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Certainly agree, here is a brief bio I wrote on him
Posted on: April 30, 2012 at 08:58:29 CT
FIJItiger MU
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Paul O'Liney
Letterman - 1994, 1995
Perhaps no player is surrounded in more mystic and lore in Tiger history than Paul O'liney. The 1993 JUCO player of the year after leading Pensacola Junior College to a National Championship, Oliney sat out a semester as he finished up his associates degree. While waiting Clemson withdrew his scholarship offer and O'liney watched Missouri, whose aunt was attending MU as the time, get crushed 120-68 in its worst loss all time. O'liney decided he could help, and walked on. After just 3 practices, his Tiger career began with a made 23 footer in his first shot attempt and chants from the Anters of “We Love the New Guy”. In his first start against OU he would score 21 in a 104-94 MU victory. O'liney would be the sparkplug that vaulted a struggling Tiger team to 28-4, undefeated in conference, and an elite eight appearance…avging in double figures from his role off the bench. For his senior year, O'liney was awarded a scholarship, but MU was picked preseason #54 and for only the 2nd time in Big 8 history lower than preseason fourth after losing 8 seniors and the freshman of the year. O'liney would score no less than 17 points in any of the first 8 games (including 24 in a 69-66 victory over Purdue and 31 against #19 Nebraska), and the Tigers opened the season 18-3, first place in the conference, and as high as #9. Included in the stretch were 27 straight free throws from O'liney without a miss…1 shy of the MU record. MU would falter down the stretch to finish 4th, but on Senior Day against #16 OU O'liney would score 20 including two free throws to send the game into overtime and hit a buzzer beater to win it. MU would earn an 8 seed and fittingly on St. Patrick's Day, O'liney led the Tigers with 22 points over Indiana (Norm and Bobby Knight's first meeting) despite having to make several trips to the locker room in the second half to vomit due to sickness. In his final college game, O'Liney sizzled, making five of six three-pointers and scoring 23 points against the top overall seed UCLA. MU had the lead for about 90% of the game (with 4 minutes to play MU was shooting 41% from 2 and 69% from three) and besides national player of the year Ed O'Bannon, Paul was clearly the best player on the floor. Unfortunately 4.8 familiar seconds intervened and ended the Tigers run and O'liney's college career. O'liney would play no less than 30 minutes in any game during the season. He would lead the team with 19.7 ppg and finish second on the club with over 5 boards per game, as well as leading the team in steals. The 571 points scored on the season is the 19th highest in MU history, the 79 three pointers the 9th best, and the 172 free throws the 7th best. His legacy is the stuff of legend…best walkon in program history…learned to shoot using balled up tin foil and a halved milk jug….childhood friends of Roy Jones Jr and Emmitt Smith…gold teeth…appeared out of thin air to spur one of the greatest seasons in program history….came within 4.8 seconds of leading MU to one of the biggest victories in program history.
Letterman - 1994, 1995
Perhaps no player is surrounded in more mystic and lore in Tiger history than Paul O'liney. The 1993 JUCO player of the year after leading Pensacola Junior College to a National Championship, Oliney sat out a semester as he finished up his associates degree. While waiting Clemson withdrew his scholarship offer and O'liney watched Missouri, whose aunt was attending MU as the time, get crushed 120-68 in its worst loss all time. O'liney decided he could help, and walked on. After just 3 practices, his Tiger career began with a made 23 footer in his first shot attempt and chants from the Anters of “We Love the New Guy”. In his first start against OU he would score 21 in a 104-94 MU victory. O'liney would be the sparkplug that vaulted a struggling Tiger team to 28-4, undefeated in conference, and an elite eight appearance…avging in double figures from his role off the bench. For his senior year, O'liney was awarded a scholarship, but MU was picked preseason #54 and for only the 2nd time in Big 8 history lower than preseason fourth after losing 8 seniors and the freshman of the year. O'liney would score no less than 17 points in any of the first 8 games (including 24 in a 69-66 victory over Purdue and 31 against #19 Nebraska), and the Tigers opened the season 18-3, first place in the conference, and as high as #9. Included in the stretch were 27 straight free throws from O'liney without a miss…1 shy of the MU record. MU would falter down the stretch to finish 4th, but on Senior Day against #16 OU O'liney would score 20 including two free throws to send the game into overtime and hit a buzzer beater to win it. MU would earn an 8 seed and fittingly on St. Patrick's Day, O'liney led the Tigers with 22 points over Indiana (Norm and Bobby Knight's first meeting) despite having to make several trips to the locker room in the second half to vomit due to sickness. In his final college game, O'Liney sizzled, making five of six three-pointers and scoring 23 points against the top overall seed UCLA. MU had the lead for about 90% of the game (with 4 minutes to play MU was shooting 41% from 2 and 69% from three) and besides national player of the year Ed O'Bannon, Paul was clearly the best player on the floor. Unfortunately 4.8 familiar seconds intervened and ended the Tigers run and O'liney's college career. O'liney would play no less than 30 minutes in any game during the season. He would lead the team with 19.7 ppg and finish second on the club with over 5 boards per game, as well as leading the team in steals. The 571 points scored on the season is the 19th highest in MU history, the 79 three pointers the 9th best, and the 172 free throws the 7th best. His legacy is the stuff of legend…best walkon in program history…learned to shoot using balled up tin foil and a halved milk jug….childhood friends of Roy Jones Jr and Emmitt Smith…gold teeth…appeared out of thin air to spur one of the greatest seasons in program history….came within 4.8 seconds of leading MU to one of the biggest victories in program history.
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Certainly agree, here is a brief bio I wrote on him - FIJItiger MU - 4/30 08:58:29