March 15, 2009

 

Head Coach Mike Anderson

Opening statement:
"I think this is a tremendous opportunity to say, No. 1, that Missouri is in the NCAA Tournament, and to have a No. 3 seed on top of that and to have the opportunity to play Cornell in Boise, Idaho. You ask these guys what their goals are at the beginning of the year and they would say to win a national championship. The only way to have an opportunity to do that is to be in the Tournament. We're in the Tournament, and now we have an opportunity to go out West. I've had three opportunities to go out to Boise, and I'll tell you what, they do a great job with that tournament. It's a ways from home, no question about it, but at the same time, there's not a whole lot to do but play basketball. They do a great job of putting on the tournament there, the people, they really embrace it all around that town. The most important thing is we get a chance to play Cornell and the first game is the most important game in the tournament. I'm excited, I know our guys are excited, even after having a late night last night, but this to me, is the fun time of the year. Again, to have the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament, there's only 65 teams playing, a lot of teams have already put their uniforms up, and we're one of the teams that's fortunate to have the opportunity, and we're going to make the most of it."

On outside expectations of the team:
"Everyone's going to have opinions about our basketball team as well as other basketball teams. They have people that they like, they've probably seen them more than they have us, and maybe seen us when we haven't played some of our better basketball. But I think we're playing some pretty good basketball right now. I like our basketball team, and I certainly like our team in a tournament format. The key is you have to get past that first game."

On dealing with nerves:
"You just have to get through it. The nerves are going to come. This is the grand event, in terms of basketball, the NCAA Tournament. The key is you get them in and you get them out. You have to get them out and play through it, that's all. That's why we have a conference tournament. It's a setting to get guys a little more comfortable. The experience factor, I think that's going to be the key."

On facing a different playing style in Cornell:
"That's the beauty of the NCAA Tournament. You're going to get a lot of teams that aren't familiar with one another. We're not as familiar with them at this point of time. We will get familiar with them. I know they have a kid named Louis Dale that I looked at while I was recruiting at UAB. I'm familiar with him, but I think all teams in this tournament are good. We've got to get some information, find out a little more about them, but continue to work on what we do and get better at what we're doing."

On preparations for the first game:
"They got the day off today, we'll get back in the gym tomorrow. They have school. We'll probably practice Monday and we'll practice on Tuesday and we'll head out on Wednesday. We'll practice here but we'll head out Wednesday afternoon to get there. We'll practice that Thursday and our first game will be on Friday."

On being inexperience when it comes to the NCAA Tournament:
"They're going to have to see it though my eyes more than anything else, mine and Michael Jr's. We're the only ones that have that experience. Coach Watkins, as a head coach, he's got it as well as Coach T.J. Cleveland and Matt Zimmerman. I think they're going to have to look at it through our eyes and just continue to do what they've been doing all year long. And that's a simple approach, one game at a time, one practice at a time, just try to get better, I think more than anything else. We won't change anything we do. That's one thing I think has been good about our basketball team, win or lose, we haven't changed. That's been probably the constant where our team continues to bounce back. Even in the face of defeat, our team bounces back because simple is better sometimes. Obviously it's on the big stage and our guys are looking forward to it."

Missouri Player Quotes

Junior Guard Zaire Taylor
On the Tigers' first opponent of the tournament Cornell:
"I know they've got a real good guard that has won player of the year two years in a row. Coming to the Big 12 has given me a great opportunity to play against some great guards and now we get to play a ton of them."

On opening the tournament in Boise, Idaho:
"Boise sounds good. I want to go to all fifty states and I can't see myself going to Idaho for any other reason, so I'm excited. I hear the people out there are great and they really appreciate the teams out there."

Senior Forward DeMarre Carroll
On the Tigers' style of play heading into the Tournament:
"I think our style of play fits the tournament. It's hard to prepare for us with quick turnarounds. Hopefully we can take our style up to Boise and pick up some big wins."

On winning the Big 12 Championship:
"It's good hardware to put on your stand, but at the same time, I'd rather have the big hardware and that comes from winning the NCAA."

On upcoming opponent Cornell:
"We are going to prepare for them like we prepare for anybody else. Hopefully we have no letdowns and we can go in there with a defensive mindset. They are a great program. They have good players and are a veteran team. It'll be a great test for both of us."

On the excitement of the fans heading into the Tournament:
"It's amazing to help put Missouri Basketball back on the map. Seeing the excitement on the fans faces was great. I can understand their joy. I am just as excited as they are. Hopefully they can come to Boise and support us."

Senior Guard Matt Lawrence
On whether he ever thought the team would be at this point:
"Not after my freshman year. We were worrying about other things besides basketball; things off-the-court that a team shouldn't have to worry about. Finally we get to concentrate on basketball and you can see what our team can do."

On having a coach like Coach Anderson this time of the year:
"Coach Anderson has done everything that we are trying to do. He has been a great guy to look up to, especially when it comes to conference tournament time. I think it will be the same for the NCAA tournament."

On helping turn the program around:
"I was a Missouri Basketball fan before I got to college and I have been through some bad things. To turn it around and to be a part of that, it really makes it extra special."

On his Missouri basketball career:
"Four years I have been here and I am sure I haven't been the favorite person here in Columbia or even in the state of Missouri, but right now I'm probably a little bit more so. I am just happy that the way I am going out is on a positive note because I came in on a definite negative note. We're not done yet. We aren't satisfied."