Here is a Top 30 I previously compiled:

Posted on: November 15, 2019 at 16:30:36 CT

# 30 - Curtis Berry

Letterman - 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

A 6'7 forward from Selma, Alabama began his Tiger career with 6.8 ppg and nearly 5 boards in helping MU to a conference tourney title and an NCAA birth as a freshman. He then emerged as a star in his sophomore campaign with 13.5 ppg and a team leading 9.0 rebounds per game. Berry's 20 point, 20 rebounds against nationally ranked ku in a 58-55 MU win allowed Norm Stewart to move into a tie for the most wins in program history with his 195th victory. MU on the year would finished 2nd in conference. As a junior (on a team that included all time greats Larry Drew, Steve Stipanovich, Ricky Frazier, and Jon Sundvold) it was Berry who would pace the Tigers with a team leading 14.4 ppg as the Tigers captured a conference regular season title for a Tiger team that would remain in the AP top 15 virtually the entire season and win the second most games in program history at that point. Unfortunately Berry would injure his knee and miss the end of the season (and MU's 2 tourney wins), but would have his own near-Willis Reed moment after hitching a ride and showing up unexpectedly on the bench in crutches to cheer his teammates on. For the season, MU would set the All Time NCAA record (which still stands) by shooting 57.2% from the field, helped by Berry's 61.6%. Additionally Berry was named first team All Conference. Berry returned from injury as a senior to pace the Tigers with 8.1 rebounds per game as well as logging 13.3 ppg on a Tiger team that started out preseason #6 and finished with its second consecutive conference title, becoming the first MU team to repeat as league champions since the 1921 squad. In the semi-final conference tournament game against ku, Berry turned in a monstrous 26 points and 19 rebound effort in a 75-70 loss. He ranks 8th all time at MU with 28 career double doubles, and is one of only 6 Tigers to ever have 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game as well as being the last Tiger to have recorded a 20 rebound game. Berry finished his career with 1,328 points and 811 rebounds (then sixth and second at the time on the all-time list, now nineteenth and eighth), and his 55.6% field goal percentage still ranks fourth in MU's history. By leading the Tigers in rebounding 3 straight years he became the first to do so in over 25 years. He was drafted in the 3rd round by Kansas City in the 1981 NBA draft.

# 29 - Jevon Crudup

Letterman - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

One of MU's best ever low post defender's and an absolute rock in the middle (as well as cousin of NBA Top 50 player Robert Parish), the 6'9 forward from Raytown started from day 1 at MU. He was avging 12 ppg and over 7 rebounds when after 15 games he broke his wrist and ended his season. He would return for a stellar sophomore season with totals of 15.3 and 8.2 rebounds while leading the team in blocks as MU would finish in second place in the Big 8 race on a team with only two regulars over 6'5. Crudup would lead the Tigers with 19 points in a win over 8th ranked OSU that would vault MU to #6. Crudup would make second team All Conference and score 18 in a first round NCAA tournament victory over W. Virginia. In Crudup's junior season MU would start out 12-4 and then lose 7 in a row (including a loss to OSU where Crudup hit one of his 5 career 3 pointers with 4 seconds left only to see Bryant Reeves hit a half court shot off the backboard to tie the game and ultimately win in overtime) and the season ended in disappointment. For his part, Crudup was as consistent as ever with 13.6 ppg and 8.3 rebounds while leading the team in steals and blocked shots. He maintained his steady high level of play as a senior while providing the leadership that ultimately propelled MU to one of the best seasons in program history. Crudup would score 25 points and add 15 rebounds in a 104-94 victory over OU, and the Tigers ran the table for a perfect 14-0 conference season and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament (the only in program history). Crudup would tally 19 points and 12 rebounds in a first round victory and helped lead the Tigers to the Elite Eight. His 35 career double doubles are the 5th most in MU history. He ranks 7th all time in rebounds with 874, 5th in blocked shots at 116, 8th in steals with 154, and 12th in points scored with just 2 shy of 1,500. He was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Pistons.

# 28 - John Lobsiger

Letterman - 1938, 1939, 1940

Probably the best player of the George Edward's era in Tiger history, the 6'3 Lobsiger came to MU from Gary, Indiana and was a rough equivalent of a modern day point guard, nicknamed “the human handcuff” by KSU coach Jack Gardner. A very skilled one handed set shooter, Lobsiger was also an elite level ball handler and passer. He came to MU because of the journalism school in an era where scholarships were not handed out and Edwards refused to actively recruit players for the team. As a sophomore he helped MU to a .500 record and two wins over National Champ runner up Colorado. But it was in his last two seasons that he truly made his mark. MU's floor general lead the Tigers to big win after big win (only losing 1 home game all season), and the final contest with ku being essentially a conference title game for the standings lead. More than 5,000 fans packed Brewer and Lobsiger responded with a long bomb just 80 seconds into the contest that sparked an MU route 54-30, ultimately earning a shared title with OU and the most wins in 9 years for the program. Unfortunately in a move that would be unthinkable today, instead of electing to play OU for a chance as one of the 8 teams in the NCAA field striving for a national title….MU declined the invitation citing academics and travel costs and the season came to an end. Lobsiger would not only earn All Conference honors for his junior season but also All American Honors as well. His final season as a Tiger began where the last left off and as MU celebrated its centennial both the basketball and football teams held conference titles. Lobsiger's Tigers were up to the challenge of defending that title, and at season's end again found themselves tied atop the standings (this time in the only 3 way tie in Big 6 history). A 4 team tournament was devised (including Oklahoma A&M who had won the Mo Valley) to determine the right to represent the region in the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately OU knocked off MU and their season ended with a one game improvement on the win total from the prior year. Again, Lobsiger would garner both All Conference and All American awards making him amoung the rare Tigers (one of only 2 since 1923) to make All American teams in multiple years. Further, the two conference championships he led the Tigers in were the last either shared or outright titles in 36 years.

# 27 - Arthur Browning

Letterman - 1921, 1922, 1923

A forward from Kansas City, Browning played sparingly as a sophomore in his first year of eligibility on a Tiger team that finished 17-1, won the conference, and was retroactively considered the Premo national champion. Then he literally dominated the next two seasons. Browning would lead the entire conference in scoring using a shooting touch that was the stuff of legend. He was known to make shots from mid-court that “dropped through the net without getting on familiar terms with the ring.” He used that superior shooting to rack up points in an era when you could select one individual to shoot your entire team's free throws, a duty that typically went to Browning. MU would finish 16-1, again win the conference, and again finish atop the retroactive Premo Polls as the number 1 team at season's end. Individually Browning would earn First team All Conference as well as All American honors. He would again be the Mo Valley's leading scorer as a senior at 15 ppg (a HUGE number at the time). MU would finish 15-3 and “fall” to only a #3 season end ranking in the Premo Polls (one loss coming against the KC Athletic Club, the AAU champions that year…essentially like playing against an NBA team in those days). For the second time Browning would earn All Conference and All American honors. All told MU went a combined 48-5 with Browning on varsity, won two conference titles, and finished no lower than #3 nationally in the Premo end of year polls. For his part he twice lead the Tigers as well as the conference in scoring and was a two time All American.

# 26 - Kelly Thames

Letterman - 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998

A starter from day one, the 6'7 205 pound Thames came to Columbia from Jennings High School in St. Louis. He was a hybrid, an athletic small forward with a power forward's rebounding skills and (Norm's last class excluded) the last elite level recruit of the Norm Stewart era. On one of the most senior loaded teams in MU history, Thames as a freshman started every game and averaged 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting a team leading 51.4% (one of only 5 freshman in MU history to avg 12 ppg) as MU would achieve one of the greatest seasons in program history by going undefeated in conference and becoming a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. One of only two Tigers to ever win the Conference Freshman of the Year award, his last-second game winner against Oklahoma State preserved Mizzou's unblemished record. He also scored 24 in the Tigers NCAA Sweet Sixteen win over Syracuse as MU would advance to the elite eight. Counted on as the future of MU basketball, Thames tore his posterior cruciate ligament while doing conditioning drills in the offseason and would miss the entire season. With Thames on the sidelines MU would race out to 18-3 start before faltering down the stretch…ultimately drawing an 8 seed and losing to overall #1 seed UCLA in the second round on a buzzer beater. Thames would return as a 225 pound power forward on a preseason top 15 MU team. But after starting 7-1, MU would stumble to a finish of 18-15 and a second round loss in the NIT (the only NIT win in program history though). Thames would finish second on the team in both ppg and rebounding. The 15 losses was the lowest the Tigers would have in the remainder of Thames's seasons and they would never make it back to the NCAA tournament, but Thames would lead the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding in each season by developing a very skilled back to the basket game. Only two players have made more free throws than Thames as Tigers, and he is in the top 10 all time in rebounds with 785. Probably most impressively he fought through what was a devastating injury to improve his ppg each of his 4 seasons and finished with 1,689 points scored…the 7th highest total ever in MU program history. He is currently the head coach at Pattonville High School.

# 25 - Craig Ruby

Letterman - 1918, 1919, 1920

Possibly the winningest Tiger ever, the forward from Westport High in KC came to MU when Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell was leading the Tigers. In his first season on varsity he was part of the 1917-18 MU squad that went 17-1 and won the school's first-ever basketball conference championship and finished 12th in the Premo Poll. As the only returning starter the next year, and under a new coach, Ruby and the Tigers finished the year at 14-3, good for 14th in the Premo Poll but the only season Ruby would be associated with MU that they did not win a league title. Coach Meanwell would return for Ruby's final season and MU would dominate. In the 18 game schedule no opponent would top the 30 point mark against MU, and MU would themselves score 30 points in all but 3 games. MU would start 17-0 before losing the final game of the season, earning a #2 ranking in the season's Premo Poll. Ruby became the first two-time All-American in MU history, being named to the prestigious teams in both 1918 and 1919 as well as a first team All-Valley performer all three of his varsity seasons. When Meanwell left after the season, Ruby took over as head coach for the 1920-21 season, becoming the first former Tiger player to serve as coach, and in his two seasons at the helm, led MU to records of 17-1 and 16-1 and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles. In his five seasons at Missouri, Ruby's teams went 81-7 (48-5 as a player, 33-2 as coach) and won four Missouri Valley Conference titles. Ruby would go on to coach Illinois (the last MU head coach to leave the position for another head coaching job) and is credited for starting the Kentucky tradition by recommending a young high school coach named Adolph Rupp for their coaching vacancy and Rupp and Kentucky used the system MU had popularized to build one of the most dominant programs in college basketball history.

# 24 - 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.

# 23 - Demarre Carroll

Letterman - 2008, 2009

The 6'8 forward from Birmingham, Alabama that could bang in the post, take his man off the dribble and hit from 3, and had a motor that never quit started his college career at Vanderbilt where as a sophomore he avged 10.9 ppg and 6.4 rebounds including a 22 point, 12 board effort in a win over Kentucky and 18 points, 9 boards against NCAA champ Florida. When his uncle was hired as the new head coach at MU, Carroll decided to transfer and join the rebuilding process. His first game as a Tiger he would score 23 points and grab 8 boards, and he would lead the team in rebounding for the season and avg 13 ppg while shooting 53.6% from the field (4th in the conference) while playing most of the conference season on an injured ankle. Although MU would stumble to a .500 record after Hannah was dismissed from the team, individually Carroll would be named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year as well as make honorable mention all conference.

But it was in Carroll's senior season Anderson finally felt he had the roster to fully unleash his vision for MU basketball in large part to the versatility, tenacity, and leadership that was to be provided by Carroll. Picked to finish 7th in the conference preseason, the Tigers jumped out to 9-1 including a victory over #19 USC in which Carroll scored 29 points and had 11 rebounds and showcased his extended range by going 3-3 from behind the arc. Thanks to Carroll's lead, MU would crack the top 25 for the first time in 5 seasons and finish the non-con with a 13-2 record. Carroll would be 1 of 6 Tigers to reach double figures in a 107-62 victory over CU, the biggest Tiger margin of victory in Big 12 history. Carroll would lead the Tigers with 19 in one of their biggest wins to date in a 97-95 road victory over OSU and then follow that up with 27 in a win over Tech. He then poured in 31 for a new career high to complete the season sweep at ISU. On senior night against #4 OU, Carroll would again lead the Tigers with 15 points and 10 boards to win one of the biggest victories of the season and one that secured 3rd place in conference (the Tigers second highest finish since the inception of the Big 12). The Tigers used that 3 seed to race to their first ever Big 12 Tourney Championship, and Carroll was named the tournament MVP. Ranked #14 and at 28-6 (just 1 victory shy of the all time MU record), MU would earn a 3 seed to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 6 seasons. After a first round win, Carroll would score 15 and pace the Tigers with 8 boards in a victory over #23 Marquette that gave MU its first ever 30 win team and set up a matchup with #2 Memphis. MU would build a 24 point lead before knocking Memphis off 102-91 to advance to their 5th ever Elite Eight to face #1 seed UConn. MU would fight gallantly and hold the lead with under 13 minutes to play before ultimately falling, and Carroll scored 12 in his final game as a Tiger. All told MU would finish ranked #9, set the new record for wins in a season at 31, lead the nation in assists, finish 4th in scoring, and go undefeated at home and lead the entire nation in home margin of victory with a 25.2 avg. Carroll would lead the team with 16.6 ppg and 7.2 rebounds, as well as shooting 56% from the field. Carroll ranked among the Big 12's Top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage (.558) and steals (59) and was the first player in Mizzou history to earn both First Team All-Big 12 on the hardwood and First Team Academic All-Big 12 and was also named an honorable mention All American.

He finished his Tiger career with 1,046 points (1,506 points and 806 rebounds for his college career would rank 12th and 9th all time had they been all at MU). He was named the MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational and was selected in the first round of the NBA draft (first Tiger selected in 4 years) by Memphis with the 27th pick.

# 22 - Albert White

Letterman - 1998, 1999

At maybe 6'5, from Inkster, Michigan Albert manned the power forward slot and played both bigger and smaller than his size. An effective rebounder, White could also handle the ball and lead the fast break, step outside and hit from long range, or take his man off the dribble. White is one of only 5 players ever at MU to participate in the McDonald's All American game as a high schooler. As a freshman at Michigan he avged 9 ppg and nearly 5 boards before academic troubles caused him to seek a transfer, and after sitting out a season he joined the Tigers as a sophomore. He showed the ability to explode offensively - he scored 23 points in MU's 74-73 win over #3 Kansas - and showed the court savvy and passing ability to be a playmaker. Unfortunately the injury bug hounded him all season. He became eligible on Dec. 18th, and immediately found himself sidelined with an ankle sprain. The injury never fully healed and forced White to miss four games and held him to limited action in six others. Still, he averaged 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 19 games. The Tigers themselves finished 5th (their 3rd best showing in Big 12 history) and although going 14-2 at home lost every road game of the season (in fact it was the second straight year they lost every road game) and lost in the first round of the NIT to UAB.

As a junior White would narrowly miss becoming only the second Tiger ever to record a triple double with a 16 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He then scored 28 points and had 16 rebounds to break the 23 game road losing streak in a 66-55 win over SMU. In the conference's final game against eventual champion Texas, White had a game high 23 and 8 rebounds in a Tiger victory. It would secure 2nd place for the Tigers, the program's highest finish in Big 12 history to date and the Tigers made the top 25 for the first time in 3 years. White became the only Tiger in the history of the program to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists in the same season. He was named by CNN/Sports Illustrated as the Big 12's Player of the Year. The season would also mark a return to the NCAA tournament for the Tigers after a 3 year absence as an 8 seed against New Mexico. White would lead the Tigers in both points and rebounds with 16 and 12 respectively, but would only go 6-19 from the field and would miss a dunk in the final minutes after rebounding a Dooling miss which would allow Lobos star Kenny Long to hit a go ahead shot with 5.5 seconds to play. In the ensuing chaos, the timekeeper ran the clock down to zero while the ball was out of bounds and the timekeeping error brought an abrupt end to the Norm Stewart era of MU basketball. It also brought an end to White's career as a Tiger. With a child to support White became the first MU player to enter the draft early and forgo the rest of his eligibility, going unselected in the NBA draft. He has played at various levels of professional ball for the last 10 years both at home and overseas.

# 21 - Clarence Gilbert

Letterman - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

A 6'2 guard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida Gilbert was part of the package deal to sign his highly recruited best friend Keyon Dooling. A headstrong shooter who was always confident and had a flair for hitting backbreaking shots, Gilbert was also a lock down defensive player, above avg rebounding guard, and when called upon out of necessity sacrificed his personal game to man the point guard spot for the Tigers. As a freshman his primary role for Norm Stewart was defensive stopper but he did score 13 in his first ever start against ISU and led team, and ranked 5th in the Big 12 with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.83. Gilbert would be named to the conference All Freshman team and MU would finish 2nd, their highest finish in Big 12 history. His sophomore season saw a transition in coaches, and a transition in roles for Gilbert as he became MU's #1 gunner. He set MU single-season record for 3-point FGs made with 88, and avged 14.8 ppg during the league season. He would score 24 as MU upset #15 Illinois in the Bragging Rights game. Against #7 ku he scored 27 points on 7-of-10 3-pt. FGs including five straight in the second half until ku injured him and caused Gilbert to miss the last 6 minutes in a 81-59 beatdown by MU. At the time he was leading the entire conference in scoring at 22.4 ppg. The Tigers would return to the NCAA tournament and Gilbert would be named 3rd Team All Conference.

As a junior he would break his own MU record for 3 pointers made with 102. He would score 32 against #22 Iowa and 26 against Depaul on 6-9 from behind the arc. In a Tiger win against #18 ISU he had one of the more epic games in Tiger history, going for 43 points and playing 56 minutes in the 4 overtime game. The 43 points were the 5th highest in the nation that season, and Gilbert also recorded 9 assists with zero turnovers for the game. Against A&M in the Big 12 tourney Gilbert would score 30 on 8-11 shooting from behind the arc and MU would again qualify as an at large bid in the NCAA tournament. They would get their first win said tournament in 6 years when Gilbert would hit an 18 ft baseline jumper at the buzzer to lift MU to a 70-68 win and he would contribute 16 when MU fell to #1 seeded Duke. Gilbert ranked 4th-in scoring (16.5), 1st in 3-pt. FGs (3.19 p/g), and 13th in assists (3.50 p/g) in the conference.

The Tigers would start his senior season ranked #8, and Gilbert would will the Tigers to victory over Alabama in the semifinals of the Guardians Classic when Rush was knocked out of the game unconscious. Against #9 ranked Iowa in the finals Gilbert ran the length of the court at the buzzer and drew a foul, and the resulting free throws sealed the game and added to his 27 points that garnered him the tourney MVP honors. He would score 29 against Southern on 7-10 shooting from behind the arc, and MU would rise to #2 in the polls. Shaky point guard play resulted in several losses and Gilbert was asked to move outside of his comfort zone as a shooting guard and man the point, which he did for the good of the team. It did not sacrifice his explosiveness as he demonstrated with a school record 12 three pointers for 40 points against Colorado. His final home game he went for 27 against #1 ranked ku but MU fell 95-92. Gilbert would lead the Tigers with 20 points in a first round victory over Miami, and the Tigers dismantled Ohio State in the second round by taking a 47-26 lead at halftime. Gilbert would dislocate his ring finger in the first minute against UCLA, but he would fight through it to score 23 and to knock them off 82-73 and advance the Tigers to the elite eight (becoming the first 12 seed to make it that far). MU would fall in a heartbreaking loss to OU 81-75 in which the senior captain went only 1-16 from the field and ended his Tiger career. He would avg 17 ppg on the season with 611 points (11th highest scoring season in MU history) and finish as the 3rd all time leading scorer in the Big 12.

All told he is one of only 8 Tigers to play in the NCAA tournament all four years, he is our all time leader in games started (128), 3 pointers in a game (12), 3 pointers in a season (118), 3 pointers in a career (332), minutes in a single game (56). Further he has the fourth highest single game scoring mark in Tiger history (43), is our 8th all time leading scorer (1,685), ninth all time in assists (330), and seventh in steals (167). He has been playing championship level ball in Europe since his days at MU.

# 20 - Byron Irvin

Letterman - 1988, 1989

A 6'6 swingman from LaGrange, Illinois (and cousin of Celtics coach Doc Rivers) Irvin started his college career at Arkansas under Eddie Sutton. As a freshman he would avg 5.4 ppg on Sutton's last Razorback team that won 22 games. His sophomore season was the first under Nolan Richardson and despite upping his avg to 9.9 ppg he elected to transfer at the conclusion of the season to MU. After sitting out a season, Irvin joined a Tigers team coming off a conference regular season and tournament title that was ranked preseason #8. A back injury to senior point guard Lynn Hardy would diminish the season's high hopes, but against #10 ISU Irvon would score 24 in a 119-93 Tiger win (man, we really used to put points on the board in the late 80's) and against #7 UNLV Irvin sunk the decisive free throws in a 81-79 MU victory. MU would enter the NCAA tournament as a 6 seed against Rhode Island, who upset the Tigers in the first round. For the year Irvin would avg 12.9 ppg.

As a senior, on what in my opinion was the most talented Tiger team ever, Irvin was the dominant player. In the semi-finals of the preseason NIT against #5 ranked North Carolina, Irvon scored 21 and advanced MU to the title game against Syracuse. MU lost in overtime 86-84, but MU jumped into the top 10 regardless. MU would face Temple, and in a double overtime MU victory Irvin scored 7 of his 33 points in the second overtime. MU would also knock off Virginia Tech with 35 from Byron, as well as Irvin's former team Arkansas (and Memphis and Maryland) in the non-con. In MU's first ever matchup with Roy Williams, MU would crush ku 91-66 in handing the jayhawks their worst ever loss in Allen Field Dump moving the Tigers to 5-0 in conference with their 10th straight win. A victory over KSU put MU at 20-3…and then the drama started. The NCAA announced an investigation, Stewart collapsed on the plane, and Rich Daly took over as the only coach (Sundvold had been suspended) while MU travelled to archrival OU. In a game that will forever be remembered for Tubb's announcement to the crowd (No matter how poor the officiating gets, please don't throw things on the court) the Tigers fell 112-105 to relinquish their lead in the conference race. MU regrouped in a 93-80 victory over ku for the sweep in Daly's second game as head coach to tie OU for 1st place. In the rematch with OU (who had climbed to #1 by this point) Irvon had probably his best day as a Tiger. He scored 34 points, had 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 97-84 MU victory which was the programs first ever defeat of a #1 team. MU would ultimately finish in second place and advance to the tourney title game for another epic matchup with OU. MU would win the title on 29 points from Irvin and the #6 ranked Tigers would enter the NCAA tournament as a #3 seed. Irvin scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half to lead MU to their first tourney victory in 7 years. MU would destroy Texas in the second round 108-89 and set up a sweet sixteen rematch with Syracuse, which MU lost 83-80 to end the season. Irvin would make First Team All Big 8 as well as lead the Tigers with 19.7 ppg and MU finished with 29 wins (the school record until last season) and a final ranking of #6. The 708 points on the year is the 5th highest scoring season in MU history, and the 214 free throws made are the second highest ever for a Tiger and the 64 steals the 5th best.

Only 8 Tigers have more 30 point games than Irvin (5). Despite only playing two seasons for MU he currently ranks 33rd all time in scoring (including his two years at Ark he would rank 12th). He is 8th all time in assists per game and 5th in steals per game. He was selected in the first round by Portland in the NBA draft and played 3 season in the NBA before embarking on a career in Europe in Spain, Israel, Argentina and Greece. He coached for two years in the professional minor leagues and his brother was briefly an assistant on Quin's staff. Byron is now a sports agent who represents several NBA clients.

# 19 - Kareem Rush

Letterman - 2000, 2001, 2002

One of the smoothest and most explosive offensive players in MU history, the 6'6 swingman from Kansas City possessed a picture perfect left handed jump shot and an effortless style. His turnaround baseline jumper was literally unguardable at the college level.

Rush came to MU in the initial season of the Quin Snyder era and after 8 games the NCAA intervened and suspended him 9 games for impermissible benefits received from his AAU coach prior to coming to MU. He would return to lead the Tigers in points in his first 3 games back and pace MU to a 7-1 conference leading record at the midway point. He would score in double figures an MU freshman record 18 times despite the missed games, including a 31 point game against Texas Tech which is the second highest scoring game for a freshman in program history. He would lead the Big 12 in 3 point shooting and his conference scoring avg of 18.2 ppg was the third in the league. His 14.7 ppg season avg is the highest mark in MU history for a freshman and he is one of only two Tigers to win the conference Freshman of the Year award, also earning Honorable Mention All Conference.

MU would return to the NCAA tournament but lose to a vastly bigger UNC team. Rush would be named to the preseason All Big 12 team as a sophomore, and he would not disappoint. In the non-con he would lead the Big 12 in scoring including 31 against Depaul. He would score 27 points and add 11 rebounds as MU beat #3 ku 75-66. In the season's next game while scoring 21 with 7 boards Rush would break his thumb and just like that the league's leading scorer was declared done for the season. However, Rush would return with a specially made cast at seasons end and in the conference tournament against #16 OU he would score 31 points to signify his return. The Tigers would earn a 9 seed and after beating Georgia for their first tourney win in 6 years would find themselves matched up with #1 seed Duke. Rush sank 3 pointers, drove the lane, and made unstoppable turnarounds…all with his hand in a cast…on his way to 29 points. MU would fall 94-81, but Coach K would say after the game “that was the hardest anyone has played us all year”. For the year Rush would avg 21.1 ppg (the first player since Peeler to top the 20 point mark for a season) and only the injury kept him from being named Conference Player of the Year. He would still be named 2nd Team All American and First Team All Big 12 (the leading vote getter in the media).

MU would begin his junior season ranked preseason #8 on the expectations carried over from the Duke loss while Rush was a 1st team Preseason All American. MU would storm out of the gates to a Guardian's Classic Title (although Rush was knocked senseless and suffered a broken nose with an elbow to the head against Alabama). MU would move to 9-0 and #2 in the polls, but from there it was an up and down season that saw MU finish 6th in conference and be one of the last at large bids with a 12 seed after losing in the conference tourney to Texas despite 33 from Kareem. MU would catch fire and ignore the coaching principals instilled in them, and using a balanced attack made a run to the elite eight thanks to a team leading 20 points from Rush in the Sweet Sixteen victory over UCLA.

Rush would finish second in conference with a 19.8 ppg avg and again make 1st Team All Conference. The 712 points he scored is the 3rd highest scoring season in MU history, and the 111 three pointers made is the second best all time. Rush would declare for the draft after the season and was selected in the 1st round with the 20th pick.

Rush is the all time leader at MU in career 3 point % with 44% as well as holding the record by make a 3 pointer in 40 consecutive games. Despite playing only parts of 3 seasons his 8 thirty point games in his career have only been bested by 4 other Tigers. Regardless of his shortened time as a Tiger he still ranks 11th all time in points scored at 1,584 and his career scoring avg of 19.4 ppg is the 4th highest in MU history. He is currently playing for the 76ers.

# 18 - Charlie Henke

Letterman - 1959, 1960, 1961

A 6'7 center from Malta Bend, MO Henke joined the Tigers as a sophomore in the Big 8's initial season. In his varsity debut against Arkansas he would score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds. He would score 30 against NU. And though Henke would finish with a double digit ppg avg and greater than 7 rebounds a contest, MU would become the first team to ever finish in 8th place by losing 19 games (the most ever at that point in program history). Henke would shine as a junior. In the first game he would score 19 in a win over Washington, and 24 in a win over Indiana. He would grab 20 rebounds in a win over Wisconsin that saw MU to a 5-0 start, their best in 37 years. But when the Tigers hit the road they struggled and despite 29 from Henke against NU and MU would stagger to a 5-9 conference record. Henke would be a First Team All Big 8 selection while leading the Tigers with 19.3 ppg and 11.5 boards, finishing second in conference in scoring. His 482 points was the 2nd most in a season up to that point.

Henke's senior campaign was one of the finest in MU history from a statistical perspective, but a 2-10 start all but doomed the season from the outset. Henke would put on a scoring display. He would score 41 against NU, 24 against CU, 26 against OU, and suddenly the Tigers were at 4-3 in conference. MU then traveled to Lawrence where they were met with an angry mob of whiners, upset that their cheating football team was held accountable for using ineligible players, and lost 88-73. In the season's next game, Henke became MU's all time leading scorer with his 1,189th point and he ended with 32. On the season's final game against ku, fresh off the NCAA hitting them with sanctions for violations in the recruitment of Wilt Chamberlain and with MU fans still mad about being cheated out of a football national championship, hostility reached a fevered pitch. On top of that, a game within a game was being played. The prior year Henke had finished a close second to ku's Wayne Hightower for the conference scoring title. Going into the game they again stood 1 and 2. Early in the second half Henke already had 20 on 9-12 shooting, and after a Hightower shot attempt that Henke fouled him on resulted in Hightower throwing punches the stands emptied (see linked post below). Both Henke and Hightower were ejected, and in an unceremonious instant MU's all time leading scorer's career came to an end. MU would go on to win 79-76. Henke would win the conference scoring title, again earn First Team All Big 8, and garner All American Honors (becoming MU's 11th All American). For the year, Henke toppled records. His 591 points was an all time high (currently 13th), as was his 24.6 ppg avg (currently 2nd).

His 1,338 points scored would be the all time mark until 1973 (now 18th). He also set the new career avg for points with 18.1 ppg (now 5th) for his three year career. He is one of only 9 MU players to score 40 points in a game. He is one of only 2 Tiger to appear twice in the top 10 in rebound avg for a season ranking 5th all time in career rebounding avg at 9.8 and he ranks 6th all time in free throws made. Additionally he is one of only two Tigers to rank in the top 5 in both career scoring avg and rebounding avg. He was selected by the Lakers in the 4th round of the NBA draft.

# 17 - Kim Anderson

Letterman - 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977

A lanky undersized center at 6'7 and hailing from the same high school as illustrious poster Fijitiger, Anderson was a bit role player who avged 3 points and 2 rebounds as a freshman. His role would increase greatly as a sophomore as he avged 13.9 ppg and 8.5 rebounds as MU returned to postseason play for the first time since WWII in the short lived National Collegiate Commissioners Invitational Tournament after completing their first undefeated home slate since 1930. Facing Purdue in the first round, Anderson chipped in 22 but outside of one other Tiger the remaining team contributed just 20 points and after Anderson fouled out MU lost 87-74. It was the highest scoring MU team ever at the time with 83.5 ppg avg. MU would start his junior season winning 7 of 9 with notable occurances of beating Hawaii with only 4 players on the floor after the rest of the roster had fouled out and setting a new record for margin of victory in a 106-34 win over MacMurray. Anderson would score 11 points in overtime to beat NU, and MU clinched their first outright conference title in 46 years. MU would storm into the elite eight against eventual title game participant Michigan, and led 76-71 with under 8 to play when Anderson hurtled down the court on a breakaway, got undercut, and called for a technical foul for touching the rim (dunking was outlawed at the time). MU would crumble at the foul line and lose three starters including Anderson to fouls and fall 95-88. Anderson would earn second team All Big 8 honors and avg 13.9 point and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field.

Anderson's senior campaign would open at 6-2 and by scoring 22 points to lead the Tigers over ku in the holiday tournament's title game MU captured its 5th conference tourney title in 6 years. Anderson would score 38 in an 87-79 win over ku that left MU in first place at 8-2 in conference, but MU would lose their last two games to finish in a tie for 2nd. After losing in the postseason conference tourney championship game MU declined the NIT invitation and finished the year 21-8. Anderson would finish with an 18.3 ppg and 7.9 rebound avg, and lead the league in scoring during conference play with 22.1 ppg. He would also earn Conference Player of the Year honors in addition to First Team All Conference Recognition. He is 9th all time in MU history with 26 double doubles. He currently ranks 22nd with 1,289 points scored. He was one of I would imagine a select few to be drafted twice in the NBA, selected with the 28th pick by Portland in the 1977 draft as well as the 1978 draft by Milwakee. After a brief NBA career and a career overseas he returned to MU as an assistant, was Assistant Commissioner and Director of Basketball Operations of the Big 12, and is now entering his 8th season as the head coach at CMSU.

# 16 - Herb Bunker

Letterman - 1921, 1922, 1923

One of the true giants in MU athletics history the native of Nevada, MO is one of only two Tiger athletes ever to letter in 4 sports (basketball, football, baseball, and track). Though not much of a scorer, the massive Bunker (an offensive and defensive lineman for the football team and captain of the 1922 football Tigers) was a stellar defender and a peerless rebounder. Bunker was “ox-strong, whip-smart, and barge large” or as was written in Ol'Mizzou he was “built like a blacksmith with the brain of an egghead, and the soul of a Sunday School teacher.” The Tigers won the conference title in Bunkers first year on varsity finishing 17-1 with the season's only loss on the final game to KSU and finished #1 in the Premo Polls thanks in large part to his unrivaled defensive abilities. Bunker was named an All American as well as first team all conference (along with 2 of his teammates, the first team was composed of 3 Tigers). MU would challenge Penn, the east's foremost power, at the season's end to determine the nation's top team but Penn would decline.

MU would enter Bunker's junior season as the two time defending league champs, and Bunker jumped center before then moving to a guard position. His defense inspired Mid Mo poet Leslie Edmonds to write “See the ponderous Bunker covering the back court with easy grace and guiding his huge strength ever toward the man.” The Tigers would again start the year undefeated, this time at 13-0, before losing a rematch to ku by 10 (MU had won 21 of the last 25 against ku). MU would win their remaining games to finish 16-1 and again #1 in the season end Premo Poll but in a tie with ku for the conference title. Not satisfied with a tie MU would extend a challenge to ku for a tiebreaker to be played in Convention Hall in KC, but similar to the year prior's challenge it was declined. (ku currently claims the season as a national championship despite losing more games than MU on the season). Bunker was again named both First Team All Conference and an All American.

Bunker's senior season at MU would again come down ultimately to a race with ku as MU would sweep their other 14 games undefeated. But although MU was built around the strength in the post of Bunker, ku was built around two outstanding guards. In the season's first matchup, Bunker played a large role in holding ku to just 6 first half points…unfortunately 6 is all MU could muster in the first half as well. After surging to a 16-10 lead, MU fell 21-19 to ku. After two more victories MU would face the KC Athletic Club, and AAU team that was equivalent to facing an NBA team today and lose 32-22, and one game back of ku for the race for MU's third consecutive title. A record crowd of more than 3,000 packed Robinson Gymnasium in Lawrence to watch MU fall 23-20 and finish 2nd to ku. MU would finish 15-3 overall and #3 in the final Premo Polls, their lowest national finish in Bunker's 3 seasons. All 5 starters including Bunker made the 1st or 2nd team All conference, with Bunker again earning All American Honors.

He is the programs only 3 time All American winner, earning the distinction every season he played on varsity. MU went a combined 48-5 during his playing days. Bunker would go on to earn a Ph.D. in sociology, and then headed Mizzou's department of physical education for many years before retiring in 1965. He spent nine years as football coach and athletic director at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., and also coached at Missouri, Auburn and Florida, and at Paseo High School in Kansas City, Mo.

# 15 - Al Eberhard

Letterman - 1972, 1973, 1974

The 6'6 forward from Springville, Iowa joined the Tigers and together with John Brown formed what is probably the best post combo in program history. Hardnosed, talented, and strong he was both a scoring and rebounding force. In his first game as a Tiger he would score 20 points and add 15 rebounds in a win over Michigan State. In an era of KSU dominance (they had won 7 of the 13 Big 8 championships) MU would match up with them in the conference tourney championship game in Eberhard's first Tiger season, and it was Big Al who would lead the Tigers with 21 points to the title and also claim the tourney MVP. MU would climb into the top 15, something they hadn't achieved in 17 previous years. With a league regular season title in sight, MU would fall to KSU 79-76 in the season's second to last game and finish 2nd…earning the program's first NIT bid in an era when only conference champs played in the NCAA tournament. MU would lose to hometown St. John's despite 35 from Eberhard 82-81 to end the season at 21-6 (their best record since 1930). Eberhard would avg 13.9 points and 9.0 rebounds a game on the year.

His junior campaign would be played in the newly opened Hearnes Center, and the Tigers would start out 8-0 and climb to #7 in the rankings. In a repeat of the prior year's conference holiday tournament, MU would advance to the final for a meeting against KSU. Eberhard was hampered by an ankle injury and could hardly walk…but he also could not be stopped once the game began. He would score 24 to lead MU to victory, and claim his second Holiday Tourney MVP. MU sat at 12-0 with the best start since 1922 and their #5 ranking was the highest in program history. Two losses followed, but Eberhard would score 27 to defeat ku and break the streak. MU would complete the sweep a week later and while scumbag jayhawk fans pelted their bench with paper cups, Brown and Eberhard combined for 49 points and 37 rebounds in a 79-63 MU victory. Norm would run off the court in triumph proclaiming “The worst fans in America!” MU would finish at 21-5 and again 2nd place, prompting their second straight NIT invitation. (MU would lose 78-71 to UMass). Eberhard would avg 17 ppg and 9.3 rebounds on the season.

MU would need Al to step up as a senior to replace the departing John Brown, and individually he was up to the task. He would score 24 points and grab 12 boards in a win over Ohio State. In the first round game of the Holiday Tourney (where Eberhard had won MVP each prior year of his eligibility) he opened with 21 points and 21 rebounds in a victory over OU. He would lead the Tigers with 25 past Colorado, and after MU claimed their third straight title in a victory over ISU Eberhard claimed his third straight MVP honor. In the league opener in a rematch with ISU, Eberhard would dominate with 31 points and 20 rebounds in a 91-83 MU win. MU would then unfortunately go on an 8 game losing streak despite a 28 point 17 rebound effort by Al against NU. Playing through an injured shoulder and a concussion suffered in the previous game, Eberhard would score 25 points and collect 16 boards against CU to break the streak but the conference title was a lost cause. In the final home game of his career he scored 28 and had 12 rebounds to beat OSU 87-81 to finish the year 12-14. Eberhard was one of only 3 players to avg more than 6 ppg on the season on about the least deep Tiger team ever. But his individual numbers were impressive at 19.7 ppg and 12 rebounds. Eberhard would make First Team All Conference as well as Honorable Mention All American. The 22 double doubles on the season are by far the most ever by a Tiger, the 313 rebounds he collected is the 4th highest single season total in program history.

He would be described as “the blond torpedo who plays with such intensity that mere hustle pales into insignificance.” A true “Norm” player and one of Stewart's favorites. His 45 career double doubles in the most ever in program history, and he is one of only 4 Tigers to avg a double double for his career. He is the only player since 1955 to record multiple 20 point/20 rebound games, doing it 3 times. He finished with 1,347 points which was 2nd at that point and is now good for number 17 on the all time list despite playing just 3 seasons. His career FT% ranks 5th all time at MU, and his rebounding avg is currently 3rd all time at 10.1. He was drafted by the Pistons in the first round and played on three playoff teams in Detroit.

# 14 - Arthur Johnson

Letterman - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Dock was a 6'9 and at times 275 pound center who was a starter from day 1 as a Tiger. Blessed with tremendous hands and a superior shot blocking ability, AJ would develop into a one of the best post players in program history. His first year at MU he had a season high of 17 against CU and set the freshman record with 19 boards in the rematch in Boulder. Against Stetson he would block 8 shots to set a new school record, and on the year finish with 65 blocks to demolish the previous single season record set by Stipo at 56. He would also lead MU in rebounding at 7.8 boards, becoming the first Tiger freshman to do so since Stan Ray in 1976, as well as finish 3rd on the team in scoring at 9.0 ppg. His 15 points would lead the Tigers against Georgia in their first NCAA tourney victory in 6 years. He would earn Honorable Mention All Conference as well as make the Conference All Freshman Team.

As a sophomore he developed into one of the top post players in the country, one who was nearly unstoppable if he established good position down low (unfortunately the Tigers strategy seemed to always be to limit that from happening). Against Depaul he would score 20 points and add 18 rebounds and would have 23 points and 15 boards against KSU. Johnson would break his own shot block record with 71 on the season, and after just two years would already rank 2nd all time at MU. He recorded 18 points and 14 rebounds in a win over 12th-ranked Oklahoma State that helped the Tigers sneak into the NCAA Tournament field as an at large bid. AJ would come up big in the NCAA tournament with a 14 point/14 rebound game in a victory over UCLA to advance the Tigers to their 4th Elite Eight, ultimately losing to OU. After avging 12.2 ppg and 7.9 boards he was tabbed by Digger Phelps as the “most improved player in the country” and earned honorable mention All Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors.

As a junior, with both Gilbert and Rush gone, AJ would become a focal point. Early in the season he would become the MU all time blocks leader with 5 against Valpo, then had 23 points and 11 boards in the Tigers route of Memphis as well as a game-high 24 points and 12 boards against USC. He was spectacular against Baylor scoring 30 points and grabbing 15 boards as well as scoring 14 points and pulling down 17 boards against KSU. The Tigers would qualify for the NCAA tournament as an at large big for the third time in AJ's career, and in two games he would avg 26.0 points and 14.5 points per contest. He would lead the conference in double doubles with 19, and finished the season with avges of 16.1 ppg and 9.6 rebounds, the 316 boards on the season are the 3rd highest single season total in program history. He would earn second team all conference as well as 3rd team All American and represent the US in the Pan Am Games where coach Izzo would proclaim him to be the best player on the squad.

His senior season opened with him on the Wooden Preseason All American team and with MU at #5. Johnson was picked by the media as the conference preseason player of the year. But though both AJ and his classmate Paulding would have great individual seasons, one of the most talented Tiger teams ever had what may be the most disappointing season in program history. In the final year at Hearnes, talk was in sending the building off with a final four. But when Clemons's had troubles in the offseason and was ultimately dismissed from the team, it left a loaded roster with no point guard and a staff that was woefully in over their heads. In a season with few highlights, MU did manage to defeat 21-2 OSU (ranked #6 at the time) on the strength of 29 points and 13 rebounds from AJ. In his final home game and the final game ever played at Hearnes, AJ would tally 37 points but MU would lose 84-82 on a slop basket by ku in final seconds. MU would finish 16-14 and participate in the NIT for the first time since 1998. Johnson would make 2nd team all conference, and lead the team with a 16.4 ppg avg and 7.5 rebounds becoming the first Tiger in history to lead the team in rebounding 4 different seasons. He even led the club in steals from the center position.

No Tiger has played in or won more NCAA tournament games than AJ, and he is second all time in postseason points scored and first in both postseason rebounds and blocked shots. Only 1 player in MU history has had more double doubles than AJ's 44. He is MU's 5th all time leading scorer with 1,759 points, and only 2 Tigers have made more baskets than him in their career. He is the All Time leading rebounder in program history with 1,083 boards. He owns absolutely every blocked shot record, including being 91 ahead of the second place finisher with 245.

# 13 - Larry Drew

Letterman - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

At 6'2 from Kansas City, KS Drew was the Tigers first great modern point guard. A leader, playmaker, and scorer without peer at his position. Drew became the first freshman to be a regular starter in the modern era (and went on to start all but 3 of his 117 career games), avging 7 ppg and nearly 3 assists. MU would finish in second place in conference, but in an era when only conf champs earned NCAA bids they would need to secure a league tourney title to qualify. In the tourney opener Drew would score 17 as MU knocked off OSU, and then play all 40 minutes against OU to advance to the finals. MU would fall 72-67, and decline the NIT bid to end Drew's first season at MU with a 21-8 record. His sophomore season would be an up and down one that saw MU finish 14-15 but grab a surprise bid after winning the conference title to play Utah in the NCAA tournament. MU would lose in overtime, but on the season Drew would up his scoring avg to 12.7 ppg. Drew's junior season paired him with high scoring JUCO guard Steve Wallace in the backcourt, and they combined to be the highest scoring backcourt duo in the conference. Drew would score 23 in a victory over OSU, and then lead the Tigers to a 58-55 win over nationally ranked ku for Norm Stewart's record tying 195th victory at MU. In the season final, Drew would score 19 to lead MU, but the Tigers would fall to ku in the conference tourney semi-final. In a most unusual season, MU would finish below .500 on the year for the second consecutive year, but also finish 2nd in conference at 8-6. Drew would become the first Tiger ever to reach the 1,000 point career milestone prior to his senior year, avging 15.2 ppg, and finish with the second highest (now 9th) assist per game avg of 4.3.

Drew would captain the Tigers as a senior, and score 25 in knocking off Illinois on the way to an 10-0 start that left the Tigers at #13. With weapons at his disposal like Ricky Frazier, Steve Stipanovich, Curtis Berry, and Jon Sundvold MU had the firepower to contend for a conference title. They would hold Colorado to 4 first half points on the way to a 78-45 victory, but in front of the first ever 10,000+ crowd in Columbia MU would lose to KSU and Rolando Blackman 66-64 to relinquish their top 10 ranking. MU would rebound to win their last 7 games and finish 11-3 to claim the conference title, after a 46 year drought it was the 2nd in 4 years. Drew would be named first team All Big 8 and MU would earn a 5 seed in the tournament. After knocking off San Jose State in the first round, MU was pitted against Top 5 ranked power Notre Dame. Drew would score 15 and dish out a school record 12 assists (a mark that stood for 13 years) and MU would win arguably its biggest victory to date 87-84. MU would face #1 seed LSU, and despite leading by 1 at halftime would fall 68-63 as Drew scored 16. MU would end the season at 25-6, the second most wins in program history at the time, and a final ranking of #16. On the season Drew avged 13 ppg and became one of only two Tigers to avg 5 assists per game for a full season. With Drew running the show, MU would set an All Time NCAA record that still stands…shooting 57.3% from the field as a team for the season.

Drew would finish with 1,401 points (then second all time, now 15th) as well as becoming MU's all time leader in assists (now 3rd) and steals. He was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Pistons, and in a 10 year NBA career scored more points than any other Tiger and is the only Tiger to avg 20 ppg for a season or double digits in points for his career. He has since enjoyed a long career as an NBA assistant coach, currently working for the Atlanta Hawks.

# 12 - Melvin Booker

Letterman - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

A lightly recruited 6'2 point guard from Moss Point, Mississippi, Melvin Booker only entered MU's radar when they were attempting to scout Litteral Green and MU was the only D1 program to offer him a scholarship. He would go on to maximize his potential possibly greater than any other Tiger.

After Travis Ford unexpectedly transferred and Anthony Peeler was ruled academically ineligible, Booker moved into a starting role from day 1. In the season's first league victory, it was Booker who hit the game winner in a 80-79 overtime contest against OSU. In a season where MU was barred from postseason play due to an NCAA ban, the Tigers would still win 20 games and in winning the conference tournament capture the conference's automatic bid. Booker would avg 8.3 ppg and 3.5 assists.

As his sophomore season opened, MU's postseason ban was lifted but they found themselves unranked for the first time in 5 years. However MU started hot and won their first 11 games, including wins over 11th ranked Arkansas and their first in 9 years against Illinois. In MU's first win at OU since 1983, Booker lead the Tigers with 24 and was thus named Conference Player of the Week. MU eventually stood at 20-4 and ranked #6, but would falter to finish in a tie for 2nd and earn a 5th seed in the NCAA tournament (6 of the 8 schools made the field, only KSU and Colorado were left out). After knocking off W. Virginia in the opening round the Tigers fell to Seton Hall 88-71 to end the season at 21-9. Booker would up his avges on the season to 11.6 ppg and 3.9 assists while shooting 44% behind the line.

His junior season started much like the prior one, with the Tigers having to earn any respect they were going to get. After beating Illinois to give Norm his 500th victory, Booker scored 20 to lead MU over OSU and put the Tigers at 12-4. Two losses followed, but Booker would rebound with 19 to lead MU over nationally ranked KSU and put MU at 4-2 in conference. And then the season went down…MU lost 7 straight games for the first time in 19 seasons and would enter the Big 8 Tournament as a seven seed. Not going down without a fight, MU won the conference tournament and became a 10 seed to face Temple, ultimately losing to them 75-61. Booker had taken on a much larger role, scoring 15.8 ppg (the 30th highest scoring season in program history) while again leading the team in assists. Booker would be named First Team All Conference in recognition for his season.

But the true greatness of Melvin Booker would be realized in his senior campaign. It began with no indication of anything promising, a close home victory over CMSU 69-66 was followed by the worst loss in program history 120-68 to Arkansas. And although 4 victories followed they were narrow ones against Jackson State, Arkansas State (where Booker scored 20 of his 24 in the second half), SMU, and Coppin State. MU entered the annual Braggin Rights game with Illinois with no indication of a season going anywhere. However, in what is in my opinion the greatest and most compelling game in program history….MU pulled out a 108-107 three overtime victory on the strength of Booker's 21 point 13 assist effort. The 13 assists still stands as the programs single game record, and just like that the season's fortunes took a 180 degree turn. MU started blasting opponents, MU won its next 5 games by at least 15 points in each victory with Booker the leading scorer in all of them including a 20 point victory over 10-1 KSU to open the conference season. Suddenly MU found themselves ranked. He would become MU's all time leading 3 point shooter in the next game at Colorado as well as setting a new career high with 27 points, also an MU win. He again had a game high 21 as MU destroyed ISU 92-69. He would scored 22 to lead MU over OSU and 22 in a win over NU, setting up a Big Monday matchup with ku. Booker would again lead the Tigers in scoring as MU won 79-67. He would have 24 points and 8 rebounds in a win over OSU, I think you are getting the picture….MU keeps winning and Booker keeps leading them to victory. The Tigers stood at 20-2, perfect in conference, and #12 heading into #4 ku with a chance to guarantee themselves a hold on the league championship. Booker would score a new career high 32, including 17 of MU's final 28 points, in a 81-74 MU win. In MU's next game Booker recorded his 100th assist on the season, the fourth time he had reached such a milestone in his career and in doing so joined Anthony Peeler as the only Tigers to top 100 in all 4 seasons. MU would close out its only undefeated Big 8/12 conference season at a perfect 14-0 with a 80-78 win over NU, when Booker knocked down a jump shot with 12 seconds remaining while being fouled…the conversion of the 3 point play resulting in the win. MU was 24-2, ranked 3rd in the nation, and earned MU's only #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. After dispatching Navy in the first round, MU would set the program's postseason mark for highest scoring game with a 109 point effort against Wisconsin and Booker would lead the way with a new career high of 35 points on 11 for 14 shooting. Against #15 Syracuse, Booker would lead MU with 24 points in a 98-88 overtime win to advance to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately a trip to the final four was not in the cards as MU lost to #2 seed Arizona to end the season at 28-4. On the season Booker would avg 18.1 ppg and with the 5th highest assist season in program history. He was again named First Team All Conference, as well as being named the Conference Player of the Year and an All American.

Booker is ranked 6th all time in points with 1,697, 6th in 3 pointers, 8th in FT's made, and 2nd in assists. He is also 3rd all time at MU in postseason points scored and the program's leader in postseason assists. After several years in the NBA Booker took his game overseas where he has been playing at an elite level for over 10 years.

# 11 - 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.

# 10 - Bill Stauffer

Letterman - 1950, 1951, 1952

A 6'3 guard/forward/center from Maryville, MO Stauffer was an overwhelming bull in the post as well as possessing the ability to pull up and shoot over players. But he was first and foremost without peer in terms of rebounding. In his first season on varsity, Stauffer hit the game winner in a 47-46 MU victory over Michigan in the Big Seven Holiday Tournament, and MU went on to claim their first title ever in the tournament. MU would climb to #12, the first time they had ever been ranked as the polls had just debuted the season before. MU would finish the season at 14-10, and a newly instituted statistic for the season would help to capture Stauffer's contributions…he would avg 9.5 rebounds per game in his first season with the Tigers.

Stauffer's junior season saw MU matched up early in the season with City College of New York, the defending champs and only team ever to win the NCAA and NIT tournaments in the same season, in Madison Square Garden. In front of a crowd of 18,000, Stauffer would score 15 points and grab 10 rebounds while holding City's pair of all American posts to a combined 18 points. MU held City to 20% shooting and pulled off the upset 54-37, immediately vaulting MU to #8 in the polls and even earning them two first place votes. The season also included victories over nationally ranked ku and one over #17 OU where Stauffer scored 21 despite being guarded by a 6'10 opposition. MU would finish 16-8 and in second place, their best finish since 1940. Stauffer grabbed 357 rebounds, and despite their only being 24 games on the schedule that still stands as the second highest single season total in MU history, for a ridiculous avg of 14.9 per game. He was named First Team All Conference for his efforts.

Stauffer's senior season from a team perspective was good if not remarkable as MU finished 14-10 for third place in conference, but individually Stauffer made a march on MU's record books. Against NU he would score 31 points to set the new school record for points in a game. Later in a game against CU he would score 21 to break the 30+ year old single season scoring record. In his final game he would tally 19 to finish with 368, demolishing the previous mark of 311. He also demolished his own rebounding record set the year before, by grabbing a still school record 379 boards for an even more ridiculous 16.5 per game avg. He was named First Team All Conference as well as an All American after avging 16 ppg. He finished his career with 813 points to also become the all time leader for a career at MU. Not only does he possess the two largest season rebounding totals in MU history, his career avg of 13.6 rebounds per game is nearly 2 better than the next runner up and may never be broken. He was selected with the #7 pick in the NBA draft by Red Auerbach and the Celtics but after spending two years in the Air Force decided to forgo the contract offer and use his MU journalism degree to start an advertising career instead. He was the first MU player to have their jersey retired, and his #43 is one of six currently.

#9 - George Williams

Letterman - 1920, 1921

George “Shorty” Williams, the younger brother of MU all American Fred Williams, is perhaps the greatest unknown player in MU's rich history. Despite playing just two seasons, it could be argued no Tiger dominated against his peers like Williams. A strong defensive player and sure shot, he was invaluable at controlling possession in an era when a jump ball followed each made basket as he was also a tremendous athlete who ran hurdles and did the high jump on the track team. His Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell proclaimed, “when I first saw him, I knew he would someday be the Van Gent of the Missouri Valley” in reference to his former great All American who lead Wisc to multiple Helms titles and a combined 44-1 three year record.

In his first varsity game, Williams would score 20 in a 55-20 win over ISU. In Phog Allen's first matchup with MU, the score at the end of regulation would be tied at 27, but Williams would dominate the overtime and lead MU to a 32-27 victory. He would score in nearly ever fashion, even shooting the team's free throws in a 53-18 destruction of OU. MU would defeat ku 4 times that season and had easily clinched the conference title with a record of 17-0 entering the final game against KSU. Despite jumping to an 11-1 lead, Williams would be held to just 3 points and MU would lose their only game of the season to finish 17-1. MU would outscore their opponents 666 to 362 on the year. George Williams was named an All American and MU finished #2 in the end of season Premo Polls.

Williams would enter his senior season with a new coach, as Wisc was able to lure Meanwell back and William's former teammate Craig Ruby would assume the position. Williams would elevate his play from All American level to absolutely and ridiculously dominant, generally outscoring the opposition's team all by himself. In the opener, Williams scored 16 as MU defeated ISU 30-11. He would score 36 in two wins over Washington, then score 21 in a 47-24 victory over OU. MU stood at 6-0, and set to face also undefeated ku who had a tremendously talented lineup. However, as noted in the KC Star they “had no such outstanding players as Williams.” He scored 21 in a 27-22 victory. He would tally 23 in a win over Washington and then 22 in a 48-14 win over KSU. After scoring 12 points in the first half in an eventual 50-14 MU win over Drake, Williams went to the bench to sit out the rest of the game thus marking the first time all season he missed a minute of action. He was quite literally an unprecedented force in the Missouri Valley. MU stood at 14-0 and on the verge of collecting another Valley title when they traveled to Lawrence to face ku. He would score from all over the court in a 33-17 MU win, and then record 25 points in a 40-30 MU victory that set Phog Allen's all time record against MU at 0-8. Two games remained on the year against KSU and Williams scored 19 in a 33-19 MU win that put MU in the same position as the year before…undefeated and facing KSU with one game remaining. Unfortunately Williams failed to make a single field goal and MU would lose to finish 17-1 again. However, this time MU would finish atop the end of year Premo Polls, earning their first ever #1 end of season ranking. They would even challenge the East's big power Penn to a “championship game”, but Penn would decline. MU would outscore their opponents on the year 643-335 due largely to George Williams. Just to reiterate this point, MU's opponent's scored 335 points on the season…Williams himself scored 311. Using 2008-09's points scored against MU of 2,571 as a benchmark, in today's game George William's point total would equate to avging 62.8 ppg.

Williams would easily win the conference scoring title at 17.3 ppg. Along with two teammates, he earned First Team All Conference resulting in 3/5 of the first team being Tigers. He was also again an All American, and in the only instance in MU history was named the National Player of the Year. The 311 points he scored would stand as the MU record for over 30 years. After leaving MU he led two different teams to AAU national championships and earned places on three AAU All Tournament Teams.

To restate his qualifications…he was the National Player of the Year. He was an All American both of his Tiger seasons. He led MU to a National Title as well as a #2 finish. He lost only 2 games in his Tiger career. He scored the today's rough equivalent of 62.8 ppg and set a scoring record at MU that stood for over 30 years. Were it not from such a bygone era, George Williams would possess the qualifications such that placing him anywhere but #1 on this list would be laughable.

#8 - Norm Stewart

Letterman - 1954, 1955, 1956

An obviously dominating figure in MU basketball history, Norm Stewart was just as dominating a player on the court as off of it. The Shelbyville native was a 6'5 guard, a potent scorer, ball handler, and rebounder whose game was ahead of its time. After narrowly declining an invitation by Phog Allen to become a jayhawk on the advice of Indiana coach Branch McCracken, he arrived at MU both shy and modest (not the general description of him in today's terms). In addition to being a superior basketball player Stewart was also proficient on the diamond, winning a national baseball championship for MU in 1954, pitching a no hitter, and playing in the Cardinals minor league system.

In his varsity debut, he would score 7 points in a 75-43 victory over Drake. In a route against Houston that ended in a 96-62 victory Stewart would have a monster of a game with 19 points and 18 rebounds. On the year MU would finish an unremarkable 11-10 and Stewart would avg 12.2 ppg.

As a junior, Stewart was being recognized as possibly the best player in the conference. In a matchup with two time national title winner McCracken and Indiana early in the season Stewart would score 16 in a 64-61 MU upset. MU would follow that up against #4 Iowa, and Stewart would score 19 in a 97-94 overtime Tiger victory. Next came a win over Wisconsin where Stewart scored 26, and MU went from unranked to #6 in the national polls. MU would run away with the conference's holiday tourney title without ever being seriously challenged. They would defeat NU by 17 thanks to 26 from Norm, and after leading by as many as 28 in the title game against KSU Stewart was named the tourney MVP. Stewart took particular satisfaction in winning 76-65 over ku in MU's last ever game at Hoch Auditorium. It set up a meeting with CU to decide the league title, but CU prevailed 66-57 and MU finished 2nd at 16-5 and ranked #20. Stewart would avg 16.7 ppg and 8.9 rebounds while being named First Team All Conference and Honorable Mention All American.

Norm's senior campaign marked the 50th year of basketball for MU, and Stewart would be unquestionably the team's focal point. Early in the season in facing 8th ranked Illinois Stewart would score 27 points in the second half alone (31 in the game) to overcome a 15 point deficit and win 74-73. Against Texas Tech he would break the MU single game points record by scoring 35. Despite MU finishing 3rd in the conference's holiday tournament, Stewart collected his second consecutive MVP of the tourney. MU would start 8-3 but Stewart would injure his back against CU, and although playing through pain to the tune of 25 points against NU the Tigers would lose three straight and Stewart would be confined to the University Hospital in traction. Luckily a two week break for exams followed that allowed for rest, and Norm returned to score 23 points in a win over OU. MU would complete the sweep of ku in their last ever meeting with Phog Allen 85-78 and in doing so dealt the jayhawks their first ever loss at Allen Field Dump. Stewart would score 26 against ISU, and then broke his own single game scoring record with 36 in a win over CU to become only the second Tiger ever to top 1,000 career points. He would follow that up with 33 in a win over ISU and then another 29 in a win over OU. In a key conference battle between 1st place KSU and 2nd place MU Stewart would record 24 points and 15 rebounds in an 85-72 win and with just one game to play MU trialed KSU by 1 victory. Stewart would score 20 as MU beat NU 88-80, but KSU would defeat ku and earn the conference's postseason bid. MU would finish the year at 15-7. Stewart would avg 24.1 ppg to lead the conference, the 4th highest scoring avg in program history, and top 30 points 6 times… a single season mark that has only been bested by two other Tigers. Additionally he avged 10.7 rebounds per game, the 10th highest mark in program history.

Stewart would be named First Team All Conference and make the All American team. He finished with 1,112 points good for 2nd all time and now 29th. His career scoring avg of 17.7 ppg ranks 7th and his career rebounding avg of 9.2 also ranks 7th, nearly avging a double double for his career. He is one of 6 Tigers to have their jersey retired. He played briefly for the St Louis Hawks of the NBA before returning to Columbia as an assistant. Stewart then eventually moving on to head coach at Northern Iowa, never to be heard from again….

#7 - 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.”

#6 - John Brown

Letterman - 1971, 1972, 1973

The 6'7 bruising forward from tiny Dixon, MO was as Norm Stewart put it “my first nationally prominent player.” He was a rare blend of power, speed, skill, and above all relentless effort. Brown would miss the first 8 games of is sophomore year recovering from a broken bone in his foot, and when he finally took the floor for the first time as a Tiger it was in Pauley Pavilion against the 4 time defending champ UCLA Bruins. Though Brown would score 14, MU would lose by 19. Brown and the Tigers would return to Columbia and in his home debut against OU he would score 23 in a 84-78 Tiger victory. MU would finish 9-5 in conference, good for second place, as well as 17-9 overall. Brown would avg 14.9 ppg and 9.3 rebounds on the year. He would finish second in the conference's Sophomore of the Year voting after placing 3rd in FG%, 7th in scoring, and 9th in rebounding in the Big 8.

Brown's junior season would mark the last for the Tigers at Brewer, and Brown would transition from forward to center and team with sophomore Al Eberhard to give MU possibly its best frontcourt ever. After wins against Michigan State and Arkansas, MU played in the Kentucky Wildcat's tournament in Lexington. Brown would score 23 points in the first half and MU went into halftime with a 2 point lead, poised for a monumental upset. Rupp would focus Kentucky on stopping Brown in the second half, and on the game's final play with a chance to tie a Brown drive drew contact and was called a charge…sealing a 83-79 Kentucky win. Brown's final tally was 34 points and 11 rebounds. After beating California in the consolation round, MU would enter the Big 8 holiday tournament and win it for the first time since 1954 on the strength of 18 points and 10 rebounds from Brown in the final against KSU. MU would rise to #15 in the polls. He would score 32 against NU. MU would face KSU for a shot at the league title, but despite 32 from Brown MU would lose 79-76. They would hold on to secure 2nd place in conference and for the first time since 1944 qualify for postseason play with an NIT bid. Playing in Madison Square Garden against hometown St. John's, MU held the lead for most of the game until Brown fouled out with 2:40 to play and MU lost 82-81 to end the season. MU finished the year at 21-6, the best winning % since 1930 and the first 20 win season in program history. They were 18th in the final polls, and had won the conference's holiday tournament and returned to the postseason. Norm's resurrection job was complete, and owed in large part to the individual play of John Brown. He avged 21.7 ppg (10th highest in program history) and 10.5 boards, 17 double doubles the 3rd most ever in MU history. He would be named First Team All Big 8, but in a greater honor was selected as a member of the US Olympic team. One week before departing to Munich, Brown broke the same foot he had broken before his sophomore season, and was not on the court when the US lost the controversial and historic gold medal game 50-51.

As a senior, Brown had reached the apex of his skills which allowed him to score 20 on virtually any night…and if angered or challenged much more. It was also the beginning of a new era in Tiger basketball, as MU moved out of Brewer and into newly completed Hearnes Center. Brown was the first Tiger to score a basket in the new arena, a jumper against Ohio. He would score 35 points and add 15 rebounds in a win over Purdue, then lead MU to a defeat of #15 ranked Ohio State. Against SMU Brown would again total 35 points, with none more important than the last as he grabbed teammate Steve Blind's airball as time expired and put it in the basket for a 74-73 MU win when the timekeeper forgot to reset the horn (time had most likely expired but the basket counted). MU would participate in the Tennessee Volunteer Classic, and win the title with Brown taking home MVP honors. MU stood at 8-0 and ranked #7 in the nation. MU would follow that title up with one from their own conference, winning the Big 8 Holiday tournament for the second year in a row. MU would move to 12-0 and #5 in the polls. In a matchup with OSU that MU easily won, Brown would have an off night and OSU star sophomore Andy Hopson would tally 17 points and 27 rebounds…leading him to boast that he was better than Brown after the game. A boast which was filed away for later. Brown would score 20 to lead MU 80-66 past first place KSU, but MU had incurred several losses and stood at just 6-4 in conference. MU would fall behind by 18 in Lawrence, but on the strength of Brown's 21 points and 21 rebounds MU fought back for a 79-63 victory. The game would move Brown into second place all time at MU in scoring, needing 24 to move into first place. OSU and Andy Hopson were next on the schedule, and Brown destroyed Hopson. He would have the record by halftime, dropping in 24 first half points to give MU a 14 point lead. The second half was more of the same for MU's new all time scoring leader as he finished with 41 points and 19 rebounds in a 79-73 win. On senior day (shades of former points leader Charlie Henke before him) Brown would exchange blows with NU's Don Jackson and be ejected from his final home game. MU would finish the regular season at 21-5 and earn their second straight invitation to the NIT. Against UMass in the opening round, despite one of Brown's finer performances of 35 points and 16 rebounds, MU lost 78-71. Brown would earn First Team All Conference as well as 2nd Team All American Honors, after avging 21 points and 11 rebounds a game.

Brown's scoring avg of 19.7 ppg is the third highest in MU history, and the highest of any three year Tiger. He finished with 1,421 points which is still 14th all time. His career rebounding avg of 10.0 is 4th all time. He lead MU to its first two 20 win seasons. He was selected with the 10th pick of the NBA draft and played 7 seasons in the league.

#5 - Anthony Peeler

Letterman - 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

A 6'4 multi and extremely talented guard from Kansas City, MO Anthony Peeler is one of four individuals to have played in the McDonald's All American game and sign with MU. An explosive leaper, a punishing finisher, a superior ball handler and shooter, and a suffocating defender…Peeler had the complete package physically and seemingly was only held back at times by himself.

Peeler would join a top 15 preseason ranked Tiger team as a freshman that was already loaded with talent and future NBA lottery picks, but he would still start 9 games and avg the 5th most minutes on the club. Peeler was a highlight reel waiting to happen, throwing down thundering dunks in traffic and being compared in the pregames to a freshman Michael Jordon. In the season's biggest game, MU would defeat #1 OU 97-84 with Peeler contributing 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. It was MU's first ever victory over a #1 team. The Tigers would finish 2nd in conference, make the Sweet Sixteen, and win a school record 29 games (which stood until last season). Anthony Peeler would avg 10.1 ppg and 3 assist and be named the Conference's Newcomer of the Year. He was the first Tiger freshman ever to record 100 assists and scored in double figures 21 times on the season. He would also be forced to check into a chemical treatment program in the offseason and would be temporarily dismissed from the team.

Peeler would blossom into a superstar as a sophomore. MU would start the year at #11 and after victories over #12 Louisville, #7 UNC, and #7 Arkansas MU stood at 9-0 and ranked #4. At Nebraska, MU would rack up a 111-95 win over NU thanks to 29 points from Peeler, prompting Bush League Danny Nee to state, “I can't see anyone stopping them.” That would set up a matchup with 19-0 and #1 ranked ku. MU would take a 95-87 victory thanks to 24 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals from Peeler. “He is so talented, its unbelievable,” said opposing coach Roy the Snake Williams as MU took over the jayhawks #1 ranking, marking the first time since 1982 that they had ascended to the top of the polls. In a game against ISU Peeler would score a new career high of 42 (the only freshman or sophomore to ever top 40 points in a game) by making a school record 20 for 20 from the free throw line to go with his 9 rebounds in a 95-93 MU win. A loss to KSU knocked MU from #1 to #2, and set up the first ever #1 vs #2 matchup in series history when ku took the ranking back over. MU would lead the entire game and take a 77-71 win in Lawrence to against snatch the #1 ranking back from ku. But after a win against #11 OU, Lee Coward would break his hand and Peeler would lose his backcourt mate. The Tigers, and Peeler most notably, would go into a tailspin. MU stood at 25-2 and ranked #1, but less than a month later despite being the conference champs they would finish at 26-6 after becoming the first 1 seed to lose in the first round of the Big 8 tournament and losing on a buzzer beater to 14 seed UNI in the first round of the NCAA. Peeler would avg 16.8 ppg (the 29th highest scoring season at MU), 5.4 rebounds, and a school record 5.8 assist per game. The 179 assists for the season is still the all time MU record by a wide margin and he also finished with the 6th highest steals number for a season. He was named First Team All Conference in the Big 12.

The Tigers would be dealt four crushing blows prior to Peeler's junior year. The NCAA handed down a postseason ban due to violations from the mid-1980's, Norm's assistants were all forceably let go, Travis Ford elected to transfer, and Anthony Peeler was declared academically ineligible. MU would start the year at 3-4, including a loss to Arkansas that snapped the school record 34 game home winning streak. Peeler would return after the semester and log 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in an MU victory to spark a 7 game winning streak including 32 against Prairie View. Peeler would injure his knee and again miss time, and MU would lose three in a row. He would return against #14 Nebraska and score 30 points in a Tiger victory. In a late season matchup with Notre Dame, Peeler would score 25 as MU demolished the Fighting Irish 84-54. The Tigers would go on to win 20 games (17-4 with Peeler in the linup), and despite not being eligible would claim the conference's automatic bid by winning the conference tournament. Peeler missed significant portions of the season but still contributed 19.4 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.

As Peeler entered his senior year, he was clearly the focal point of the Tigers. For the first time in 5 seasons MU would open not ranked in the top 20 but MU would start the year a perfect 11-0. Included were victories over #11 Arkansas where Peeler would score 32, 30 against Florida A&M, and MU's first win over Illinois in 9 years. Peeler would be named the Sports Illustrated National Player of the Week. MU would lose in overtime to #6 ku despite 30 points from Peeler. They would follow that up with a win over Nebraska thanks to 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 steals from Peeler to move to 18-3 and suddenly found themselves ranked in the top 10. The injury bug would catch up to a very thin roster and MU would fall behind ku in the conference race. On the season's last game, MU would travel to Lawrence to take on #3 ku. MU trailed by 14 with under 8 minutes to play, and Peeler led all scorers with 24. Then he mounted his one man attack. He would score 19 in the final 8 minutes to finish with 43 (the 4th highest scoring output for a game in MU history) and close the gap to 91-89. But MU could not maintain the pace and would lose, ultimately finishing in second place in the Big 8 and earning a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament (6 of the 8 schools made the dance that year). Peeler would lead the way in the opener, scoring 25 in a 89-78 win over West Virginia. Despite 28 from Peeler, MU would lose in the second round to Seton Hall 88-71 to finish the year at 21-9 and ranked 16th in the final poll. Peeler would avg 23.4 ppg (the 6th highest in program history), 5.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game and was named not only First Team All Conference but the Conference Player of the Year, the Conference Male Athlete of the Year, and an All American.

Peeler would finish his career with 1,970 points which ranks 3rd all time at MU. He also is MU's all time leader in both assists and steals, and is the only Tiger to ever have multiple seasons with avges of > 5.0 assists per game. Only 1 Tiger has made more free throws. Despite two arrests prior to the draft on assault charges that diminished his status, he was selected #15 overall and in a 13 year NBA career he would score the second most points of any Tiger in the league.

#4 - Derrick Chievous

Letterman - 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

A 6'7 scoring dynamo from Jamaica, NY Chievous was nicknamed the Band-aid Man after his trademark that he wore after scoring 45 points in a junior high game while bandaided and in his quirky manner just maintained from then onward. He brought a new swagger to the program and is one of only 4 players to sign with MU after playing in the McDonald's All American game, coming to MU at a very young age (he completed his eligibility prior to turning 21) for its journalism school but never actually getting admitted into it. The inventor of “face checking” and “erotic dunking” Chievous was a scorer unparalleled in MU history as well as possibly the best in conference history at getting to the foul line.

Derrick would join the Tigers in the lull after the Stipo/Sundvold Championship years, and in his freshman season MU would start out a not impressive 4-5. But in the Hawaii Pacific Invitational against Arizona, Chievous would score a freshman MU record 32 points in a 76-73 victory (one of only 2 times in MU history a freshman has topped 30 points). That put MU in the title game with #7 ranked UNC, and MU pulled the 81-76 upset to claim the tourney title. The up and down year continued, and MU finished in 3rd place at 15-9 overall. MU would advance to the conference tournament title game against #4 OU, and Chievious would score 28 but MU would lose 104-84 and earn an NIT bid. MU lost on a buzzer beat in the opener to St. Johns and finished at 18-14, and Chievous avged 13.1 ppg and 5.3 rebounds while starting 28 of the 32 Tiger games.

MU's leading returning scorer in Chievous's sophomore campaign Jeff Strong suffered a stress fracture in his foot before the season, and Derrick carried the bulk of the scoring load as MU started a somewhat shaky 7-4. In the Rainbow Classic MU would open with a 19 point win over Villanova, and then Chievous would score 24 in a win over undefeated Clemson. He would score 20 as MU defeated Washington State in the final to claim the tourney title, and then MU won 6 of their next seven to climb to 16-5. Against #8 OU Chievous would score 27 of his 29 points in the second half in a big 101-88 MU victory. MU would finish 3rd in the Big 8, but after losing the opening game of the conference tournament MU sat for the first time “on the bubble”. MU would receive a bid as an 11 seed, but lose 66-64 to UAB when the Tigers failed to get a off a final shot on the season's last possession. Still the season marked a return to the NCAA tournament and the 20 win plateau, something that hadn't been achieved in the previous two years. Chievous would avg 18.8 ppg and 7.7 rebounds, both team leading, and the 640 points on the season was the second highest scoring total in MU history to that point and is still the record for points scored by a sophomore.

The Tigers would go 10-6 in the non-con in Chievous's junior year where he recorded a 33 point game against California, and then open the conference slate against #11 OU. 34 points and 11 rebounds from Derrick led MU to a 87-83 win, and MU would win 4 of their next 5 that included another 34 point performance against ISU with the only loss a 1 point road defeat to ku. MU would continue that pace and in the conference season finale against ISU he would score 26 points and grab 12 rebounds in an MU win that put the Tigers at 11-3 in conference play. It was MU's first league title since 1983 and moved MU to #19 in the polls. In the conference tourney semi-final Chievous would score 20 to defeat KSU, and in doing so became MU's all time leading scorer with still over a full season left to play. MU would defeat ku in the championship game to claim both the regular season and conference tourney titles, and earned a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament against Xavier. The Musketeers would constantly double team Chievous, and in a shocking upset defeated the Tigers 70-69 to end MU's season at 24-10. Chievous would avg 24.1 ppg and 8.6 rebounds, leading the conference in scoring (first Tiger to do so since 1977) and earning First Team All Big Eight and 2nd Team All American honors. It is the 3rd highest ppg avg in MU history for a seaon, and the 821 points scored is the most points ever scored in a season by a Tiger. It was also the first year of the 3 point line for MU, with Chievous making the 2nd most on the team. The 244 FT's he made are a full 30 more than any other Tiger in history. The 1,879 points he had totaled thus far as a Tiger made him not only the all time leader but would still rank 3rd all time today.

MU would return the entire team from the prior year's conference regular season and tournament champs, as well as add newcomers like Doug Smith and Byron Irvin and MU would begin the season ranked #8. MU would finish the non-con at 11-2 including a career high 42 points in a victory over Virginia Tech where Chievous scored 29 in the second half alone (an MU record) and became the conference's all time leader in FT's made. Key point guard Lynn Hardy would suffer a back injury and in an attempt to find chemistry Norm would bring Derrick off the bench in 5 of the season's first 16 games. One of those games was against #10 ISU, and Chievous entered the game and scored 30 points in a 119-93 MU win. He would score 39 against CU and 34 against OU. Against #7 UNLV in Las Vegas he would score 26 to lift MU to a 81-79 victory. MU would falter to lose 3 of their next 4, but Hardy would return to the lineup and against #4 OU Chievous would contribute 35 points and 18 rebounds in a 93-90 overtime win that was the season's 4th over a top 15 team. MU would earn a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament despite finishing 4th in conference, matching up with 11 seed Rhode Island in the opener. Despite 35 points from Chievous in what would be his last game as a Tiger, MU would lose 87-80 to end the season at 19-11. Chievous would avg 23.4 ppg and 8.5 rebounds. The 701 points scored is the 6th highest in program history, giving him 2 of the 6 seasons where Tigers have broken the 700 point barrier. Additionally, Chievous made 51.5% of his 3 point attempts, the 2nd highest % in MU history. For the second time he made 200 FT's in a season, giving him 2 of the only 3 seasons the mark has been reached by a Tiger. He was again named First Team All Conference.

He led MU in both scoring and rebounding each of his final 3 seasons. At the conclusion of his playing days he held 10 MU all time records. He is by far the MU record holder for points scored at 2,580 and eclipsed the previous mark by greater than a 40% improvement. He was second all time in rebounds at 979 boards, which now ranks fourth. He made 764 FT's, more than any other Tiger has even attempted. He also ranks 9th all time in steals. Only Jon Sudvold has played more minutes in a Tiger uniform. His career year scoring avg of 19.9 ppg is the highest in program history for a 4 year player. At that point only Wayman Tisdale had ever scored 2,000 points and collected 1,000 rebounds as a Big 8 player. Derrick missed this plateau by only 21 career rebounds. Chievous was selected with the #16 pick by the Houston Rockets and played 3 seasons in the NBA.

#3 - Willie Smith

Letterman - 1975, 1976

A 6'2 166 pound guard from Las Vegas, “Mister Magic” was a left handed offensive dynamo with seemingly unlimited range that enjoyed unquestionably the finest two year career of any Tiger. Mr. Magic began his college career avging 12.6 ppg and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman and 13.5 ppg and 6.0 rebounds as a sophomore at Seminole JC in Oklahoma, giving no real indication as to his offensive prowess. He was recruited to MU as a backup and primarily a defensive specialist to shooting guard Steve Dangos, who had avged over 14 ppg the year before for MU. When Willie began practice under Norm, Stewart saw a flaw in Willie's shot, namely his elbow was too far out from his body when he shot. Norm got Willie to change his form, getting his hand and elbow underneath the ball when he shot. That subtle adjustment would make a drastic difference.

Smith would start his Tiger career as a junior, joining a club coming off a sub .500 finish. Norm Stewart gave the following scouting report on Smith prior to his varsity debut, “He won't always come through with super scoring nights, but he can handle the fast break and play both ends of the floor equally well.” MU would jump out to a 6-1 record but lost in the first round of the conference holiday tournament (marking the first time in 4 years they didn't win the title). They would rebound against #11 OU, a school who failed to offer the in-state Smith a recruiting visit. Smith had his first signature game as a Tiger, scoring 37 points in a double overtime MU win. Steve Dango's quit the team after the game and Smith became the unquestioned focal point of the offense from then forward. After scoring 30 against OSU he would score 34 in an 84-72 victory over ku that left MU at 7-3 in conference and one game off the pace for the lead. The NCAA tournament had expanded to 32 teams that season, and for the first time ever non-conference champs were eligible for inclusion. But despite finishing their first undefeated home season since 1930 MU lost their last conference game of the year to CU and finished 3rd at 9-5. They were instead invited to the short lived National Collegiate Commissioners Invitational Tournament to face Purdue. Smith would score 30, but foul out late in the game as MU fell 87-74 to end the season at 18-9. It was MU's highest scoring team to date, avging 83.5 ppg. Smith would avg 22.4 ppg (the highest avg in 14 years at MU and the 8th highest scoring season in program history) and 5.4 rebounds, as well as being named first team All Big 8 and the first Tiger ever to be named the Big 8's Conference Newcomer of the Year. The four 30 point games on the season ties the most 30 point performances for a junior in MU history.

Smith was one of only two seniors on the 1975-76 Tiger team. In the season's second game against Toledo, Smith would score 11 points in overtime and 30 for the game in an 88-85 MU victory. MU would defeat Hawaii 99-91 where for the final 27 seconds they played with only 4 players, the rest of the team having fouled out (38 fouls were called on MU). MU would open at 7-2 and then advance to the conference holiday tournament final to face ku, the first matchup for a title between the rivals in 25 years. Smith would earn tourney MVP honors after sealing the championship with a 79-69 victory. MU would open conference play against the same jayhawk team, and deliver a 99-69 blowout that was the 4th worst loss in ku history at that point and the highest scoring MU output ever for a conference game. He would have games of 32 against CU, 31 against NU, 32 in a win over ISU and in doing so became the fastest Tiger to reach 1,000 career points. In a low scoring affair against ku he would soar over a jumble of arms to tip in the game winner 61-60 that positioned MU in the driver's seat for the conference title. A loss to OU forced a tie with KSU whom had beaten MU earlier in the year in Columbia (Smith's only home loss of his Tiger career), and the Tigers would be forced to travel to Manhattan for the deciding game (a place they hadn't won in over a decade). Smith would jump out of the gate with 22 first half points but the Tigers only maintained a 3 point lead at halftime. So he continued to dominate by scoring a then career-high 38 points, two of them after throwing an inbounds pass off a Wildcat's back, fielding the carom and laying it in during an 81-72 MU victory. He would score 23 as MU destroyed CU 95-60 in the finale to clinch MU's first outright conference title in 46 years at 12-2. The Tigers were winners of both the conference tournament and the regular season and held a top 10 national ranking, earning their first ever NCAA bid and marking only their second appearance in the NCAA tournament. After the best season in program history to that point and being named the District Coach of the Year for the second straight time, Norm Stewart was rewarded with a $1,000 a year raise…bumping his annual salary to $23,000.

They would open against Washington in a game to be played in Allen Field Dump in Lawrence. Against future NBA 7' James Edwards MU would fall behind by 11, but MU would storm back thanks to 21 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals by Smith to secure the program's first non-consolation tourney victory ever 69-67. MU would face Texas Tech in the second round, and Smith would again answer with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in an 86-75 Tiger win. That set up a matchup with Michigan for the right to play in the final four. The fast-breaking Wolverines roared off to a 10-point lead in the opening four minutes and raised it to 18 with 4:17 remaining. It was all going so easily that during timeouts star guard Rickey Green stated afterwards couldn't help but think ahead to Philadelphia and the final four. At half-time, Orr told his Michigan team to play as if the score were 0-0 instead of 50-37. The Tigers were quick to reverse Orr's warning however thanks to a one man Mr. Magic show. Smith would score 29 of the Tiger's 51 second-half points. Smith started firing 17 seconds after the second half began—15, 20 and 25 footers—and within eight minutes the score was 65-65. The score was still deadlocked at 71 when Smith climaxed his performance by hitting two jump shots and a free throw to put the Tigers ahead by five with 7:54 to go. The final four was within reach. Missouri was unfortunately unable to hold on because it blew 8 of its last 11 foul shots and Kim Anderson was called for a technical foul for attempting to dunk after being undercut on a breakaway layup and grabbing the rim for protection. MU would fall 95-88 as Smith recorded 43 points in the highest scoring postseason game ever by a Tiger. Despite the Tigers not winning the region, 199 of the 200 votes for the Region's Most Outstanding Player went to Smith in defeat. MU would finish at 26-5 for the 9th best winning % in the nation.

Smith would avg 25.3 ppg on the year, the highest scoring avg in MU history for a season. His 783 points are also the most ever scored in a Tiger's senior year, with 8 different 30 point games also tying for a single season Tiger record. The 300 FG's made is also an all time record accomplished in an era with no 3 point line or shot clock, so there is no telling how many more additional points that would have equated to in today's game. But Smith did more than score for the Tigers. He also avged 5.7 rebounds a game from his guard position, and set a new program assist record with 138 that still ranks 8th all time. He was again named First Team All Big 8, but this season also earned All American recognition as well as being the first Tiger to be named the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year.

In 2 seasons Smith would score 1,387 points, making him the programs second all time leading scorer at the point and finishing only 34 points away from being the all time leader. He currently ranks 16th, and if you count the points scored in JUCO his college point total of 2,184 would have him finish tied for 2nd on our all time list. He ranks in the top 10 all time in FT %, and his rebounding career avg of 5.5 is superb for a 6'2 guard. His MU career scoring avg of 23.9 ppg is a full 4 ppg greater than any other player in MU history. He is one of 6 Tigers to have their number retired. Smith was drafted with the 18th pick of the NBA draft by Chicago, but over the next 4 seasons played very sparingly for four different teams without ever really catching on in the NBA. He currently resides in Columbia where he owns Magic Services Inc (a cleaning service) and Mama Bessie's Dry Cleaning.

#2 – 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.

#1 – Doug Smith

Letterman - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

The 6'10 forward from Detroit had an athletic package unrivaled in MU history. He had size, athleticism, he was skilled both in posting up and facing the basket, had a power game, could handle the ball, and most notably was possibly the best running big man in the history of the conference. Prior joining the Tigers Smith won the MVP of the national AAU tournament, and became the last of the Detroit pipeline to Columbia in the 1980's.

Smith joined a Tiger team coming off a conference title and one ranked #8 in the preseason polls. He would start over half the Tiger games as a freshman and log more minutes than all but two teammates. MU would go 11-1 in the non-con, losing only the Braggin Rights game to nationally ranked Illinois. But an injury to senior point guard Lynn Hardy would disrupt the stability of the team, and they would struggle to a 7-7 conference record and a 4th place finish. Needing a win in the second to last regular season game of the year against #12 OU, Smith would score 21 and add 11 rebounds in a 93-90 MU win that punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament. MU earned a 6 seed, but lost in the opener to Rhode Island 87-80 to end the season at 19-11. Smith would avg 11.3 ppg and 6.6 rebounds.

MU would start the season at #14 in Smith's sophomore year, and would make a huge statement in the Pre-season NIT by defeating #5 UNC 91-81 and losing in the title game to #6 Syracuse in overtime 86-84. Despite the loss, MU emerged as a player on the national stage and vaulted into the top 10. Only a 3 point loss to #5 Illinois blemished the remaining out of conference record as MU toppled Arkansas, Temple, Memphis, and Maryland in one of their most challenging schedules ever. MU would continue at the same pace, opening the conference slate with 4 straight wins and then matching up with ku. MU destroyed the jayhawks 91-66 to hand them their worst loss ever at Allen Field Dump to move to 20-3 overall and #3 in the national polls. And then the season turned into more than just basketball games. Coach Sundvold was suspended for loaning a recruit money for a plane ticket and the program's first NCAA investigation was underway, and after boarding a plane to face #5 OU Norm Stewart collapsed and had to leave the team for medical reasons. With only assistant Rich Daly left on the coaching staff, MU remained tied at halftime of the infamous Billy Tubbs “The referees request that regardless of how terrible the officiating is, do not throw stuff on the floor” game before ultimately falling 112-105. MU would regroup to sweep ku 93-80 to move into a first place tie with OU. MU learned Norm's condition was cancer related and lost two key conference matchups with ISU and Nebraska. In the rematch with OU who had now climbed to #1 in the polls, MU won 97-84 for the program's first ever victory over a #1 ranked team. Alas, MU could not catch OU and finished 2nd in the conference at 10-4. In the conference tournament, Smith would score 22 points in a victory over KSU, and in the tourney final record 22 points and 14 boards in a win over OU for MU's 4th Big 8 postseason title. Earning a #3 seed with their #6 AP ranking and conference automatic berth, MU had not won a postseason game since 1982. MU would win 85-69 over Creighton to get the postseason monkey off their back and set up a matchup with future conference opponent Texas. Smith would score 32 points as MU trounced the Longhorns 108-89 to move on to a rematch with Syracuse. MU led at half, but lost to the talented Derrick Coleman and Sherman Douglas led squad 83-80 to end the season at 29-8 (the second highest win total in program history). Smith avged 14 points and a team leading 7 rebounds on the season and in the 6 postseason games he avged 20.6 ppg as he began to emerge as a star.

Norm Stewart returned to the bench in Smith's junior season, and MU would start four “Detroit” Tigers along with superstar sophomore Anthony Peeler. In the Maui Classic against 12th ranked Louisville Smith would score 24 in a Tiger win, and then score another 20 against #7 UNC in a 80-73 victory that game MU the tourney title and vaulted them to #5 in the national polls. Smith would hit a late jumper that provided the final margin in an 89-88 win over #7 ranked Arkansas and MU would move to 9-0 before suffering their annual loss to Illinois. Smith would score 31 against NU. Then the 19-0 and #1 ranked jayhawks came to town to face MU, who sat at 16-1 and #4 themselves. Game day was Norm's 55th birthday, and prior to tipoff both #2 Georgetown and #3 OU lost. Smith would lead the way with 23 in a 95-87 MU victory and for the first time since 1982 MU stood atop the college basketball world with a #1 ranking. There MU would remain for 3 weeks before a bad outing against KSU stopped their 12 game winning streak. MU rebounded with a 107-85 win against NU as Smith scored the second most single game points ever for a Tiger, dropping 44 points on them and setting an MU record with 19 field goals in the game. MU sat at #2, but ku had regained the top spot and a matchup in Lawrence loomed. MU would complete the sweep with a 77-71 road win and then face #11 OU. With the Sooners leading 90-89 with less than a minute remaining Doug Smith would complete an old fashioned three point play to give the Tigers a 92-90 win and regain their spot at #1. It marked the high point of the season. MU stood at 25-2, but less than a month later despite being the conference champs they would finish at 26-6 after becoming the first 1 seed to lose in the first round of the Big 8 tournament and losing on a buzzer beater to 14 seed UNI in the first round of the NCAA when Smith would foul out with more than 7 minutes to play. Arguably the most dominant Tiger team ever, MU would end their season as Big 12 champs but losers of their last 3 games. Doug Smith however would avg 22 ppg and 11 rebounds in those three losses, and Smith would avg 19.8 ppg and 9.2 rebounds on the season with the 635 points being the 9th highest in program history and the 295 boards being the 10th highest. His 4 thirty point games ties the most ever by any Tiger junior. He was named first team All Big 8 as well as the Conference Player of the Year and an All American.

Smith would decide to pass on becoming the first Tiger drafted early and return for his senior season. Unfortunately it was a season with many obstacles to overcome. MU was placed on probation and barred from postseason competition, both assistant coaches were forced to tender their resignation, Travis Ford elected to transfer, and Anthony Peeler was declared academically inelible (essentially eliminating the other 4 returning starters with Coward and Buntin's graduation). MU would lose to #3 Arkansas to snap their 34 game home winning streak. They would open the season 3-4 including their 8th straight loss in the Braggin Rights game despite 30 points and 15 boards from Smith and a 65-58 win over Oregon in which Smith led all scorers with 24. Peeler would return at semester, and in the conference opener against OSU Doug Smith would tally 40 points and 14 rebounds in an MU win…making him the first Tiger to score 40 points on multiple occasions. Then Crudup broke his hand and was gone for the year and Peeler injured his knee, effectively making the Tigers a one man unit. He would score 38 and add 15 boards in an MU loss to OU. Smith and the Tigers would respond with 27 points and 16 rebounds in a win over CU but two losses followed and MU stood at 5-5 in conference. Smith would score 22 to lead the Tigers past NU and in doing so became only the second Tiger ever to pass 2,000 points in their career as well as becoming MU's all time leading rebounder. MU closed out the conference with a win against CU with Smith scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. A non-con rematch with Notre Dame (who had started the slide from the year before) ended with an MU romp of 84-54 with Smith scoring 13 before heading to the bench and recording 9 assists. After the game Smith became the 5th Tiger to have his jersey retired, and the only one to have it retired during his playing career. With no postseason to play for, Smith turned the conference tournament into his own personal NCAA. After easily defeating ISU with 32 from Smith, Doug would score 29 and add 10 boards in a 94-92 overtime win over OSU that pitted MU against #13 Nebraska for the tourney title. Smith would score 31 points in a 90-82 MU win, and with 92 tourney points set a Big 8 record (as well as his career 207 tourney points being a record). Smith would collect tournament MVP honors for the second time and the Tigers would finish with a record of 20-10. Smith avged 23.6 ppg and the 709 points scored is the 4th highest in program history. He avged 10.4 rebounds per game and his total of 311 has only been topped by 3 other Tigers. Additionally his 64 steals on the year his 4th all time and by far the most for any Tiger big man and his 1.4 blocks per game ranks 8th all time. His 8 thirty point games is the most of any Tiger during their senior season. For the second time he was named First Team All Big Eight and the Conference Player of the Year, as well as being named the Conference Male Athlete of the Year and an All American.

For his career Smith scored 2,184 points which is good for 2nd on MU's all time list. No Tiger made more field goals during their career. He finished as MU's all time leading rebounder with 1,053 and now ranks second. He finished 2nd all time in blocked shots with 129 and now ranks 3rd. Amazingly he is 4th all time in steals with 178. His 14 career 30 point games are more than any other Tiger, and his 44 career double doubles is one shy of the all time mark. Possibly most impressively he is the only Tiger (and along with Wayman Tisdale and Danny Manning, just the 3rd player in our conference's history) to record both 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. He was selected with the 6th pick of the NBA draft by Dallas and played 5 seasons in the NBA