Quotes from Head Coach Quin Snyder and players
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2004
Opening Statement:
"It's good to see 19 assists and I think that even this early in the year when we've played better basketball it's usually because we've been focused on sharing the ball and getting each other shots. I'm just really proud of Linas. He's had a tough week and he wants to be a player and he wants to win but he's finding out how he has to go about that now to help our team win, and what he did tonight, you know he almost had a triple double and I really think that set the tone. We still made some mistakes where you scratch you head or pull your hair out or whatever you do, and its kind of mind boggling, but you just have to keep working on those things. I saw some improvement with our defense but its still not consistent, and I think that was a big emphasis for us this week to get better defensively, better energy and focus on the defense.
On Oakland's performance:
"We just felt like we haven't been playing real well, this is a team that hasn't won a game, but they certainly have played some really good teams. They are familiar with our team and had some success against us. The other guys hurt us when we got leads. We had a ten point lead in the first half and we gave it back to them, and I think the same thing happened in the second half, we had a twelve point lead and that's just something we've got to get better at."
On Kleiza:
"We need Linas to make plays to win, you know just recognizing the opportunities you have to make plays for other people and I think this is a good blue print for him, and I didn't think he came out and took his shots. He passed up some shots early that I kind of would have liked to see him take. He set the tone for himself, he didn't press on the shots. He got as many shots as anyone else on the team. For me, the key for him is defending, same for all of us really, being one of the guys that we're counting on. When you're playing a certain way, you have the ability to really impact the entire group. Playing defense and being a great team means getting your team involved and getting your team shots. If he does those things he'll have his opportunity."
Missouri Sophomore Thomas Gardner
On Tuesday's game against Arkansas:
"It would be a big confidence booster for us. Right now we're starting well and really understanding what coach has been trying to give to us everyday in practice. If we can come out and execute on Tuesday night against Arkansas it would be really helpful."
On his play in the first half:
"He [Coach Snyder] told me I wasn't playing defense and he took me out. Coach Perez came to the end of the bench and told me I needed to be out there playing defense and I needed to be an emotional leader for the team. When I went back in I tried to change the game a little bit. We went on a 12-point run and kept trying to "D" up."
On playing to the other team's level:
"I feel that lately we have. We really haven't come out and been up for the games like we usually are. Games like Arkansas and Illinois are going to be easy to get up on because of the high measure of teams they are. Right now we're trying to focus on defense and not worry about what the other team's doing."
Missouri Sophomore Linas Kleiza
On this past week in practice:
"It's been hard, but it's been fun. I felt like I got better this week. It wasn't roses, but Coach Q put me back in place [on defense]. It was tough, but it was good."
On taking inside shots:
"I think everyone's trying to make plays for each other. Sometimes you don't realize you're that close to the basket when you see someone open. I think that's good. Maybe later on we won't pass those shots up."
On the crowd presence at the game:
"We definitely need support. That's what playing at home is all about. If we don't have many fans then it's just like playing on the road. We have great fans and we're going to need them on Tuesday and in big games coming up. Those games can make our season. We definitely have to give them something to cheer for and we're trying. I think we've bounced back. We lost three in a row and that was tough for us. We just keep trying hard and it's starting to pay off."
