and my favorite random Monte moment

Posted on: December 8, 2016 at 10:15:31 CT

http://archive.columbiatribune.com/1998/feb/19980205spor01.htm


More than 37 minutes had gone by and Missouri coach Norm Stewart still hadn't
taunted Nebraska coach Danny Nee during last night's Big 12 Conference
basketball game.


Stewart is good at getting Nee's goat by picking at his tie or his clothes. It
isn't a Nebraska-Missouri game unless those two have some tense moments.


But this time there was nothing.


Then it happened. Missouri's 81-76 overtime win over Nebraska would become a
sidelight.


Nebraska's Cookie Belcher hit the floor after being fouled on a layup attempt
with 2:34 left in the game. He held his right wrist and took his 66.7-percent
free throw touch to the bench. He was replaced by Eric Piatkowski, who brought
in a 64.7 percentage.


But Piatkowski made both shots to give the Huskers their first lead in the
second half 64-63. Belcher immediately returned to the game. Stewart was
incensed.


Moments later, Missouri's man-mountain center Monte Hardge was fouled. With
assistant coach Kim Anderson waving his arms like a movie director, the
Tigers' bench convinced Hardge that he had an excruciating pain.


Hardge hesitated a few seconds before the method acting tips from the
Strasberg academy took hold. He hobbled to the bench along with his 3-of-11
baggage at the foul line. Enter Kelly Thames, who makes 78 percent of his foul
shots. Missouri soon had its lead back.


Nee, looking like a fellow returning from a snipe hunt, was incredulous. Even
the referees had a hard time explaining it.


``I thought Cookie Belcher was hurt, we've been wrapping that wrist all
year,'' Nee said. ``He said he couldn't play and then he said he could. So I
said, `Don't be sitting by me if you can play.' I would have never taken him
out if I thought he could play.


``But then Norm discovered something about one of his players.''


Stewart went to the Gray's Anatomy book to come up with a sprained laterial
latisimis dorsi something. It could have been a dorsal fin for all we know.


``Their guy was injured and they took him out and our guy was injured and we
took him out,'' Stewart said. ``I think Monte is in the ambulance, on the way
to the hospital along with Cookie.''


The 335-pound Hardge played the part to the fullest.


``The trainer said with my shoulder it might be better for someone else to
step in there for me,'' Hardge said. ``It was the trainer's decision and why
would I question him? He's a professional.''


Without those two free throws, the game may never have gone to overtime.


Then everyone would have to wonder how the Tigers blew a 16-point lead in
seven minutes or how they went from playing the best half of the season to one
of the most inconsistent.


What did you expect with Nebraska at Missouri? Nothing is ever easy. Their
last four meetings in Columbia have been decided by 13 points and have been
filled with the unexpected.


The Tigers won despite playing the last 9:45 without scoring a field goal. MU
scored its final 18 points at the line.


MU hit 6 of 13 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half to take a 43-30
lead and then went 2 of 15 in the final half.


Hardge had a career night scoring 17 points -- on 7-of-10 shooting -- and
grabbing 15 rebounds. But with two more missed foul shots, he could have
recorded a triple-double with more than 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 missed
foul shots.


``The other teams are intimidated by him. Every game their guys tell me how
big he is and how hard it is move him off the block,'' Kelly Thames said.
``It's frustrating for them. This is the way he should be dominating.''


When it was over, Nee could only say good things about getting home.


``At least I don't have to come back to Columbia for another year,'' he said.


It won't be any different next year.