Dec. 23, 2003
Illinois sophomore guard Dee Brown
On winning:
"We knew I was going to be a dog fight. In the big leagues in college, everyone's going to get a run. They got a run, but it's who battles in the end. Coach always emphasizes just come out with a win, fight. I think that's what we did tonight. It doesn't matter if you win by 15 or one, people are going to know that we won the game."
Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber
On holding on to the win:
"All I talked to the kids about all week was competing. They're [Missouri] a very talented team. They have so many offensive weapons. They seem to kind of play, play, and then they turn it on and go to another level. Then they're able to defeat teams. But we got such a lead early, that they didn't have enough energy and the clock ran out, and we were able to get a win."
On Dee Brown's performance: "I complemented Dee after the Memphis game. I though again he was a great leader for us. He had six assist, he had six rebounds, and then he has double figures on the play hard chart which are dives, defections, loose ball, all the little things that make a difference."
What winning "braggin' rights" means: "It's an unbelievable atmosphere. With the fans, it's a great game. It's so unique. I told the kids this is one of a kind, probably in the nation, a game like this, and they better appreciate it, and play, and leave everything on the court."
Missouri Head Coach Quin Snyder
On digging a whole:
"We responded to a very poor start to the game. Illinois really did a good job of turning our turnovers and some quick shots into baskets on the other end. I thought our guys really showed a lot of character fighting back. Obviously, when you dig yourself the kind of hole that we did, it's tough to come back and win games."
On coming from behind: "Coming from behind can take it's toll. There's no question. Maybe not as much physically as emotionally. Kevin was out in the second half. Then Linas was in foul trouble, and he really didn't get a chance to impact the game the way he has been. We just have to be better. Those were turnovers we could control. We need to meet the ball with two hands, and play better fundamental basketball."
On foul trouble:
"Travon obviously played with great intensity the entire game, so I don't think that's an excuse for us. I think that a lot of the reasons we got fouls was when we were not as alert as we needed to be defensively. The mistakes that we made put us in tough positions."
Missour Senior Travon Bryant:
On "flipping a switch" for offense:
"Coach always talks about flipping a switch on and off and truthfully right now we're not that good at just flipping it on and off. It has to be on the whole 40 minutes. Once we find that level, we're going to be a tough team to beat. We're just going to continue to work at it."
On team identity and defense
"We've just got to stop talking about it. We always say 'let's start it on defense, let's start it on defense.' But then again, when we come down with one pass and shoot, that's not helping transition defense. Especially with a point guard like Dee Brown, and the way their wings get out and run the floor. We've just got to learn how to take better shots, that leads to a lot of good defensive things."