From Sweet to Elite: Mizzou in the Elite 8
There was a telling moment in the first half of Mizzou’s 102-91 upset of Memphis in the Sweet 16. A moment, with just seconds left on the clock, when Tigers fans felt goosebumps and started to wonder whether this truly could be a team of destiny.
Marcus Denmon, who had just been robbed of a three-pointer on the previous possession, took the inbounds pass. Tightly guarded, he had to heave the ball 70 feet toward the basket. And then, with the CBS cameras ready to follow the team into the locker room, the shot swooshed through and gave Mizzou a 49-36 halftime lead. Nothing was going to deny them.
J.T. Tiller led Mizzou offensively with a career-high 23 points. Leo Lyons had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. DeMarre Carroll added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Zaire Taylor (14) and Matt Lawrence (13) also were in double digits.
Mizzou (31-6) ended Memphis’ (33-4) 27-game winning streak and propelled Mizzou to the Elite 8 for just the fifth time in school history (including the 1943-44 season when just eight teams made the tournament). The Tigers next face UConn (30-4), the top seed in the West regional. The Huskies, who beat No. 5 Purdue on Thursday, have won by an average of 31.3 points in their three tournament games so far. To get to Mizzou’s first Final 4, they have to go through UConn and the Big East Player of the Year, Hasheem Thabeet.
Although Mizzou has never made the Final 4 before, perhaps these Tigers — the first in Mizzou history to rack up 30 wins and the first to win a Big 12 Championship — can pull off one more first.
AWESOME game! These Tigers are GRRREEAATT!! Can’t wait til the next game to see what we can do.
GO MIZZOU!
Becky Calcote | March27, 2009
I knew Mizzou could do it! Mike Anderson beat John Calapari at Memphis when he coached UAB. This wasn’t a surprise. The next one will be a tough game. I’ve got confidence. I just hope we can pull it off.
Go Mizzou! Beat Uconnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
James Brammer | March27, 2009
I witnessed the magic moment of the super shooting at the end of first half! I was impressed by Tiller’s unstoppable performance! I am pround of the MIZZOU Tigers! GO GO GO!!!
Jun Tao | March27, 2009
I have been always a big fan of the TIGERS. I graduated in 1996 and since that time the TIGERS have been always the best team for me.
GO MIZZOU!!!
Adel | March27, 2009
I knew we could pull it off!!!! Go MIZZOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Tigerfan123 | March27, 2009
GO MIZZOU! BEAT THE HUSKIES! UCONN DO IT!
Big Daddy | March28, 2009
My Dad went to UCLA. I’ve been a hardcore fan of theirs for 40+ years.
My son attends Mizzou. I’ll be a hardcore fan of the Tigers for the rest of my life.
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Two years ago now, my son and I went campus touring. Guess which university did the superior job of selling itself. Yeppers, MIZZOU!!!
Thank you to a bunch of coaches and a bunch of great folks at Mizzou. It’s just a friendly university, no matter what Kansas says.
John | March28, 2009
Great Mizzou team beat Texas at home another first. A well-balanced team. Any team but UConn and it’s the Final Four. Go Mizzou!
David Eden M.D. 62,67 | March29, 2009
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