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So at a future point surpassing this?
Posted on: May 24, 2017 at 12:47:16 CT
FIJItiger MU
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Jon Sundvold
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
A 6'2 sharp shooting combo guard from Blue Spings, MO Sundvold came to MU as one half of the historic recruiting class of 1979. One of, if not THE, greatest shooters in MU history Sundvold was also an adept ball handler and slick passer…dubbed “the Einstein in Sneakers” by USC coach Stan Morrison. After Steve Wallace was ruled ineligible partway through his freshman year, Sundvold would step into the starting lineup and it would be a position he would never relinquish (He started an MU record 113 straight games from then on out). He would avg 6.3 ppg and MU would win the league title, finishing at 25-6 for the second most wins in program history at the time.
MU would open the season at #11 in Sundvold's sophomore season, and Jon would be asked to carry the ballhandling responsibilities vacated by Larry Drew's graduation. He would be up to the task and would cite his individual contests with ku's star Darnell Valentine as the turning point for him. In the season's three matchups, the sophomore Sundvold would score 50 points to Valentine's 55 and in the final matchup Sundvold would actually outscore his rival 23-20. MU would position themselves into a winner takes all matchup with KSU on the season's final game for the conference championship. In a gutsy call, Norm would elect to attempt to stall and Sundvold handled the ball for the bulk of the final 7:44 of a tie game without attempting a shot. In fact, it was Sundvold that grabbed the missed tip on the resulting free throw and set up the game winner, resulting in MU's second consecutive Big 8 title. MU would earn a #9 seed in the NCAA tournament, but fall in their opener to Lamar to finish the season at 22-10. Sundvold's individual stats rose with avges of 13.3 ppg and nearly 3.5 assists per game.
It would be in Sundvold's junior season that MU made the transition from regional power to a program of true national prominence. They would start the season at #16, and MU claimed the title in the preseason Winston Tire Classic thanks to 22 points in the Title game against UAB by Sundvold who earned tourney MVP honors. MU marched through the non-con to a record of 10-0 and a ranking of #4, the program's highest ever at that point. After extending the streak to 15-0 with a win over ku, MU was ranked #2 behind UNC who lost during the week. Thus an MU victory over OU to continue to remain unbeaten would result in the program's first ever #1 ranking. Sundvold would score a game high 21 in an easy victory that MU led at times by 30, and on Jan 25th MU would climb to the top of the polls. MU would extend the streak to 19-0, the best start in program history, as well as wins in 29 straight at home. Unfortunately a loss to NU followed and MU's undefeated season was over, but on the strength of 18 from Sundvold they defeated ISU to secure their third straight conference title. MU would also claim the conference's postseason tourney title, marking the first time in program history MU won both in the same season. In the NCAA tournament, MU would advance to the elite eight before running into a buzzsaw…the then unknown Phi Slamma Jamma Houston team composed of Akeem Olajuwon, Rob Williams, and Clyde Drexler that knocked MU off 79-78 in a game where MU had 18 turnovers and shot 58% from the FT line. Sundvold would be named First Team All Conference.
Entering his senior year, no player had ever won 4 Big 8 regular season titles in their career. Sundvold had that opportunity. The Tigers would open against defending champs UNC with Sam Perkins and Michael Jordon, and due to injuries Sundvold would be the only guard on MU's roster for the contest. Stipo and Sundvold would combine for 40 points and MU defeated UNC 64-60, and MU would win their next seven games (including a win against Dayton where Sundvold scored on 8 straight trips down the court, and a career high 32 against Oregon) to climb to #6 in the polls. MU would get crushed in a rematch against UNC in the Rainbow Classic, but rebound thanks to 17 by Sundvold in a 49-42 victory over NC State. Stipo and Sundvold would combine for 47 in a win over ku, then Jon would score 25 to beat CU. In a matchup with OU fronted by Wayman Tisdale, Sundvold would have one of his best games by scoring 28 to secure a 84-79 overtime win. The 4th consecutive title could be secured by defeating KSU, and Sundvold nailed a clutch 22 footer with no time on the clock for a 49-47 MU win. MU would enter the postseason ranked 10th and earn a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. After a first round bye, MU faced Iowa and despite 23 second half points by Sundvold MU fell 77-63 to end the era. MU finished a combined 100-28 during Sundvold's playing days. For the season he would avg 17.1 ppg, the 15th highest scoring season in MU history, as well as earning First Team All Conference and All American recognition. He would finish #2 in career points at MU (now 10th) with 1,597, and with only 5 players making more field goals than him it is hard to imagine what those totals would look like had the three point line been in play during those years (in fact, there are accounts that the Big 8's delay in adopting the line was in part opposing coach's reluctance to give the 4 time champs an added advantage). He is also the all time leader in career FT %, 6th in assists, and no player has logged more minutes in a Tiger uniform. He was the #16 pick in the NBA draft and played for 9 years before returning to Columbia.
Ricky Frazier
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982
The 6'6 forward from Charleston, MO began his career at SLU where he avged 13.7 ppg and 5.6 rebounds and earned the conference's Freshman of the Year honors. But when his coach and former Tiger great Ron Coleman was fired, Ricky elected to transfer to MU. In doing so he brought to the Tigers roster one of the more athletic players to date, someone who could soar above the rim, elevate and hang for his signature mid-range jumpers or alley oops, and with the force to drive to the hoop. His coach Coleman said of him at the time, “Ricky is a great one-on-one player, but he's the most controlled one-on-one player in the country.
With Frazier in the lineup as a sophomore (along with newcomers Jon Sundvold and Steve Stipanovich), MU jumped out to an 11-2 start and a #13 ranking. Frazier would set the MU record for most baskets in a game without a miss against OSU, going a perfect 12 for 12 from the field. In fact, he would shoot 63.5% from the field on the season and MU as a team would hit 57.3%...an team NCAA record that still stands. MU would win the conference title, and march to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to #1 seed LSU to end the season at 25-6. In his first season as a Tiger Frazier would avg 13.8 ppg and 5.6 rebounds.
MU would open the season at #11 in Frazier's junior campaign, and in a somewhat up and down season MU clinched a share of the conference lead with a win over CU in which Frazier scored 26. That set up a meeting with fellow first place team KSU in a one game matchup to determine the conference champion. After KSU tied the game at 43 with 7:44 remaining, Norm elected to go into a stall in an era before the shot clock, hoping to draw KSU out of their zone. MU maintained possession the entire time, and with seven seconds remaining Frazier improvised a drive to the basket, elevated…and made the shot while being fouled to give MU a 46-43 win. It also gave MU its second consecutive Big 8 Title with Frazier on the team. Frazier would avg 16.3 ppg and 6.5 rebounds on the season, earning First Team All Conference recognition as MU finished 22-10.
Frazier's senior season was the year where MU transitioned from being a regional power to an elite player on the national scene, and Frazier would move from guard back to his more natural small forward position. MU would start the year ranked #16, but after knocking off Illinois 78-68 in a game where Frazier scored 28 and wining the preseason Winston Tire Classic MU would finish the non-con 10-0 and ranked #4…the highest ranking for the program up to that point. After winning their first several conference games, MU would match up with national power Louisville and Frazier would lead the Tigers with 22 in a 69-55 MU win that resulted in MU climbing to #2. When MU knocked off ku to run their record to 15-0 and #1 UNC lost during the week only a victory over OU stood in the way of MU retaining their undefeated status and the program's first #1 ranking. An 84-64 blowout that MU led several times by 30 sealed the deal and on Jan 25th MU was the nation's top team. MU extended the streak to a perfect 19-0, before falling to NU when Frazier scored just 6 points. MU and Frazier would rebound in a low scoring affair in Lawrence where Ricky made all 8 of his field goal attempts to lead the Tigers with 20, and MU defeated ku 42-41 where Frazier had 10 of MU's only 12 points in the second half. He followed that up with a team leading 18 in a 89-82 win over OSU. In a marquee matchup late in the season of premier centers Stipo and Ewing, MU faced off with Georgetown. And although Frazier stole the show with 24 points and 14 boards, MU fell 63-51. After clinching their 3rd consecutive conference title, MU would advance to the conference tourney final against OU. Frazier would score 24 on 12 of 14 shooting to go with 9 boards to capture the tourney title for MU, marking the first time MU had won the regular and post season Big 8 titles in the same season. Frazier would shoot 77.8% from the field in the tournament and earn SI's National Player of the Week honors. MU received a #2 seed and the accompanying first round bye in the NCAA tournament, before beating Marquette 73-69 when Frazier and Stipo combined for 39. That set up a meeting with a relatively unknown Houston team in the Sweet Sixteen…a Houston team that would later be referred to as Phi Slamma Jamma and included Akeem Olajuwon, Rob Williams, and Clyde Drexler. Frazier was a non-factor in the first half, making only 4 free throws and no field goals. But he would score 25 in the second half to finish with 29 to keep the Tigers in it. Unfortunately the Tigers had but one Ricky Frazier and Houston had multiple future NBA all stars and MU fell 79-78.
Frazier would again avg over 16 ppg to lead the team in scoring for the second straight year and 6.5 rebounds, this time shooting 61.3% from the floor. He was named not only First Team All Conference, but the Conference Player of the Year and an All American. He finished his career with 1,448 points as MU's all time leading scorer. He now ranks 13th, and was the highest scoring 3 year Tiger until Kareem Rush passed him 20 years later. His career FG% of 59.4% is the second highest in program history. He was selected with the 26th pick in the NBA draft by the Bulls. In perhaps his greatest honor, Norm Stewart called Frazier “the best competitor we ever had.”
Steve Stipanovich
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
The 6'11 center from St. Louis was one third of arguably the most high profile triumvirate of big men recruits ever (including Ralph Sampson and Sam Bowie). Stipo had narrowed his choices to UNC, Duke, UCLA, Kentucky, Notre Dame, and MU with Digger Phelps of Notre Dame even going so far as to claim Stipo “locked up” for the Irish. After winning back to back state titles for Desmet with a two year record of 63-1, Stipo possibly did more to elevate MU to a national program than anything previous that had occurred on a court by calling Norm Stewart in Utah during the final four and announcing his intention to be a Tiger (Jon Sundvold followed shortly afterward upon hearing the news). Despite not being terrifically athletic (boasting a 28 inch vertical leap) he excelled due to outworking and out-skilling people, and had a jumper with range that extended out to 20 feet.
Stipo provided instant credibility to MU's basketball program, one that was typically overshadowed by football on campus. In his freshman year, attendance would increase at Hearnes by 2,836 a game…the largest rise in the country that season. In his first game, a win over Southwest Texas State, Stipo would score 23. MU would open at 11-2 and climb to #13 in the polls. In a rematch with ku, who had defeated MU earlier in the year, Stipo would score 29 in an 88-65 MU blowout. MU would win the conference with an 11-3 record, and earn a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament to face San Jose State. Stipo would score only 4 points in the first half, and then miss the entire second period after hyperventilating and being stricken with the flu. His teammates would step up and defeat San Jose 61-51 to set up a matchup with top 10 Notre Dame. Stipanovich would score 15 and grab 8 rebounds in what was at the time possibly the biggest victory in program history as MU defeated the Irish 87-84 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face #1 seed LSU. MU led 40-39 at the break, but Stipo would pick up his fourth foul and be regulated to the bench as MU ultimately fell 68-63 to end the season at 25-6. Stipo started all 31 games and would avg 14.4 ppg and 6.4 rebounds, His 445 points scored is the highest total for a freshman in MU history. Additionally he shot 59.8% from the field to help MU to a team 57.3%...an NCAA record that still stands. He was named the Big 8 Newcomer of the Year.
Stipo spent the following summer in California instead of attending the Olympic trials, and his indulgences led to him reporting 25 pounds overweight upon his return. MU would open the season preseason #11 and begin 8-3. Then over Christmas break Stipo would find a discarded gun from a party left in his closet, toss it on the bed, and in doing so accidently discharge the weapon resulting in a minor gun shot wound to his shoulder. He concocted a story about an armed intruder that broke into his apartment, shouted obscenities against basketball, and then opened fire on him. After clearing the air on what he initially thought was no big deal rumors abounded regarding an attempted suicide, a mafia hit, taking or dealing drugs, and involvement with prostitutes. While the incident eventually boiled down to a minor injury, taunts of “Who Shot Stipo” would follow him throughout the year. In a very up and down year that saw the Tigers not ranked in any poll after Dec 14th, MU would hold on to win their second consecutive conference crown with a 10-4 record. In a display of the strength of the Big 8, the conference champs received a 9 seed to face 8 seed Lamar… a team that they had beaten by 22 earlier in the year. Stewart caught several players, including Stipo, with beer in their rooms the night before the game and enraged decided to let the assistants coach the game. Lamar was able to slow the pace on the frustrated Tigers and defeat them 71-67 to end MU's season at 22-10. Stipo would avg 12.7 ppg and 7.4 rebounds and set the new MU blocked shots record with 44. Despite the title, the frustrating season would motivate Stipo to re-commit himself.
MU would open the season at #16 in Stipo's junior campaign, and would march through the non-con at a perfect 10-0 including a win in the rematch with Notre Dame in which MU shot 72% from the field and 92% from the line. After defeating CU in the conference opener, MU climbed to #2…their highest ranking ever. MU remained unbeaten at 16-0 when #1 UNC fell, and for the first time ever MU stood atop the national polls. MU's first true test would come two games later against #14 KSU, and a Stipo dunk in the final minute sealed a 58-57 MU win. MU's reign lasted 2 weeks until a loss to NU, but they returned to winning and easily clinched their third straight conference title with a 12-2 record…becoming the first Big 8 team in 48 years to win 3 straight. MU had a marquee out of conference matchup that followed with Georgetown where the nation watched as Stipo battled with Hoya freshman Patrick Ewing. Unfortunately foul trouble limited Stipo and MU fell 63-51. MU would rebound to capture the Big 8 postseason title and for the first time ever MU was both regular season and postseason Big 8 champs. They received a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, and after the accompanying bye in round one met Marquette. Stipo would combine with Frazier for 39 points in a 73-69 MU win. That set up a matchup with relatively unknown budding superpower Houston and their Phi Slamma Jamma team of Clyde Drexler, Rob Williams, and Akeem Olajuwon (they would make 3 straight final fours). MU could not match their athleticism and after 18 turnover and 18 of 31 shooting from the line, lost by one 79-78 to end the season at 27-4. It would be a new MU record for victories in a season and basketball had officially replaced football as the sport of choice at MU. Stipo took a more passive approach to scoring and focused on defense, instead playing the supporting role to All American Rickey Frazier and he finished with totals of 11.6 ppg and 8.0 rebounds. He, along with Frazier and Sundvold, made first team All Big 8 thus resulting in three fifths of the first team being Tigers.
With Ricky Frazier graduated, Stipo could take a passive approach to scoring no more, as MU set out on a quest for something that hadn't been accomplished since 1931-34…4 straight conference titles. MU would feature 11 players from the state of Missouri and would begin the year at #15 against defending national champs UNC in St. Louis. Against Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, the Tigers featured an injury depleted lineup with Sundvold as the only true guard, yet Stipo would lead the Tigers with 22 and MU defeated UNC 64-60. Six more wins followed as MU climbed to #6 before getting crushed in a rematch with UNC 73-58. After defeating eventual champion NC State 49-42, in a victory over Dayton Stipo became the program's new all time leading scorer to move MU to 12-2. The Tigers would open the conference slate with #18 OSU, and defeated them in a rout on the strength of a career high 32 points and 11 rebounds from Stipo. MU would race out to a conference lead and set up a matchup with new conference power OU featuring Billy Tubbs and Wayman Tisdale. Stipo would score 26 (22 in the first half) including a dunk over Tisdale in the final seconds of overtime in an 84-79 MU win to put the Tigers in the drivers seat for the conference title. After completing the sweep of ku for the second straight year, MU's schedule featured a non-con game for the national spotlight against #5 Virginia. Forever linked through their recruiting class, Stipo would match up with Virginia's 7'4 and 3 time national player of the year Ralph Sampson. Stipo would score 16 of MU's first 20 points and finish the game with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Although he won the battle, Virginia won the war with a 68-53 defeat. Still, MU would return to conference and for the second straight year finish at 12-2. The 4th consecutive conference title was the first and only occurrence in Big 8 history. MU would advance to the title game of the conference tournament against OSU but lose 93-92. MU would close the season at #10 and take a #2 seed into the NCAA tournament. After a first round bye, they would find themselves matched up with Iowa and with a win would have a chance to play the semifinals in Kansas City. Stipo would be plagued with foul trouble, and MU would go the final 7 first half minutes scoreless to only score 20 points in the first period. Despite a late rally, the season would end with a 77-63 loss for a final record of 26-8. The four year total of 100 wins is the most in program history. Stipo would avg 18.4 ppg and 8.8 rebounds, while breaking his own shot blocking record and recording 16 double doubles. The 626 points is the 10th highest scoring season in MU history and he is one of only 4 players to record more than 300 rebounds in a season since 1975. He was again named First Team All Big 8 as well as being named the Conference Player of the Year, an All American, and an Academic All American. He was named the CBS National Player of the Year.
At the conclusion of his playing career the MU record book virtually read like a Stipo stat line. He was our all time leading scorer (1,836 now 4th), our all time leading rebounder (984 now 3rd), our all time blocks leader (149 now 2nd), 4th in FG% (53.8% now 7th), and 2nd in FT's made (418 now 5th). Only two Tigers have played more minutes for MU in their careers. More than stats though, Stipanovich made MU a national presence in basketball and ushered in an era where MU was the dominant conference team for a decade. Stipo became the highest Tiger to ever be drafted, selected #2 in the NBA draft by Indiana. He played 5 seasons while never avging less than 12 ppg but after 5 knee operations retired from basketball. He now resides in St. Louis where he runs Missouri's only coal mine.
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
A 6'2 sharp shooting combo guard from Blue Spings, MO Sundvold came to MU as one half of the historic recruiting class of 1979. One of, if not THE, greatest shooters in MU history Sundvold was also an adept ball handler and slick passer…dubbed “the Einstein in Sneakers” by USC coach Stan Morrison. After Steve Wallace was ruled ineligible partway through his freshman year, Sundvold would step into the starting lineup and it would be a position he would never relinquish (He started an MU record 113 straight games from then on out). He would avg 6.3 ppg and MU would win the league title, finishing at 25-6 for the second most wins in program history at the time.
MU would open the season at #11 in Sundvold's sophomore season, and Jon would be asked to carry the ballhandling responsibilities vacated by Larry Drew's graduation. He would be up to the task and would cite his individual contests with ku's star Darnell Valentine as the turning point for him. In the season's three matchups, the sophomore Sundvold would score 50 points to Valentine's 55 and in the final matchup Sundvold would actually outscore his rival 23-20. MU would position themselves into a winner takes all matchup with KSU on the season's final game for the conference championship. In a gutsy call, Norm would elect to attempt to stall and Sundvold handled the ball for the bulk of the final 7:44 of a tie game without attempting a shot. In fact, it was Sundvold that grabbed the missed tip on the resulting free throw and set up the game winner, resulting in MU's second consecutive Big 8 title. MU would earn a #9 seed in the NCAA tournament, but fall in their opener to Lamar to finish the season at 22-10. Sundvold's individual stats rose with avges of 13.3 ppg and nearly 3.5 assists per game.
It would be in Sundvold's junior season that MU made the transition from regional power to a program of true national prominence. They would start the season at #16, and MU claimed the title in the preseason Winston Tire Classic thanks to 22 points in the Title game against UAB by Sundvold who earned tourney MVP honors. MU marched through the non-con to a record of 10-0 and a ranking of #4, the program's highest ever at that point. After extending the streak to 15-0 with a win over ku, MU was ranked #2 behind UNC who lost during the week. Thus an MU victory over OU to continue to remain unbeaten would result in the program's first ever #1 ranking. Sundvold would score a game high 21 in an easy victory that MU led at times by 30, and on Jan 25th MU would climb to the top of the polls. MU would extend the streak to 19-0, the best start in program history, as well as wins in 29 straight at home. Unfortunately a loss to NU followed and MU's undefeated season was over, but on the strength of 18 from Sundvold they defeated ISU to secure their third straight conference title. MU would also claim the conference's postseason tourney title, marking the first time in program history MU won both in the same season. In the NCAA tournament, MU would advance to the elite eight before running into a buzzsaw…the then unknown Phi Slamma Jamma Houston team composed of Akeem Olajuwon, Rob Williams, and Clyde Drexler that knocked MU off 79-78 in a game where MU had 18 turnovers and shot 58% from the FT line. Sundvold would be named First Team All Conference.
Entering his senior year, no player had ever won 4 Big 8 regular season titles in their career. Sundvold had that opportunity. The Tigers would open against defending champs UNC with Sam Perkins and Michael Jordon, and due to injuries Sundvold would be the only guard on MU's roster for the contest. Stipo and Sundvold would combine for 40 points and MU defeated UNC 64-60, and MU would win their next seven games (including a win against Dayton where Sundvold scored on 8 straight trips down the court, and a career high 32 against Oregon) to climb to #6 in the polls. MU would get crushed in a rematch against UNC in the Rainbow Classic, but rebound thanks to 17 by Sundvold in a 49-42 victory over NC State. Stipo and Sundvold would combine for 47 in a win over ku, then Jon would score 25 to beat CU. In a matchup with OU fronted by Wayman Tisdale, Sundvold would have one of his best games by scoring 28 to secure a 84-79 overtime win. The 4th consecutive title could be secured by defeating KSU, and Sundvold nailed a clutch 22 footer with no time on the clock for a 49-47 MU win. MU would enter the postseason ranked 10th and earn a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. After a first round bye, MU faced Iowa and despite 23 second half points by Sundvold MU fell 77-63 to end the era. MU finished a combined 100-28 during Sundvold's playing days. For the season he would avg 17.1 ppg, the 15th highest scoring season in MU history, as well as earning First Team All Conference and All American recognition. He would finish #2 in career points at MU (now 10th) with 1,597, and with only 5 players making more field goals than him it is hard to imagine what those totals would look like had the three point line been in play during those years (in fact, there are accounts that the Big 8's delay in adopting the line was in part opposing coach's reluctance to give the 4 time champs an added advantage). He is also the all time leader in career FT %, 6th in assists, and no player has logged more minutes in a Tiger uniform. He was the #16 pick in the NBA draft and played for 9 years before returning to Columbia.
Ricky Frazier
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982
The 6'6 forward from Charleston, MO began his career at SLU where he avged 13.7 ppg and 5.6 rebounds and earned the conference's Freshman of the Year honors. But when his coach and former Tiger great Ron Coleman was fired, Ricky elected to transfer to MU. In doing so he brought to the Tigers roster one of the more athletic players to date, someone who could soar above the rim, elevate and hang for his signature mid-range jumpers or alley oops, and with the force to drive to the hoop. His coach Coleman said of him at the time, “Ricky is a great one-on-one player, but he's the most controlled one-on-one player in the country.
With Frazier in the lineup as a sophomore (along with newcomers Jon Sundvold and Steve Stipanovich), MU jumped out to an 11-2 start and a #13 ranking. Frazier would set the MU record for most baskets in a game without a miss against OSU, going a perfect 12 for 12 from the field. In fact, he would shoot 63.5% from the field on the season and MU as a team would hit 57.3%...an team NCAA record that still stands. MU would win the conference title, and march to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to #1 seed LSU to end the season at 25-6. In his first season as a Tiger Frazier would avg 13.8 ppg and 5.6 rebounds.
MU would open the season at #11 in Frazier's junior campaign, and in a somewhat up and down season MU clinched a share of the conference lead with a win over CU in which Frazier scored 26. That set up a meeting with fellow first place team KSU in a one game matchup to determine the conference champion. After KSU tied the game at 43 with 7:44 remaining, Norm elected to go into a stall in an era before the shot clock, hoping to draw KSU out of their zone. MU maintained possession the entire time, and with seven seconds remaining Frazier improvised a drive to the basket, elevated…and made the shot while being fouled to give MU a 46-43 win. It also gave MU its second consecutive Big 8 Title with Frazier on the team. Frazier would avg 16.3 ppg and 6.5 rebounds on the season, earning First Team All Conference recognition as MU finished 22-10.
Frazier's senior season was the year where MU transitioned from being a regional power to an elite player on the national scene, and Frazier would move from guard back to his more natural small forward position. MU would start the year ranked #16, but after knocking off Illinois 78-68 in a game where Frazier scored 28 and wining the preseason Winston Tire Classic MU would finish the non-con 10-0 and ranked #4…the highest ranking for the program up to that point. After winning their first several conference games, MU would match up with national power Louisville and Frazier would lead the Tigers with 22 in a 69-55 MU win that resulted in MU climbing to #2. When MU knocked off ku to run their record to 15-0 and #1 UNC lost during the week only a victory over OU stood in the way of MU retaining their undefeated status and the program's first #1 ranking. An 84-64 blowout that MU led several times by 30 sealed the deal and on Jan 25th MU was the nation's top team. MU extended the streak to a perfect 19-0, before falling to NU when Frazier scored just 6 points. MU and Frazier would rebound in a low scoring affair in Lawrence where Ricky made all 8 of his field goal attempts to lead the Tigers with 20, and MU defeated ku 42-41 where Frazier had 10 of MU's only 12 points in the second half. He followed that up with a team leading 18 in a 89-82 win over OSU. In a marquee matchup late in the season of premier centers Stipo and Ewing, MU faced off with Georgetown. And although Frazier stole the show with 24 points and 14 boards, MU fell 63-51. After clinching their 3rd consecutive conference title, MU would advance to the conference tourney final against OU. Frazier would score 24 on 12 of 14 shooting to go with 9 boards to capture the tourney title for MU, marking the first time MU had won the regular and post season Big 8 titles in the same season. Frazier would shoot 77.8% from the field in the tournament and earn SI's National Player of the Week honors. MU received a #2 seed and the accompanying first round bye in the NCAA tournament, before beating Marquette 73-69 when Frazier and Stipo combined for 39. That set up a meeting with a relatively unknown Houston team in the Sweet Sixteen…a Houston team that would later be referred to as Phi Slamma Jamma and included Akeem Olajuwon, Rob Williams, and Clyde Drexler. Frazier was a non-factor in the first half, making only 4 free throws and no field goals. But he would score 25 in the second half to finish with 29 to keep the Tigers in it. Unfortunately the Tigers had but one Ricky Frazier and Houston had multiple future NBA all stars and MU fell 79-78.
Frazier would again avg over 16 ppg to lead the team in scoring for the second straight year and 6.5 rebounds, this time shooting 61.3% from the floor. He was named not only First Team All Conference, but the Conference Player of the Year and an All American. He finished his career with 1,448 points as MU's all time leading scorer. He now ranks 13th, and was the highest scoring 3 year Tiger until Kareem Rush passed him 20 years later. His career FG% of 59.4% is the second highest in program history. He was selected with the 26th pick in the NBA draft by the Bulls. In perhaps his greatest honor, Norm Stewart called Frazier “the best competitor we ever had.”
Steve Stipanovich
Letterman - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
The 6'11 center from St. Louis was one third of arguably the most high profile triumvirate of big men recruits ever (including Ralph Sampson and Sam Bowie). Stipo had narrowed his choices to UNC, Duke, UCLA, Kentucky, Notre Dame, and MU with Digger Phelps of Notre Dame even going so far as to claim Stipo “locked up” for the Irish. After winning back to back state titles for Desmet with a two year record of 63-1, Stipo possibly did more to elevate MU to a national program than anything previous that had occurred on a court by calling Norm Stewart in Utah during the final four and announcing his intention to be a Tiger (Jon Sundvold followed shortly afterward upon hearing the news). Despite not being terrifically athletic (boasting a 28 inch vertical leap) he excelled due to outworking and out-skilling people, and had a jumper with range that extended out to 20 feet.
Stipo provided instant credibility to MU's basketball program, one that was typically overshadowed by football on campus. In his freshman year, attendance would increase at Hearnes by 2,836 a game…the largest rise in the country that season. In his first game, a win over Southwest Texas State, Stipo would score 23. MU would open at 11-2 and climb to #13 in the polls. In a rematch with ku, who had defeated MU earlier in the year, Stipo would score 29 in an 88-65 MU blowout. MU would win the conference with an 11-3 record, and earn a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament to face San Jose State. Stipo would score only 4 points in the first half, and then miss the entire second period after hyperventilating and being stricken with the flu. His teammates would step up and defeat San Jose 61-51 to set up a matchup with top 10 Notre Dame. Stipanovich would score 15 and grab 8 rebounds in what was at the time possibly the biggest victory in program history as MU defeated the Irish 87-84 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face #1 seed LSU. MU led 40-39 at the break, but Stipo would pick up his fourth foul and be regulated to the bench as MU ultimately fell 68-63 to end the season at 25-6. Stipo started all 31 games and would avg 14.4 ppg and 6.4 rebounds, His 445 points scored is the highest total for a freshman in MU history. Additionally he shot 59.8% from the field to help MU to a team 57.3%...an NCAA record that still stands. He was named the Big 8 Newcomer of the Year.
Stipo spent the following summer in California instead of attending the Olympic trials, and his indulgences led to him reporting 25 pounds overweight upon his return. MU would open the season preseason #11 and begin 8-3. Then over Christmas break Stipo would find a discarded gun from a party left in his closet, toss it on the bed, and in doing so accidently discharge the weapon resulting in a minor gun shot wound to his shoulder. He concocted a story about an armed intruder that broke into his apartment, shouted obscenities against basketball, and then opened fire on him. After clearing the air on what he initially thought was no big deal rumors abounded regarding an attempted suicide, a mafia hit, taking or dealing drugs, and involvement with prostitutes. While the incident eventually boiled down to a minor injury, taunts of “Who Shot Stipo” would follow him throughout the year. In a very up and down year that saw the Tigers not ranked in any poll after Dec 14th, MU would hold on to win their second consecutive conference crown with a 10-4 record. In a display of the strength of the Big 8, the conference champs received a 9 seed to face 8 seed Lamar… a team that they had beaten by 22 earlier in the year. Stewart caught several players, including Stipo, with beer in their rooms the night before the game and enraged decided to let the assistants coach the game. Lamar was able to slow the pace on the frustrated Tigers and defeat them 71-67 to end MU's season at 22-10. Stipo would avg 12.7 ppg and 7.4 rebounds and set the new MU blocked shots record with 44. Despite the title, the frustrating season would motivate Stipo to re-commit himself.
MU would open the season at #16 in Stipo's junior campaign, and would march through the non-con at a perfect 10-0 including a win in the rematch with Notre Dame in which MU shot 72% from the field and 92% from the line. After defeating CU in the conference opener, MU climbed to #2…their highest ranking ever. MU remained unbeaten at 16-0 when #1 UNC fell, and for the first time ever MU stood atop the national polls. MU's first true test would come two games later against #14 KSU, and a Stipo dunk in the final minute sealed a 58-57 MU win. MU's reign lasted 2 weeks until a loss to NU, but they returned to winning and easily clinched their third straight conference title with a 12-2 record…becoming the first Big 8 team in 48 years to win 3 straight. MU had a marquee out of conference matchup that followed with Georgetown where the nation watched as Stipo battled with Hoya freshman Patrick Ewing. Unfortunately foul trouble limited Stipo and MU fell 63-51. MU would rebound to capture the Big 8 postseason title and for the first time ever MU was both regular season and postseason Big 8 champs. They received a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, and after the accompanying bye in round one met Marquette. Stipo would combine with Frazier for 39 points in a 73-69 MU win. That set up a matchup with relatively unknown budding superpower Houston and their Phi Slamma Jamma team of Clyde Drexler, Rob Williams, and Akeem Olajuwon (they would make 3 straight final fours). MU could not match their athleticism and after 18 turnover and 18 of 31 shooting from the line, lost by one 79-78 to end the season at 27-4. It would be a new MU record for victories in a season and basketball had officially replaced football as the sport of choice at MU. Stipo took a more passive approach to scoring and focused on defense, instead playing the supporting role to All American Rickey Frazier and he finished with totals of 11.6 ppg and 8.0 rebounds. He, along with Frazier and Sundvold, made first team All Big 8 thus resulting in three fifths of the first team being Tigers.
With Ricky Frazier graduated, Stipo could take a passive approach to scoring no more, as MU set out on a quest for something that hadn't been accomplished since 1931-34…4 straight conference titles. MU would feature 11 players from the state of Missouri and would begin the year at #15 against defending national champs UNC in St. Louis. Against Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, the Tigers featured an injury depleted lineup with Sundvold as the only true guard, yet Stipo would lead the Tigers with 22 and MU defeated UNC 64-60. Six more wins followed as MU climbed to #6 before getting crushed in a rematch with UNC 73-58. After defeating eventual champion NC State 49-42, in a victory over Dayton Stipo became the program's new all time leading scorer to move MU to 12-2. The Tigers would open the conference slate with #18 OSU, and defeated them in a rout on the strength of a career high 32 points and 11 rebounds from Stipo. MU would race out to a conference lead and set up a matchup with new conference power OU featuring Billy Tubbs and Wayman Tisdale. Stipo would score 26 (22 in the first half) including a dunk over Tisdale in the final seconds of overtime in an 84-79 MU win to put the Tigers in the drivers seat for the conference title. After completing the sweep of ku for the second straight year, MU's schedule featured a non-con game for the national spotlight against #5 Virginia. Forever linked through their recruiting class, Stipo would match up with Virginia's 7'4 and 3 time national player of the year Ralph Sampson. Stipo would score 16 of MU's first 20 points and finish the game with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Although he won the battle, Virginia won the war with a 68-53 defeat. Still, MU would return to conference and for the second straight year finish at 12-2. The 4th consecutive conference title was the first and only occurrence in Big 8 history. MU would advance to the title game of the conference tournament against OSU but lose 93-92. MU would close the season at #10 and take a #2 seed into the NCAA tournament. After a first round bye, they would find themselves matched up with Iowa and with a win would have a chance to play the semifinals in Kansas City. Stipo would be plagued with foul trouble, and MU would go the final 7 first half minutes scoreless to only score 20 points in the first period. Despite a late rally, the season would end with a 77-63 loss for a final record of 26-8. The four year total of 100 wins is the most in program history. Stipo would avg 18.4 ppg and 8.8 rebounds, while breaking his own shot blocking record and recording 16 double doubles. The 626 points is the 10th highest scoring season in MU history and he is one of only 4 players to record more than 300 rebounds in a season since 1975. He was again named First Team All Big 8 as well as being named the Conference Player of the Year, an All American, and an Academic All American. He was named the CBS National Player of the Year.
At the conclusion of his playing career the MU record book virtually read like a Stipo stat line. He was our all time leading scorer (1,836 now 4th), our all time leading rebounder (984 now 3rd), our all time blocks leader (149 now 2nd), 4th in FG% (53.8% now 7th), and 2nd in FT's made (418 now 5th). Only two Tigers have played more minutes for MU in their careers. More than stats though, Stipanovich made MU a national presence in basketball and ushered in an era where MU was the dominant conference team for a decade. Stipo became the highest Tiger to ever be drafted, selected #2 in the NBA draft by Indiana. He played 5 seasons while never avging less than 12 ppg but after 5 knee operations retired from basketball. He now resides in St. Louis where he runs Missouri's only coal mine.
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So at a future point surpassing this? - FIJItiger MU - 5/24 12:47:16