The lowdown
2000-01 record: 20-13; 9-7 in Big 12 (6th)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Lost to Duke 94-81 in second round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Can Clarence Gilbert play some point guard? If Wesley Stokes is out of the game then who else can play the position?
2. Will the Tigers get more inside play out of Travon Bryant and Arthur Johnson? Will they be able to count on the post for scoring? What about newcomer Jeffrey Ferguson? And will Uche Okafor be eligible?
3. This is Kareem Rush's team, but can he deliver another MVP-type season? Is he capable of taking this team to the Final Four?
Three Key Facts
1. The Tigers return four players who were honored by the national media or Big 12. Kareem Rush was an honorable mention all-American selection and first-team Big 12 player, while Clarence Gilbert was an honorable mention Big 12 selection. Arthur Johnson and Wesley Stokes were both selected to the Big 12's all-Freshman Team.
2. Rush led the Big 12 in scoring at 21.1 points per game, the first Tiger to do so since Anthony Peeler in 1991-92, and ranked 18th nationally. Rush scored 30 or more points in five games, including 31 against Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Among returning players, his 2000-01 average ranks fifth in the nation.
3. The Tigers add a top-10 recruiting class to three returning starters.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Tigers get enough inside to lead them to a Final Four berth.
Worst case: Missouri misses the Final Four by a game or two.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Kareem Rush
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Jr.
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F
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6-6/218
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PTS: 21.1 | REB: 6.7 | AST: 2.0
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Clarence Gilbert
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Sr.
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G
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6-2/194
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PTS: 16.5 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 3.5
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Arthur Johnson
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So.
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F/C
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6-9/270
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PTS: 9.0 | REB: 7.8 | AST: 0.8
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Rickey Paulding
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So.
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G/F
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6-5/210
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PTS: 7.0 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 0.9
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Wesley Stokes
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So.
|
G
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5-10/175
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PTS: 6.4 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 2.0
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Key Losses
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|
Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Brian Grawer
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G
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6-0/165
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PTS: 8.4 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 2.6
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Tajudeen Soyoye
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F/C
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6-9/236
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PTS: 6.9 | REB: 6.6 | AST: 0.6
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Missouri Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Najeeb Echols
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F
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6-7
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Chicago/Morgan Park
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Jeffrey Ferguson
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F
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6-10
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Benton Harbor, Mich./Benton Harbor
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Duane John
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F
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6-6
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Toronto, Ontario/Boylen/Berkshire H.S.
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Uche Okafor
|
C
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6-11
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Nigeria/College of Southern Idaho
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