COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball head coach Kim Anderson spoke with media members on the SEC Summer Teleconference on Monday, June 29, and provided a glimpse into how the Tigers' summer workouts have progressed. Anderson's group has melded an experienced returning group of players with a contingent of high-energy newcomers for the 2015-16 season.

Selections from Anderson's time with the media can be found below.

Opening Statement: 
"We've had a good summer so far. We're in week four of summer school, so we're nearing the halfway mark. I've been really pleased to have Wes Clark back. His elbow injury has seemed to heal very well. I think he still has soreness, but I think that's pretty common for the type of injury that he had. So it's good to have him back. He's a guy that is a junior and we're a young team. We have nine freshmen and sophomores on our team, so having that type of leadership back is good."

On Mizzou's incoming group of newcomers for the 2015-16 season:
"I really do like our recruiting class. I guess very few coaches ever come on here and say they didn't like their recruiting class, but these guys have really brought an energy level to our program, and an exuberance. They are guys that are in the gym all the time. And it's a good mix of guys. Terrence Phillips is a point guard that has just an unbelievable amount of energy. Cullen VanLeer is a guy who can really shoot the basketball. Martavian Payne is a junior college player that is kind of a combo-type guard. Kevin Puryear is from Kansas City, Blue Springs South, and won a state championship. He's a rugged, three or four-type of player. K.J. Walton, from Indianapolis, who we recruited and signed pretty late. We knew he was a good player, but he's probably better than I thought he was. And talking Russ Woods, I think he will add something on the inside. I like the group. I think they'll bring something to our team. Even though we are still young, I think they'll bring an energy level that will help us."

On coaching style and what will work best for next season's Mizzou squad:
"I think this year's team won't be really big. So I think we'll play a little bit more spread. I think it remains to be seen. We have guys that, I think, can get the ball to the basket a little better than a year ago. We have five freshmen now who are sophomores who, I don't think it's any big secret, took their lumps last year. I think they learned a lot. I think they'll be a great help for us. Defensively, we'll be similar. We may change some things up a little bit, but I think the biggest change for us will have to be the ability to play a little smaller than maybe we did a year ago."

On Terrence Phillips' ability at the point guard position and the overall impact of the newcomers so far:
"He brings the ability to play north and south, which I think is important for our team because we've added some shooters that maybe we didn't have consistently a year ago. The other thing is, and he's a freshman so I hesitate to use the term 'leader', but he's a guy who I think has leadership qualities. He's in the gym all the time. He brings an energy level that perhaps we didn't have a year ago. 

"I think our younger guys have had a good positive influence on our older guys. And I think our older guys have responded. We hope that carries over. It's only been three weeks, so we've got a long way to go before we play a game."