Freshmen spark Tiger offense

Players praise the contribution of bench players.

By Lenny Goldman

Published Nov. 15, 2008

After facing an early 8-2 deficit on Saturday, the Tiger starters were able to grind back and open up a 19-14 advantage over Prairie State A&M, but nothing was coming easily.

Missouri was struggling from behind the arc, starting off zero of three from long distance. They were forced to slow the game down and work the offense through senior forward Leo Lyons inside. The typically fast-paced Tigers were looking slow and scrappy while just nudging past an undersized Panthers team.

That is, until coach Mike Anderson made his first mass substitution of the game. He looked to freshmen Miguel Paul, Marcus Denmon and Keith Ramsey to lead the way alongside senior forwards Matt Lawrence and Justin Safford.

 “We saw that they came out with a slow start,” Paul said. “Kimmie, Marcus and myself were on the bench and said that when we come in, we’re coming in with energy.”

And they did. The next eight minutes of play not only sparked the Tigers' performance against the Panthers, but also gave a bright glimpse of what the future might have in store.

“I thought it was great, that’s what the bench is for,” Anderson said. “Those five that start out the game, there are going to be teams that just as good or even better than you are. I think the key is those guys off the bench.”

After senior forward DeMarre Carroll made a lay up to give MU the 19-14 advantage with 11 minutes and 48 seconds on the clock, no one but a freshman scored until there were only three minutes and 50 seconds remaining.

“It’s always good when you got guys that can come in and hit shots and keep you at a steady pace,” Carroll said. “We want to keep it at a steady pace or you can add to it, we don’t want a decline. It’s great that we can have a group of guys that can add to the style of basketball that we play.”

Paul ignited a string of 16 consecutive points scored by a freshman when he drained back-to-back three-pointers, helping the Tigers pull away to a 25-16 lead.

“It felt great,” Paul said. “Coach told me that they knew I was a real good passer so they kept backing up. When they do that, I can score easily.”

It was Denmon’s turn next to show his range. He spotted up on the right side behind the line, received the pass from Paul and showed off his silky-smooth shot. Mizzou Arena erupted as the Tigers' hit three consecutive three-pointers.

“We just want to be confident,” Paul said. “Marcus feeds off me and I feed off him. Vise versa. We just got the chemistry going along real good.”

The youngsters streak continued as freshman guard Kim English got involved by scoring his first points of the game on a lay up. The stretch allowed Missouri’s starters to both get some rest and develop confidence in their bench.

“There’s not going to be a drop off when we come out of the game anymore,” Lyons said. “You can expect them to maintain it off the bench and play some good defense.”

Missouri continued to ride the momentum provided by the bench and went on to an easy victory over Prairie View A&M by a score of 86-65.