Missouri Head Coach Quin Snyder

Opening Comments

You never know what to expect in your first exhibition game.  I think the two things that I really wanted to see from our team was to see us play really together the right way and to be unselfish.  I saw that.  The other thing I wanted to see was us to play hard.  There were times when, again, it was our first game when you're not as disciplined, when you're really going after it effort wise.  You run by a guy and miss an assignment. I'd much rather clean up those fundamentals than try to coach effort.  That's something we talked to our guys about.  We're not going to coach effort. I was proud of how our team played tonight.  I thought they played like a team and I thought they played very hard.  Those two things being said, that's how I'm going to evaluate them all year long.  That's going to be consistent and I think if we do those things we should have an opportunity to be very competitive.

On Playing the First Game of the Season and overcoming Anxiousness

I think we got a little bit of that out of our system at the black and gold game.  We pressed a little bit, we shot quick at times.  We were able to watch the tape on that.  In the program one of the things I really hit on was don't let the circumstances change who you've been.  Those habits have been forming for most mornings and every afternoon since October 14.  Part of the reason they were ready to get out there was they're tired of banging each other up.  The lights go on, your family is there and your friends are there and television is there and everyone is watching and keeping score and keeping track of your stats.  It's easy to play for a lot of the wrong reasons.  I think it shows maturity on our guys' part.  I think it shows leadership.  When Thomas Gardner drives and kicks to Matt Lawrence near the end of the half, and Matt's going to make that shot because Thomas showed enough confidence in him to kick it and Matt knocks it down.  That's a huge play.  To me that epitomizes how are guys have tried to be with one another.

On Recruiting

I feel like we've had a lot of success being home.  That being said, I think we can have a lot more success when we can set foot on a high school campus.  I haven't been able to even set foot on a high school campus.  I haven't been able to speak at clinics.  We've been real careful to make sure we're doing the right thing and at the same time try to be really aggressive in our recruiting.  It comes at a good time even before the signing day for us to get out and see some key guys.  We're going to try and fit a lot in, in the next few days.  Not just me, but our entire staff.  I think we'll adjust and do some things maybe others aren't doing now to take advantage of this window.

On Leo Lyons

The thing is that he's a little bit of a gamer.  You start seeing him rise up to levels that we haven't always seen in practice consistently.  When he learns to practice at that intensity level on a daily basis, what you saw tonight in the game is going to go even further.  He'll have the adrenaline of the game but with the habits that come from grinding in and out every day.  He's had a few practices where he felt like quitting.  He got knocked up pretty good and hung with it, banging with Kevin and Kalen.  I think one of the things he's realizing is that it doesn't matter what position he plays.  He may not realize that yet, but I realize it.  He's going to figure it out eventually.  If he can guard inside, there's not too many inside guys that can guard him.  There just aren't.  That makes you an interesting matchup for guys.  He's gotten to the point where if he can defend and rebound there's so many things he fan do on the floor. 

Missouri Player Quotes

Thomas Gardner

"It was good to play against someone else. It was nice to be able to see some new faces and just play another team."

"We set some goals before the game, and we achieved them. That's what we came out to do. It was good to have the game filmed too, so we can look back on it and improve. We played relaxed and played as a team. It felt good."

On the win:

"It felt good. When we play together, we make good shots, and when we make good shots, we have good games. We did well overall. I was very pleased."

"I didn't go into the game thinking that I needed to be a leader, I just wanted to set a good example for my younger teammates. I felt more comfortable with my shots also."

"I feel like I fit in really well here in the post spot. It gives us some versitility, and it just works good."

"It was like a dream come true. I was a little nervous before the game, but we played as a team."