Johnson finds consistency as MU prepares for Syracuse

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Arthur Johnson has always been an intriguing mix of force and finesse at Missouri, a 6-9, 265-pound space eater who loves to throw his weight around yet is armed with a feathery shooting touch.

Now, midway through his junior season, the Tigers' center is putting his formidable tools together. Heading into Monday night's game at Syracuse, Johnson is coming off perhaps the best game of his career, a 30-point, 15-rebound dominance in the Big 12 opening victory over Baylor on Saturday night.

"He was the man inside," teammate Rickey Paulding said after the 77-69 win. "He really concentrated on the defensive end, and established himself inside.

"He makes sure the other team knows that he's there."

Most important in coach Quin Snyder's eyes is that Johnson no longer takes plays, or nights, off. Snyder takes note of the little things, like Johnson staying in his defensive stance instead of just standing around when the ball is elsewhere.

"A.J.'s had a tendency to kind of be watching and then playing, and now he's playing all the time," Snyder said. "That makes him even more effective."

Johnson has been a model of consistency since becoming frustrated by double-teaming tactics against Illinois before Christmas, ending with season lows of eight points and three rebounds. He spent most of that game on the bench in foul trouble and much of the post-game with his head buried in a towel.

Since then, he's averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds for the 13th-ranked Tigers. Against Baylor he had several big baskets, including perhaps the clincher on his thundering dunk and three-point play with 1:04 remaining after the Bears had cut the gap to three points.

Before the season began, it was speculated that the new go-to guy to replace the departed Kareem Rush and Clarence Gilbert would be Paulding, a junior guard. Instead, it's been Johnson, who topped his previous best of 24 points against Baylor.

"This is his first season kind of being the primary guy, and he's trying to become a great player," Snyder said. "His mental toughness is really where that all comes from. When he's tough-minded he has the physical ability to do a lot of things on the offensive and defensive end."

Missouri (10-1) will again be leaning on Johnson, and hoping he's leaning on the opponents, tonight against Syracuse (10-1) and freshman Carmelo Anthony. Snyder said Anthony, who had 24 points in a victory over Boston College on Saturday, deserves the praise.

"I don't know who's better, frankly," Snyder said. "He doesn't really have any holes in his game, and they have other guys that can play, too."

Echols leaves team, will transfer, Snyder says

Sophomore forward Najeeb Echols, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound player who's seen limited playing time this season, is leaving the team.

Snyder said Sunday that Echols' departure is effective immediately, although it was unclear where he would transfer.

Echols didn't play in Saturday's 77-69 victory over Baylor.

His best game of this season was eight points in December against Sacramento State. He played 18 minutes in a loss to Illinois, also last month.