Mizzou-Nebraska Postgame Quotes
1/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2011
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Mizzou Basketball Post Game Quotes
January 12, 2011 vs. Nebraska
Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Arena
Mizzou 77, Nebraska 69
Missouri Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening Statement...
"That was a game that went in typical conference fashion. We opened up at home playing against a gritty, defensive team playing really good basketball. They have a great defense. Our energy level was really obvious from the get go and of course we made some shots. Marcus made some shots early on. We had key contributors from off the bench. We started Justin today to jump start him and we thought he did really good. Bowers was active - that's the great thing about him whether he comes off the bench or starts, he's always active. Phil has been kind of missing in action but you can see the affect he has on the game - he sees the game in a different fashion. Mike Dixon is back in the starting lineup and he did a great job doing what he does. It was a good win and we got that taste out of our mouth."
On the start of the game...
"It was great to see because of what took place our last game - we saw the things that were missing (from the Colorado Game). The energy, the defense, the scoring, the rebounds, blocked shots, taking of charges. We saw a lot more of that."
On Nebraska's defense...
"Nebraska is a team that packs its defense. I think we did a good job early on of knocking shots down that forced them to come out. Ricardo did a good job of using his body. In the second half, they did a lot of switching and our guys did a good job of identifying that. Our guys are learning how to take advantage of those things. "
On Marcus Denmon...
"He is playing good basketball. He has worked extremely hard in the off season. He is healthy now and playing with a lot more confidence. That's what I look for - the consistency. He is bringing it every night. He is an emerging leader on the team."
On the overall game...
"Nebraska is a good defensive team. Coming into the game, we knew they were one of the better defensive teams in the nation, so we just wanted to try to force our will upon them. I feel that we did. We had the game going the way we wanted, fast-paced, and I feel that's to our advantage."
On facing Texas A&M next...
"This is how we look at it-- going on the road in conference play and trying to win is like stealing a game. In this conference, trying to get a win is so hard on the road. Texas A&M is a good team, but we've been working hard on the things we need to work on."
On fixing mistakes tonight from their last game...
"I felt we did a good job in this game. Credit to Colorado, they were making shots. They're kind of used to playing that way - they play a pretty up-tempo game and I felt that we were able to get Nebraska out of their comfort zone with our defense. We did a good job and came out with a lot of energy. I felt that playing at home and having a good crowd helped that as well."
Junior Forward Ricardo Ratliffe
On whether new starting lineups affect chemistry...
"Not at all. When we have practice, it's basically the same thing - you mix up lineups. We also don't have subs because unfortunately we only have 11 guys right now. It's basically the same thing, different guys will start and we all have the same chemistry. We just try to go out there and play our style of basketball with whoever is on the floor at that time."
On how Marcus impacts the inside game...
"It's a huge impact. They can't focus on double-teaming the post because they have to have someone out guarding our shooters-- not only Marcus, but Kim English, Mike Dixon, Matt, Phil, all of the shooters on our team. Them lining it up just makes it hard for Nebraska to double team and easier for us to get a good shot inside."
On his protective hand gear...
"I kind of like the hand cast, I'm getting used to it... once I take it off I'm not going to know what to do. I got used to my teammates joking about it, so it doesn't bother me anymore."
On his on-court chemistry with brother Matt...
"It's just the fact that my brother knows I can pass the ball very well. Instead of him going to the hoop, he'll give it to me so that he can get the bucket. That's the only reason I think he did that, because he knows I'll give it back to him."
Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler
Opening Statement...
"The game played out just like you would expect it to play out. Missouri is very good - they do an excellent job of doing what they do. They executed what they do better than what we did tonight. At halftime we had allowed the ball into the lane 23 times, we allowed it 24 in the second half. You are not going to beat anybody in this league by letting the ball into the lane 47 times - that is the whole ball game right there. With a team as good as Missouri, you cannot give them points; that is what we did tonight. They did an excellent job of attacking. I thought our guys competed and I thought they did an excellent job of sticking with it. We got down to the three or four minute mark and still had a chance to win it. We gave up an uncontested layup by a defensive mistake and I think Missouri went back up by six there and that's the ball game."
On going up against Ricardo Ratliffe...
"I thought at times we didn't do a bad job, but if you allow him to catch it on the block, then somebody his size is either going to foul him or play on the top side of him. We had some problems - we allowed him to catch it on the block without us doubling it. He is a good player."
On the first five minutes of play against Marcus Denmon...
"When he is a no-catch guy, we weren't there. He hit his first five or first four. He is a guy who is shooting 50-percent from the 3-point line and we were defending him like we wanted him to shoot it. He was a no-catch guy, he caught it and he made us pay. I thought we did a better job in the second half with that."
On the strength of the league...
"I think it's going to be as fun a league for the media to cover and the fans to watch as it has been in a long, long time. I can see the guys winning this thing having maybe three losses and I can see the team that finishes 12th being the team that finishes number one. You don't have seven first round draft choices like you did last year, but I think the teams a>re more even this year. Twelve and one is more even than I can ever imagine."
