April 3, 2002

Columbia, Mo. - MISSOURI HEAD COACH QUIN SNYDER Post-Season Quotes April 3, 2002

On talking with Washington: "I spoke to Washington for what I consider to be very personal reasons. I felt good about that meeting. At the conclusion of that meeting I feel better about being here."

"I have a great affection for that city and for the school. This is where I need to be, here right now, I think that was my instinct."

On Missouri: "I'm unbelievably excited about what we're doing here. I think we have the makings of something very unique and to me it begins with the team and extends to the University, to Mike Alden, to our school Chancellor Richard Wallace, and to the community."

"It's tough to leave something you believe in so much.... You think everyday about your guys. If you love your team you'll coach them in Antarctica that's what you do six months out the year and you don't get to see much else."

"My wife Helen and I are really ingrained in this community and in this state. This is my home, I love it here. More, and more, I feel more comfortable here. I can see myself being here for a long time."

On the team next year: "I think we've got kids that are unbelievably committed to one another. That commitment has gotten stronger throughout the year, I think they've have learned how committed they have to be and what that means. I think they are very ready to work hard and understand how much hard work it takes. I think they trust each other and they trust our staff. I'm excited about what we're doing. We're wary about expectations as we were last year though."

"I definitely think there is a lot of things we can build on for next year. We're all going to make mistakes and grow, but I think our team has a better understanding of what that means."

"Hopefully we'll be a little but more mature even though we lost 50% of our scoring assuming Kareem leaves. We're going to have a lot to work on for next year and the scheme in which we do that will be different."

"Leadership will be very important for this team. I'm curious to see who'll step up to be the leader and who'll want that. Sometimes it could come from places you don't think."

"I think we can struggle a little bit early, but I think we have a chance to be really great late. That's my gut on this group, they know how to fight and they know how to fight together. They're some good kids, and some talented kids, you can say that with a lot of teams in the league, it's going to be an interesting and fun year."

On the team this year: "I was frustrated with my team at times this year. I really feel like if our team is playing great ball and winning then maybe people will be happy and excited. If at times your not playing well the fans might get frustrated. I hope people get a deeper glimpse about what we're about."

On Missouri reaching the Elite Eight in this year's tournament: "I was unbelievably proud of what these guys did.... I did feel great on how we played. As much as you want to see your team play that way and know that they can, it's different when they're doing against Top 20 teams all the way through the NCAA Tournament and doing it with an exclamation point. That was absolutely encouraging."

On Arthur Johnson: "AJ's got to commit this off-season. I'd like to see him like a machine physically. I think AJ really matured this year. I saw him grow in maturity as a young man in the last month of the season."