March 5, 2004
Missouri Pre-Kansas Quotes
Missouri Head Coach Quin Snyder
On the game:
"There are so many different ways that you can build this game whether it is senior day, the importance of the game, the tournament implications, or the closing of the Hearnes Center. All of those things although they are noteworthy and special, our primary focus as players and staff has to be on actually playing the game. I think that is very important to us .... The best thing that we can do is get a win."
On the seniors:
"Each one of the kids is unique and I have a unique relationship with each one of them. I also think of them as a whole because they were guys that committed to play here before we got to where we are. Recruiting ca sometimes be fickle...people are saying how can you commit to a guy who hasn't even called a time out yet. That says a lot about the trust that they had in us."
On Kansas forward Wayne Simien:
"Stopping Wayne Simien starts with stopping them in transition. He gets a lot of stuff in transition too it's not just their initial push and early post stuff. He's one of the more dominant post players not only in our league but in the nation. He's found a groove in his game. You don't find a lot of guys in college that can shoot over the top of you but he can."
On the emotion of the game:
"You have to make sure that their focus is on the right things and it's very easy to wander off. We'll have them prepared to play on Sunday."
On offensive discipline:
"That has been a key thing for us but there's a fine line there too. We can be very tentative, especially if we don't make shots. If we don't make shots we don't win. We've had some games were we didn't make plays. I felt the Texas Tech game that we were a little impatient and not making extra passes, we also turned the ball over and there's no middle ground there."
Missouri senior guard Josh Kroenke
On the emotion of the game:
"The emotions are going to get the best of me on Sunday. It's going to be an emotional game for us four seniors and the Mizzou family as a whole. This being the last game at the Hearnes Center we have to focus on the task at hand and that's beating Kansas."
Missouri senior center Arthur Johnson
On thinking about the last regular season game:
"I try not to think about it really. I just try to think about the Big 12 tournament and just adding games to it."
Blocking out the distractions of last game, senior night, Kansas
"It's hard to block it out, but we have to because that's how you set yourself up to lose. We've just got to come in here and play hard and take it like any other game and defend the home court."
Missouri senior guard/forward Rickey Paulding
On ending any better than Kansas and senior day
"I think it's definitely fitting, especially for the fans and being the last game in the Hearnes against Kansas on senior night. For us, our main focus is just about the game. All the other stuff is nice, but the most important thing is just to get a win."
What coach Snyder has meant to "his" class:
"He's meant so much to me and the entire class of us that are graduating. Personally, he's just taught me how to play hard and work on my game and so much individual stuff. I definitely think I'm going to miss playing for coach."
Missouri senior forward Travon Bryant
On thinking about his last regular game
"I've thought about it. It's going to be emotional night, but we've got bigger things at stake than that. We're trying to get an NCAA bid, and we know this game means a lot for that. Also, we can finish forth in the Big 12 so that's our only focus right now to just go out there and focus on that."
On ending any better than hinging on Kansas:
"You really can't draw it any better, that's the perfect scenario. It kind of shows our character a little bit, when we go out there and play. We can't put a lot of emphasis on the last game at the Hearnes or Coach Snyder's 100th win; we've just got to go out there and play.