Dec. 2, 2008

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Columbia, Mo. -

Missouri vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Mizzou Arena, Colubmia, MO

Head  Coach Mike Anderson Post Game Quotes

On all 14 players playing and scoring:

“That's extraordinary. Our starters came out and set the tone and the younger guys followed their lead.”

On Kim English's performance:

“Shooting is all about confidence. I'm really happy to see Kimmy become a shooter. He's getting the ball, he's mixing up on the defensive end, and he's getting better all over the floor.”

On Marcus Denmon:

“He brings a lot more to the table. His body command is strong, so he can get to the basket. You saw him doing some things with the basketball. It's a typical freshman but I think he's starting to find his spot and hopefully this is getting him some confidence.”

On the performance of all four guards:

“We push the ball down the floor. We have a lot of versatile basketball players.”

On Zaire Taylor:

“That's the thing I love about a guy like Zaire Taylor, it's not about the score. It's more about doing a lot of little things that don't show up in the box score. He and J.T. [Tiller] compliment each other. I think he [Taylor] really started to feel comfortable and confidant.”

On young players gaining experience:

“Even though we were up big early, these guys need to get some winning experience. When they get the opportunity hopefully they can take it and use it to their benefit. I look at a guy like Laurence Bowers, Laurence really helped himself. I know he has a lot of things you can't teach like rebounding, he's great around the basket. We have a lot of good players and hopefully we'll start figuring out things we want to do.”

On getting the fans out for the game against California:

“Boy am I telling you, we need our fans. We need to showcase Mizzou Arena, this basketball team and the University of Missouri to the nation. A beautiful sight would be a packed house in here. You think we are playing fast now, that takes it up to another level and that is exciting.”

Player Post Game Quotes

Senior Forward DeMarre Carroll

On how Mizzou's  preparation for Tuesday's game…

“We practiced defense all practice yesterday. And we were determined not to give up points. Coach Z challenge us not to give up 51 points and we didn't want that to happen.”

On reaching the 1,000 point career mark in his career…

“It's a great honor, but there is still a lot of basketball to be played. I'll get a pat on the back tonight but like Coach said, at midnight we've got to be ready to play Cal.”

Senior Guard Matt Lawrence

On the intensity and quickness Missouri played with…

“Games are going to be like that when we decide to come out and really get after it on defense. Against Oral Roberts we didn't do what we wanted to do. We let a guy kind of kill us out there and let them stay in the game. We don't like to give up 82 points in a game. We had a hard practice yesterday, Coach (Mike Anderson) got after us. And I think we needed that. It was all defense, I think it really got us ready for today.”

On looking ahead to Big 12 play…

“The Big 12 season is coming upon us. It's a long season. We have a lot of basketball left. To be able to have a game like this, to have everyone get out there and contribute, even Steve Moore and Lawrence Bowers were out there, they're not just picking up time, they're out there working. They know that a guy might go down, a guy might get in foul trouble, they (Moore and Bowers) might turn around and play great basketball. To have a great game like this is huge for us and it was good to see everyone out there contributing.”