-Kearney (113), UNLV (90) and Jackson State (99).
> A major reason for those large scoring totals is because Missouri has taken 100 more field goal attempts than its opponent this season and has made 82 more FG’s.
> Missouri has enjoyed some huge scoring runs over the last two games, including an 18-0 run vs. Cal in the first half and a game-opening 24-4 run vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
> With that scoring surge, Missouri has topped the 80-point plateau seven times in eight games this season and is 7-0 on the year when scoring at least 80 points ... Missouri has topped 80 points 31 times in the Mike Anderson era (70 games) ... To put that scoring in perspective, the Tigers topped 80 points just 22 times (in total 124 games) the four seasons before Anderson’s arrival.
> Missouri is searching for its 33rd consecutive home win over a non-conference foe night, which would extend its current school record run ... Missouri won 29 consecutive non-conference home games from 1979-83 ... That run began with a win over Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) and ended on Jan. 23, 1983, with an overtime loss to Marquette.
> One thing Tiger fans are enjoying this season is points off turnovers ... Missouri averaged 20.3 points per game off turnovers last season and forced one turnover every four possessions ... So far this season Missouri is forcing 20.1 turnovers per game and is averaging 26.4 points off those opponent miscues each night.
> Missouri is scoring an incredible 30 percent of its points this season off turnovers (26.4-of-88.8).
> Because of Missouri’s limited 11.6 turnovers a game, its opposition is scoring just 14.5 points a night off turnovers.
> MU’s 11.6 turnovers a game are the ninth fewest in college basketball this season.
> It’s only November, but ESPN Bracketology guru Joe Lunardi has Missouri “in” the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed ... The kicker, Lunardi has the Tigers facing No. 6-seeded Kansas ... Of course two teams from the same conference can’t play until the second round.
> Although the 2008-09 campaign is just getting started, Mizzou actually got an early jump on exhibition play over Labor Day weekend with a three-game exhibition tour in Niagara Falls, Ontario ... Missouri went 3-0 throughout the tour and averaged a 35.3 ppg. margin of victory.
> Tiger fans can expect to see improved depth in 2008-09 with the addition of seven newcomers ... That depth could spell trouble for opponents since Anderson’s reserves set a school record for scoring (26.4) in 2006-07 and produced 25.4 points per game in 2007-08.
> Through eight games this season Missouri is averaging 32.2 points from its reserves, including a season high 50 points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 43 vs. California.
> The catalyst for Missouri’s improved scoring punch off the bench is its five player freshman class ... So far this season that group is averaging 24.0 points off the pine.
Tiger Tidbits (Individual Notes)
> Senior forwards DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons were named Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention picks prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.
> Lyons was also named one of the nation’s Top 15 power forwards by Rivals.com in their preseason position rankings.
> Carroll topped the 1,000-point plateau vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and now has 1,026 career tallies at the Division I level, 460 of which came during his first two seasons at Vanderbilt ... Lyons has 835 career points and needs just 165 points to become the 38th member of Missouri’s 1,000-point club ... Fellow senior Matt Lawrence is also closing in on 1,000 points and would need 276 more tallies as a senior to reach the mark.
> Over his last 11 regular-season games Lyons is averaging 18.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, with five 20-point nights.
> The Kansas City, Kan., native enjoyed a season high 26 points and eight rebounds in the win over Oral Roberts ... Lyons scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half, which is the most by a Tiger in a half (first or second) this season.
> With his 17.9 ppg. scoring average, Lyons ranks No. 4 in the Big 12, just behind teammate DeMarre Carroll, who is second at 18.6 ppg.
> Like Lyons, Carroll has reached double figures in all eight games this season and the tandem of Carroll and Lyons have led Mizzou in scoring in 7-of-8 contests this year.
> The Birmingham, Ala., native led Missouri to a 2-1 mark in Puerto Rico and was named to the All-Tournament Team following his career high 29-point, 11-rebound effort against No. 19 USC.
> Carroll has topped the 20-point plateau twice this season and ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 in scoring at 18.6 points per game.
> Carroll has done outstanding work in the second half and is averaging 10.8 ppg in the second half alone.
> The Junk Yard Dog also ranks second on the team with 14 steals and ranks among the Big 12’s leaders in scoring (2nd), steals (10th), field goal percentage (2nd) and rebounding (6th).
> Zaire Taylor was named the nation’s Preseason No. 2 impact transfer in all of college basketball by Rivals.com ... DeMarre Carroll was the preseason No. 1 on that same Rivals.com list last season and didn’t disappoint by winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors.
> Taylor played his first Division I basketball game in 669 days on Nov. 15 in the season-opener ... The Delaware transfer sat out all of last season and last played at the D-I level on Jan. 6, 2007, at Hofstra.
> So far this season the Staten Island, N.Y., native has a team-leading 20 assists and just seven turnovers ... His 4.3-to-1 assist/turnover ratio leads the Big 12.
> Taylor has tied a season high with six assists three times this season and has had multiple turnovers in a game just twice.
> Junior guard J.T. Tiller made his ESPN SportCenter Top 10 debut and it’s no shock the highlight came courtesy of his defense ... Tiller’s swat of Lincoln’s Joe Hutchingson with just over six minutes left in the second half checked in at No. 8 on the countdown ... Coach Norm Stewart’s response on the telecast after the block “I like J.T. Tiller. If you take the ball to the basket (against him), you can’t bring that weak stuff. You’ll need a helmet.”
> Tiller is one of Mizzou’s most well-rounded players and recorded a career high six steals vs. Xavier ... The six thefts tied a tournament record and is No. 6 in Missouri single-game school history.
> Tiller has had multiple steals in 5-of-8 games and is third in the Big 12 with 2.3 steals a night.
> Tiller had an explosive trip to Puerto Rico where he averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.7 steals vs. quality opposition.
> Of Tiller’s 14 career double-figure scoring games, seven have come either on the road or on a neutral-court site.
> Missouri Basketball is coming off a busy, but productive summer that saw all-13 Tigers remain on campus for workouts and classes ... Some members of the squad also had internships in town, including Tiller, who spent the summer as an intern at AFLAC.
> Perhaps the biggest improvement for Missouri this year is the play of its bench and that bench is being led by a host of young players.
> Freshman guard Marcus Denmon has reached double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in his career ... Denmon scored 11 points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff before chipping in 14 vs. California.
> Denmon officially opened his Missouri career with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the Tiger win over Prairie View A&M on Nov. 15 ... That was the highest scoring effort by a Tiger freshman in a debut since Kelly Thames scored 19 against Central Missouri State on Nov. 27, 1993.
> Did you know that in his first game at Mizzou Arena Denmon actually cheered AGAINST Missouri? But you can’t blame him, his brother Martane Freeman was playing for the Colorado Buffaloes, so we’ll let that one slide.
> Freshman newcomer Kimmie English knows Mizzou Arena just about as well as the Arena managers and operators ... English made news this summer for sleeping overnight in the team’s locker room and will often shoot in the club’s 24-Hour practice gym in the early-morning hours.
> That workout time has paid off for English, who scored 13 points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor, before scoring a career high 16 points vs. California in the Tiger’s big win ... English scored 14 of his 16 in the second half, including 14 straight points for the Tigers in a span of just 4:16.
> Fellow freshman Miguel Paul is averaging 19.1 minutes over his last five games, which includes an average of 5.8 points and 3.2 assists.
> Junior Keith Ramsey has played improved basketball over the past five games, especially on the defensive end ... Ramsey blocked a career high three shots vs. Cal, while recording an assist and a steal.
> Ramsey scored a career high eight points in just nine minutes vs. No. 19 USC and corralled seven boards (career high) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 14 minutes.
> Laurence Bowers, another of Missouri’s exciting freshmen, is making steady progress and had a career game vs. UAPB, scoring a career high six points, while tying a career best with four boards ... He also had two steals.
> Bowers then chipped in four points, three rebounds and a block vs. Cal.
About The Murray State Racers
Murray State enters Saturday’s game 5-2 on the year following a 79-74 road loss at Morehead State on Dec. 6 ... Despite the loss Murray State owns a quality win on the young season, drilling a very good Western Kentucky team (one that drilled then No. 3 Louisville on a neutral court) by an 89-61 margin on Nov. 22 ... The Racers are 2-2 on the road this season with wins over Eastern Kentucky and Indiana State and road losses to Arkansas State and Morehead State ... Danero Thomas leads MSU at 11.6 points and 2.7 steals a game ... Freshman Ivan Aska is second at 11.1 points, while Kansas City native Isacc Miles is third at 10.0 points and 3.1 assists ... Murray State is an excellent defensive club and is allowing just 59.7 points and 39.5 percent shooting from the floor.
The Series With Murray State
Missouri leads the all-time series with the Racers 3-0 and the Tigers earned a hard-fought 59-55 win in the last meeting, which was Nov. 28, 2004, in Columbia ... All three meetings between the two clubs have been in Columbia and the last two games have been decided by a combined eight points.
Carroll, Lyons Doubling Their Efforts
DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons have opened the 2008-09 season by scoring in double figures in eight consecutive games ... That’s the fourth longest streak in school history to open a season ... The tandem of Willie Smith and Kim Anderson reached double figures in 11 consecutive games to open the 1975-76 season, while Charles Henke and Joe Scott did it 10 times in 1959-60.
Tiger Tandem Streak Year
W.Smith / K.Anderson 11 1975-76
Henke / Scott 10 1959-60
Gilbert / Rush 9 2001-02
Carroll / Lyons 8 2008-09
Carroll / Hannah 8 2007-08
Tomlinson / Pike 8 1969-70
Stipanovich / Sundvold 7 1982-83
Wear & Tear Of The Fastest 40 Minutes
Missouri leads the Big 12 with a +21.8 ppg scoring margin, but the Tigers are doing extraordinary work extending their advantages in the second half this season ... With the Fastest 40 Minutes in full effect, Missouri is outscoring its opposition 47.4-to-33.2 in the second half alone and is allowing its opponents to shoot just 37.1 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from the three-point stripe and yes, just 62.0 percent from the foul line ... In the first half of games Missouri owns a 41.4-to-33.8 ppg scoring margin, but opponents are shooting an improved 43.5 percent from the floor, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 66.7 percent from the foul line.
Mizzou Opponent’s Numbers by Half
Statistics 1st / 2nd
Scoring Margin +7.6 / +14.1
FG 43.5 / 37.1
3FG% 38.2 / 27.8
FT% 66.7 / 62.0
Points 33.8 / 33.2
Mizou Arena - Home Sweet Home
(Knock on wood) Mike Anderson is a perfect 25-0 all-time in non-conference home games at Missouri and his Tigers will try to make it 26 in-a-row Saturday vs. Murray State ... Not only have the Tigers won 25 consecutive in the preseason, but they have done so in dominating fashion, sporting a 23.6 ppg margin of victory.
> The Tigers have played some impressive foes during Anderson’s run as well, and own quality wins over Arkansas, California, Davidson, Purdue, Mississippi State, Oral Roberts and others during that 24-game stretch.
Year Record Margin of Victory
2006-07 11-0 18.7 ppg
2007-08 9-0 27.5 ppg
2008-09 5-0 27.8 ppg
Total 25-0 23.6 ppg.
Extend The Three-Point Line? No Problem!
The extended three-point line hasn’t been an issue for Missouri this season, as the Tigers are shooting 35.4 percent (62-of-175) from bonus distance in 2008-09 through eight games compared to the 33.1 percent (58-of-175) the Tigers shot through eight games last season.
> Balanced shooting has been the key factor for the Tigers ... Missouri had just five players who had made multiple treys through eight games last season, while this season’s group boasts 11 different players with two or more triples, including backcourt newcomers Miguel Paul (8 treys), Kim English (10), Zaire Taylor (5) and Marcus Denmon (5).
> Consequently, the extended arc has opened up the lane for Tiger forwards DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons, who are combining for 36.5 points and 14.2 rebounds a night.
Assist/Turnover Ratio Key To MU’s Start
Missouri’s assist/turnover ratio this season has fueled the club’s quick 7-1 start and it’s no surprise Missouri is listed alongside the nation’s top-ranked teams in that category.
> Missouri currently ranks No. 3 nationally with a 1.8-to-1 assist/turnover ratio, just behind nationally ranked North Carolina and Notre Dame, who lead at 1.9-to-1.
Nat’l
Team Rank A/T Record
Notre Dame 12 1.9 6-2
North Carolina 1 1.9 8-0
Missouri RV 1.8 7-1
Louisville 9 1.8 4-1
Carroll / Lyons Among Best Scoring Duos
Their personalities couldn’t be more different off the court, but together, DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons are proving to be a formidable post duo for Mizzou.
> Carroll (18.6) and Lyons (17.9) are averaging a combined 36.5 points and 14.2 rebounds a night, which makes them the No. 3 scoring post tandem at Mizzou in school history.
> The dominating pair of John Brown (21.0) and Al Eberhard (17.0) combined for 38.0 points and 20.3 rebounds in 1972-73, which ranks No. 1 all-time, while current Tiger color analyst Gary Link and Eberhard combined for 37.0 points in 1973-74.
Here is a list of the top scoring duos of all-time at Missouri, regardless of position:
PPG Tandem Year
43.0 D. Smith / A. Peeler 1990-91
41.5 W. Smith / J. Kennedy 1975-76
41.1 C. Henke / Joe Scott 1960-61
38.7 A. Peeler / J. Crudup 1991-92
38.5 B. Price / Ray B. Carey 1963-64
38.0 J. Brown / Al Eberhard 1972-73
37.7 C. Henke / Joe Scott 1959-60
37.6 K. Rush / C. Gilbert 2000-01
37.0 A. Eberhard / G. Link 1973-74
36.8 K. Rush / C. Gilbert 2001-02
36.5 Carroll / Lyons 2008-09
Carroll Reaches 1,000 Career Points
DeMarre Carroll reached a career milestone in the Tigers’ 95-41 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 2, as the skilled forward scored his 1,000th career point as a Division I basketball player ... Carroll opened his career at Vanderbilt in the SEC and scored 460 points over two years, before transferring to play for his uncle, Head Coach Mike Anderson ... While at Mizzou, the Birmingham, Ala., native has flourished, and has scored 547 career points in just 39 career games as a Tiger.
School Record Pace For Fewest Turnovers
Although Missouri plays at a frenetic pace, the 2008-09 Tigers are the best in school history (so far) at protecting the rock ... Missouri is averaging just 11.6 turnovers per game this season, which is the seventh fewest in Division I basketball.
> In fact, Missouri has been its best at protecting the basketball with J.T. Tiller running the point ... Over the final 12 games of the 2007-08 season the Tiller-ran Tigers averaged just 11.6 turnovers, down from their previous average of 13.8 turnovers through the first 20 games of that year.
Rank TPG Season
1. 11.6 2008-09
2. 13.0 2007-08
3. 13.3 1999-00
4. 13.7 1989-90
5. 14.0 2001-02
6. 14.1 1982-83
7. 14.2 1992-93
8. 14.5 1987-88
The Good Tigers Giveth ...
As a basketball team, Missouri is about as unselfish as it comes ... The Tigers are averaging an impressive 20.8 assists per game, which is No. 2 nationally and have a 1.8-to-1 assist/turnover ratio as a team, which ranks No. 2 in America ... Missouri is logging assists on 64 percent of its buckets in 2008-09 and 13 players have a positive or even assist-to-turnover ratio so far this year.
... And Taketh Away
Missouri has no issues creating turnovers once again this season as they produce 20.1 turnovers a night and average 11.5 steals (No. 4 nationally) ... Missouri is averaging 26.4 points a game off turnovers and scores 30.0 percent of its points off opposition throw-aways.
Mizzou’s J.Y.D Ruling The Lane
He plays the game with such passion and ferocity that Missouri senior forward DeMarre Carroll has earned the moniker Junk Yard Dog ... Considered by some to be undersized in the rough-and-tumble Big 12, Carroll has starred in the league due to his blue-collar style of play and earned the League’s Newcomer of the Year title in 2008 ... Carroll appears to be shooting for more in 2009, as he is averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.
> The Birmingham, Ala., native has reached double figures in each game this season, including a career high 29 points and 11 rebounds vs. No. 19 USC.
> Carroll is also one of the Big 12’s most well-rounded players, ranking No. 2 in scoring, No. 6 in rebounding, No. 2 in field goal percentage (.6.6), No. 10 in steals (1.8) and No. 4 in offensive rebounding (3.3).
Basketball Imitates Life For Tiller
It’s a case of basketball imitating life and J.T. Tiller has carried his busy professional / student lifestyle onto the hardwood ... An outstanding student in International Business, Tiller spent his entire summer in Columbia, not only taking classes and working out, but also interning at AFLAC ... Tiller’s play on the basketball court mimic’s his busy lifestyle ... He’s probably the Big 12’s most unheralded defender and took his defensive prowess on a national stage in Puerto Rico, tying a Puerto Rico Tip-Off record with six steals against Xavier.
> The six thefts broke a career high for the Marietta, Ga., native, while his five assists and zero turnovers showcased his ability to run the point for MU.
> The former Georgia All-State triple jumper has enjoyed an outstanding junior campaign and has set career highs in both assists and steals this season, with those six thefts vs. Xavier and seven assists vs. California setting the pace.
> While basketball is a main focus for Tiller, the 6-fofot-3 guard plans on making his post-collegiate fortunes overseas ... not playing basketball mind you, but using that International Business degree.
Lawrence Looks To Shoot Up Mizzou Career Three-Point Chart
He agreed to begin his career as a walk-on, but St. Louis native Matt Lawrence quickly earned a scholarship and is now shooting up Missouri’s career three-point field goals list.
> After making just nine three-pointers his first season, Lawrence has been one of the Big 12’s elite shooters from bonus distance, making 81 triples as a sophomore and 72 more as a junior ... For his career the 6-foot-7 rifleman has 178 three-pointers, which already ranks No. 8 in school history.
> Lawrence can move as high as No. 2 on Missouri’s all-time three-point makes list by the end of the season, just behind Clarence Gilbert, who made 332 treys in four seasons ... Lawrence is just one three-pointer behind Thomas Gardner for seventh and just five behind Melvin Booker for sixth ... With 65 made treys this season, Lawrence will pass Kareem Rush for No. 2 on Missouri’s all-time list ... Lawrence currently has 16 treys in 2008-09.
Taylor Worth The Wait For Mizzou
It’s been a long road for Missouri junior guard Zaire Taylor, but the Staten Island, N.Y., native is playing his first Division I basketball in nearly two years this season for the Tigers.
> Taylor began his career at Delaware in 2005-06 and led the CAA in steals as a freshman, earning All-Rookie Team honors … After a coaching change in 2006-07, Taylor played just 13 games for the Blue Hens, before deciding to focus on his academics during the second semester, culminating with his eventual transfer to Mizzou in 2007.
> The Staten Island, N.Y., native sat out last season due to NCAA Division I transfer guidelines and played his first NCAA basketball game since a Jan. 6, 2007 game at Hofstra, a span of 669 days between that contest and the Nov. 15 season-opener against Prairie View A&M.
> So far this season Taylor has been outstanding at the point for Missouri and has a team-leading 30 assists compared to just seven turnovers this season ... His 4.3-to-1 assist/turnover ratio ranks No. 1 in the Big 12, while his 3.8 assists a game ranks No. 11.
Missouri’s Second Wave...
Head Coach Mike Anderson has consistently tried to build depth with his basketball teams and the 2008-09 Tigers may be his deepest club since arriving in Columbia two years ago.
> Missouri is averaging an impressive 32.2 points, 17.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists from its reserves this season, including 20.3 points per game from freshmen Marcus Denmon, Kim English and Miguel Paul.
> Last season Missouri averaged 25.4 points per game from its bench after setting the school record in 2006-07 with 26.4 ppg from reserve performers ... That mark could be in serious jeopardy this season.
> Missouri’s bench has been especially deadly over the last two contests (UAPB and Cal) as the reserves are averaging 46.5 ppg.
Tigers Shatter Puerto Rico Tip-Off Records
En route to their 2-1 record in San Juan, the Tigers shattered a number of Puerto Rico Tip-Off records ... MU’s 87 points and 27 assists vs. Fairfield and 16 steals vs. Xavier each set tourney highs, while J.T. Tiller’s six steals vs. the Musketeers tied the event’s high-water mark in that category.
Lyons, Carroll Living Up To Preseason All-Big 12 Billing
Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll earned Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention honors from the league coaches this preseason and the tandem isn’t disappointing in 2008-09.
> Carroll was named the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year in 2008 after averaging 13.0 points and a team-leading 6.7 rebounds as a junior and is posting norms of 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds this season ... His 18.6 points ranks second in the Big 12 and the 6-foot-8 forward also ranks second in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (.606) and is 10th in steals per game (1.8).
> Lyons finished the 2007-08 season as one of the Big 12’s most dominating players and has already produced three 20-point efforts this season... Lyons has reached double figures in scoring each game this season and his 26-point night vs. Oral Roberts was a season-best.
