Quin Snyder Press Conference Quotes
1/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2000
On fitting Kareem Rush back into the mix: "It's great to want to play, but they have found themselves in the team concept. Keyon has found himself in making everyone else better. Clarence has found his stroke in shot faking and driving the ball. For some of the guys that aren't playing much, it's always tough. We have a good group when it comes to playing collectively. They have a collective ego as opposed to a bunch of individual egos. That is something they have developed on their own."
On Kareem Rush: "I'm on him more. I think I've coached him the same all year. I was after him today. He's a very bright kid but he has to be vocal. He's not doing anything different. It's probably a bigger adjustment for (the media) because I see him everyday. He's practicing with a different group in practice. Who knows how it all goes, those things will just work themselves out. The time that he spent in the weight room (has been instrumental). He's one of the last guys to leave the gym everyday. He's a gym rat. He's been that way most of the year. Being out hasn't discouraged him from wanting to improve. I told him that I want him to be better when he comes back than when he left. I think he can do that."
On Clarence Gilbert's injury: "He's not 100 percent, yet. He favors it a little bit. He's working at it."
On the team's mentality after the Kansas game: "They all count the same. We're trying to do what we do no regardless of whom we play. Certain games get more attention but that shouldn't make how we play any different. I do recognize that sometimes that's hard. Regardless, you're going to have two teams going after it Saturday. We're not going to get up just to play certain teams."
On Texas A&M: "They've been playing well. They've had a tough non-conference. They beat Oklahoma State who is one of the top teams in the league and one of the top in the country. Iowa State is playing as well as everyone and (A&M) played them tough. Coach Watkins is a great coach. He'll have his guys ready to go. I think his guys are finding themselves right now. They're a good team."
On Justin Gage: "When the game gets tight, he's capable of stepping up and making a big play. He's not afraid. Competitors do that. We're not as deep right now, so I'm glad we got him to help us out. He's a skill player but a lot of what he gives us is athleticism. The things that he gives us are what the team needs the most."
On Missouri's team performance: "Our team has come along very nicely, relative to the team that took the floor Oct. 15. We have gotten better and hopefully we'll continue to. It does get harder for us because we go on the road. I'm not looking ahead. The minute you do that, you forget what's in front of you. We've played better recently because we've been focused on the game at hand. What this team has done so far has been pretty outrageous, given what we've been through. We've got some kids that are giving us everything they've got. That's all I want from them. Time will tell how far that will take us."
On grading the team: "I give the guys an A+ because of what they are doing. I don't think they can play that much harder. To be able to have a team that is this together this quickly...sometimes those things takes years. It's not like you get it and then you get to keep it either. Those things come and go with teams. Who knows where things will go."
On Associate Head Coach John Hammond and the rest of the coaching staff: "He's unbelievably supportive of me and is very, very knowledgeable. I really rely on him. I knew I would when I got him. It's like having a great hand at poker - you feel good. That was the way it was before the season. Now you guys see my hand. Frankly, I feel the same way about my whole staff. The level of energy (that they have generated) has been a key component to our team's development. It is unusual. For example, it's why you see what Clarence Gilbert has done with his game. (Hammond) is a salty dog, so to speak."
