Anderson's paw prints

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Entering his third season at Missouri, Mike Anderson finally believes it's truly his team.

Two of Anderson's stalwarts are holdovers from the Quin Snyder era, high-scoring 6-foot-9 forward Leo Lyons and 3-point specialist Matt Lawrence. Most of the rest, including five freshmen, are players he recruited with designs on plugging them into his pressing system.

"To me, it's a year of excitement," Anderson said. "There's a lot of new faces, probably the first major recruiting class we've had since we've been here. Right now, I'm liking this basketball team."

There wasn't a lot to like the first two seasons, which produced an overall 34-28 record, off-court woes and no postseason appearances.

Missouri hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2003, and last year's roster was fractured when leading rebounder Kalen Grimes and top scorer Stefhon Hannah both were dismissed.

The Tigers bowed out quietly, losing to Nebraska in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament and finishing 16-16.

Heading into the opener Nov. 15 at home against Prairie View, it's a fresh start for Lyons, a force the last half of the season, for Carroll, healthy after nursing an ankle injury most of last season, and Lawrence, whose junior season didn't match his sophomore sharpshooting.

Lyons averaged 16 points and eight rebounds the last 16 games, including a monster 27-point, 18-rebound game against Oklahoma State. He blossomed after Anderson's message that he play both ends hit home. He averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds overall.

The 6-6 Carroll, Anderson's nephew and a leader on the floor, averaged 13 points and a team-leading 6.7 rebounds despite his physical woes as a junior.

The 6-7 Lawrence shot 35 percent from 3-point range last season, after hitting at a 44 percent clip as a sophomore. Guard J.T. Tiller was a part-time starter, getting increased playing time the second half of the season.

The newcomers, representing the school's biggest talent infusion since 1994-95, will contend for playing time. Topping the group are guard Zaire Taylor, a Delaware transfer. Keith Ramsey is a junior college All-American once recruited by Anderson at UAB, and one of the freshmen, 6-3 guard Marcus Denmon of Hogan Prep in Kansas City, scored 36 points on 14-for-17 shooting in the annual Black and Gold game.

"When you turn the lights on," Anderson said, "he's a different player. We've been doing some morning practices and I'm saying, 'Will this guy ever make a shot?"'

Other freshmen recruits expected to be immediate contributors are 6-8 Laurence Bowers of Memphis, Tenn., 6-6 Kim English of Baltimore, 6-9 Steve Moore of Kansas City and 6-1 Miguel Paul of Lakeland, Fla. Denmon and Paul are the most likely beneficiaries of the opening created by guard Keon Lawrence's decision to transfer after his sophomore season.

"These guys are excitable, they work hard on and off the floor," Anderson said. "They're doing the things that we ask them to do.

"If you're around them long enough, I think you'll see how close these guys have come together in such a short period of time."

A preseason bonding trip to Canada from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 was a big help in that regard. Anderson also discovered the extent of his depth.

"I had an opportunity to rotate and platoon guys and you could see the difference with the experienced guys vs. some of the younger guys, but I think what was noticeable was that we're more athletic," Anderson said. "There's some more options there."

Anderson said he could use a rotation of as many as 11 players.

"With so many new faces, I think it's going to be interesting to see," Anderson said. "I think they all bring something to the table."