Jan. 21, 2011
Columbia, Mo. -
Listen To Press Conference
Mizzou Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening Statement…
“Thank goodness we play inside. I always say that. This is some weather. But it seems like we haven't played in awhile but that's probably a good thing because we've been going at a pretty brisk pace. So now we get a chance to play against this Iowa State team, that's a very dangerous team. I got a chance to watch them play some of that Oklahoma State game and they were actually in position to win that game, and the one thing you got to be able to do when you go on the road is shoot the basketball. They got some guys that can really shoot the basketball. (Jamie) Vanderbeken, he had six three's last night and in a previous game I think he had seven three's. Of course we know Diante Garrett is one of the better guards in our league… I think one of the better guards in the country. His size, he handles the basketball, he's scoring at a pretty good clip for them now. Scott Christopherson, he's a guy that can shoot the basketball as well, so it seems like they're playing at faster pace. They are averaging more points than they have in the previous years so I think (Fred) Hoiberg has done a tremendous job with this basketball team. Along the way, as you get in conference play, the competition stiffens up and I think that is what has taken place. They seem to be in every game that they've played in so we expect their team is going to come in and play with a lot of confidence so we've got our work cut out for us.”
On importance of rotating our players…
“We got to be. They have unbelievable range. You talk about Vanderbeken he's 6'11” so you got to find him and you got to make him put it on the floor and Garrett is clever enough where he can attack and he can set those guys up so we got to make sure we identify and be with those guys. That will be very important. You say they've chucked up 33 (three pointers) but they've almost 15 of them so that's a pretty good clip.”
On perimeter defense…
“I think our defense has really picked up since early in the year. In the A&M game I thought we could have done a better job, especially in the second half. I thought we did a great job up to a certain point, but overall I think our defense has improved and we're getting closer to being on the same page,”
On depth of the Big 12…
“I think depth is quality no matter where you go or who you play. You got to come with it. You look at Colorado going into Nebraska, Iowa State having an opportunity to beat Oklahoma State, A&M just on the road at Texas, and it seems like everyone is defending their home turf but I think the league is the most competitive it's been since I've been in it. And I'm talking about top to bottom.”
On Iowa State only using 7 players…
“He's done a tremendous job. When I look at the teams they've played and how they've played it looks like they're having fun. I mean he's got them playing good basketball. They're playing together and playing well. “
On Phil Pressey…
“I think his best basketball is still in front of him. The one thing he is kind of doing is adapting with that one hand. He's had to adapt and sometimes that slows you down, but I think he's smart enough and clever enough to pick up on things. He is a quick learner, as are a lot of the kids on our team, but the thing I really like about what's taking place is how active he is on defense. I think offense will come and go but I think how active he is on defense, he's always going to be a guy that's going to play unselfish and he is going to put his teammates in position to score. As far as how high his the ceiling? I think his best basketball is still in front of him.”
On home games approaching sellout…
“It's come a ways. I think when you talk about the number of people that are here, the people that have come here, they come and they are excited about what's taking place. We've done a pretty good job with the style and how we play. I think people understand it a lot more. I think a big key is our students. I think our guys have reached out to them, our staff (has reached out), and I think our students have really responded. All that has a trickle-down effect throughout the whole atmosphere, throughout the whole arena. When you go back and you see where we are... I'm greedy; I want it like that all the time. That's how it should be. When you create a program, a brand, you want to make this arena be one of the toughest venues in the country. I think it's important for our fans to show up and show out. I always say once you come you will not be disappointed, as a matter of fact you will come back here even more. So it's exciting to hear that and our guys really enjoy playing in front of people.”
On starting lineup…
“I think we are pretty solid. I always I got 8-9 starters, 10 starters maybe. But I think we're starting to find a rhythm, I think if you watch our team, we're starting to find a rhythm. As we bring (Laurence) Bowers off (the bench), he could start at any point in time. But I think he anchors that second unit down. As a matter of fact that second unit is probably playing just as good, or even better than the first unit. So what I like is that we are starting to get more balance. So as those guys come in they elevate or take it to another level or they (at least) maintain, and of course when those guys that start out come back in they kind of ramp it up as well.“
On Mike Dixon and Phil Pressey being on the court at the same time…
“It's just a matter of how the game's going more than anything. I think Mike (Dixon) can guard a bigger guy, (and) Phil can. I think hopefully that can work to our advantage, but I think the disadvantage comes from the rebounding part. Can they get in there and come up with some of those rebounds below the rim? But you will see it from time to time. We can get as small as we want to and as big as we want to and hopefully still have that ball handling, the defensive mindset and the scoring. We want to be unpredictable, but those guys can play together and you'll see them out there a lot more together.”