Mizzou Basketball Post Game Quotes
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2010
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Post Game Quotes
Mizzou vs. North Florida
Nov. 20, 2010
Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening Statement...
"It was refreshing to see our team come out with great energy and great focus. We really jumped on North Florida from the beginning. Of course, as games go, they're going to go back and forth. We made our run at the end and the beginning, and they made their run and it was an eight-point game at half time. We had great energy, and then put a new five in and I thought the rhythm got off a little bit. We had some unforced turnovers, which I wasn't really happy with. One thing we do is force turnovers, but we value the basketball. That's the thing that we're working on and trying to clean up. I asked our guys to get better from the game a few days ago. Ricardo [Ratliffe] came out and really looked like the player that we think he's capable of being. Our guys did a good job of getting the ball to him, and he did a good job of finishing. More guys are really starting to contribute. You saw a team that was sharing the basketball... 20 assists on 36 field goals. They wore North Florida down and I thought that was the difference in the game. We had a lot more guys than they did and I thought that was really the difference at times."
On closing out the game with a 7-minute scoring streak...
"I challenged them. It was maybe a 13 point game and the under-eight minute time out, so I challenged them and they responded in a very positive way, even with substitutions coming in. Our guys have to stay focused throughout the whole game. Sometimes you think the game is over with, and it's not over. For example, Phil [Pressey]... he's a guy that I think has a chance to be one of the better point guards in the country, but he's got to clean it up a little bit. There's a give and take with him, but at the same time you can see he's an exciting player. Marcus [Denmon] wasn't just a spot-up shooter, he was getting to the basket and attacking. We had a lot of guys that were really stepping up and doing some good things. The thing I really continue to be impressed with is Steve Moore. He's always protecting the rim, and seems to just get every rebound. He has a great basketball IQ, and he's an important piece to what was taking place on our team."
On the differences from last game...
"I thought in the last game, we didn't play with a sense of urgency until the last three minutes or so, and this game I thought we really came out with that. We utilized our quickness and instincts. Our pressure defense was very good, the best it's been up to this point. I think we deflected a lot of passes. That first group set the tone for what was going to take place."
On what the team improved upon from last game...
"We took advantage of some turnovers that they had. I thought we rebounded the ball a lot better. We dictated the tempo and finished at the other end. We got into a rhythm... we were more in Western Illinois' rhythm last game, and so it became a possession games. We like possession games, but we want the most possessions."
Missouri Player Quotes
On family support...
"Its always good to have family come out and support you. It's huge. As long as we got the win I'm fine. I didn't play bad individually, but as the team I think we played awesome."
On not letting them score in the last eight minutes...
"That was a challenge, they had 56 and we said we weren't going to let them score anymore. After that we locked down and started to play basketball. If we could do that on a consistent basis and do it at the beginning in of the game and not just at the end, we can have game where the outcome can be pretty tremendous. We were so focused in the zone after Coach A and Kimmie (English) challenged us. We got fired up and held them to two points for the last seven minutes."
On biggest inspiration..
"My mom, easily. She raised me up. She was the one who started me with sports and pushed me. For me to succeed now, I have to give her all the credit. Also, my little sister out there. I do this for her. I know that if I can have a successful career here at Missouri I know I can help my sister and my mom."
On Ricardo Ratliffe's Performance...
"He played the way I'm used to guarding him in practice. I was actually felt sorry for the other team. If we can get that consistently and he is a consistent player, I think that can help out basketball team. I think as a whole, everyone played really well. When you have a balanced scoring attack like that that lets you know we were moving the ball and getting assist. It was definitely a good coming out game for Ricardo."
"He has learned over the years that his shot will come. He is a leader out there. You have to respect a guy like that, (someone) that is not always looking for his shot, but is out trying to help the next guy get his."
On Coach Anderson's challenge to play better after the last game...
"He said, and we also felt, that we came out flat the first game, so we just tried to come out and bring the energy that we know we can play with and force our tempo on the other team."
On Biggest change in 2nd half'..
"I don't feel we really took care of the ball. We forced them into a lot of turnovers on the defensive end but we really didn't convert on the offense end. The second half we did a better job of using those turnovers that we forced to get easy buckets."
On preparing for Cancun...
"We take our team on the road. We want to show the young guys how to take games on the road. It will be their first time going away, so we want to show them the way and how to get comfortable playing outside of Mizzou Arena."
On feeling comfortable on the court...
"Yes. I'm more comfortable. I'm trying to find my place. If I'm not scoring well I just try to stay on the glass and play defense."
On Cancun...
"This is my first time going on a trip. I know Coach Anderson is all about preparing for the game. We might do some workouts on the beach, but we are not going out there to vacation, we are going out there to get a job done. We just want to bring some wins back to Missouri."
