Mizzou Men's Basketball Head Coach Kim Anderson - Monday, Feb. 13
Opening Statement...
"I'm really pleased with our game the other day against Vanderbilt. I thought our guys competed well. They probably played about as well for two halves as they can. We had a little bit of a lull there in the second half. We talked about. going in. what is going be the keys to the game, and we really thought rebounding would be important and guarding the three-point line. We did a great job of offensive rebounding. I think we had 21 second-chance points to their four. Which pretty much is ultimately the difference in the game. I thought our guys were good at getting to the offensive boards, and we kept them from getting a lot of offensive rebounds. They didn't shoot the ball well. After going back and looking at it, our defense was pretty good. Now, they had some wide-open shots they didn't make. I thought our defense was pretty good. I thought the guys did a good job of switching and helping each other out, and I thought that was key. The other thing was Jordan Barnett, obviously, had a tremendous game. I thought what made his game so good was what he did other than just scoring. I know he scored 23 points. I think that's maybe the second the game in a row he's done that. I thought his defense was pretty good. And obviously, his rebounding was good. He kept the ball alive a lot and made some plays. So, that was pretty good. We had four guys in double figures. So, even though Jordan had 23, I thought it was pretty balanced. Alabama is a team that we played six or seven games ago. I think the thing that concerns you the most about them, other than the fact they play extremely hard, is their length. Going back and watching that game, we got the ball to the basket a lot, but we couldn't finish. And we didn't shoot the ball very well. We couldn't finish, and it wasn't because they blocked shots. I think they only had a couple blocked shots, but they really did a great job of changing your shot when you got to the basket. So, that's something we've got to attack. Also, they're a great rebounding team. I think they're about plus-eight for the year. They may be leading the league in rebounding. They're certainly a team that's got good size. They've got size on the inside. Ingram on the perimeter has good size. They start a big team. So, I think another key for us in this game will be can we rebound with them? We didn't do a great job last time we were there, and that's something we need to do a better job of. They get fouled. They get to the foul line. The other thing we did pretty well the other day was that we didn't foul. We didn't foul Vanderbilt a lot. I think they lead the league in foul shooting. Alabama is not as good of a foul shooting team as Vanderbilt, but they do get to the line a lot. So, we need to keep from fouling."
On Jordan Barnett approaching his full potential...
"I think he's moving upward. I think his potential is unlimited. I don't think we'll see his full potential probably until next year – until he gets completely comfortable. I just think he's more comfortable. I quit running plays for him. We bring him off the bench now and he just hoops. He's just a hooper. He just goes out and plays, and he's a guy, with his size, that can get shots pretty much whenever he wants. As I said the other day, I think there's still more gas in the tank."
On whether Barnett's play has been infectious with other players...
"Our guys know Jordan can do a lot of things for our team. So, I think they've fed off him a little bit. Obviously, when he plays well that gives us another scoring option - a guy who can jump up and shoot the ball from the perimeter. He's very athletic. His defense is getting better. It's not there yet but it's certainly getting better. So, I think our guys feed off that. I really think our guys feed off of him and obviously, I think they feed off of Terrence and I think they feed off Russ Woods. I really do. I think Russ brings an emotional aspect to the game that our guys tend to feed off of."
On Terrence Phillips' impact on the game outside of scoring...
"I think his play and Jordan Geist's play have been key in that they've done what they need to do. Whether it be scoring, whether it be distributing. Obviously, defensively they can always contribute. So, I think that's been a positive. I think Terrence has played well. I know he turned it over a little bit too much the other day. Jordan had three assists and didn't turn it over. I thought Terrence made some key shots. He had a couple of step-back moves that were really good. I know he's been working on that a lot. To be good – to be a good team, you've got to know when it's your time and when it's not your time, as far as scoring goes. So, I think he's done a good job of controlling the game – a much better job than maybe a month ago. I don't see as many unnecessary fouls or forcing it a little bit too much. You've got to learn to take whatever comes to you. Whatever comes to you, take it. Don't force it."
On Russell Woods' emotional impact on the team...
"Russ is an emotional guy – sometimes a little too emotional. I think sometimes he'll react to instruction more like it's criticism when its actually instruction. He has improved both physically and emotionally. There's a certain level of emotion that's really good for him and there's a level where it goes over that, and that's when you need time out. Then he's fine. I just think he is so into the game. To me, he's a 180 from a year ago. I'm so proud of him – of what he's done and how much he's improved. I don't know what's going to happen in the next six or seven games, however many it is we have left, but he's definitely become a guy that went from a part-time guy to a guy that makes contributions on a regular basis."
On the energy in practice after wins against Arkansas and Vanderbilt...
"I sense a better mood. I've said this several times, these guys have always practiced well. With the exception of last Saturday's shoot-around – I didn't think they were very focused, and I guess I was wrong. They've always been a good practice group, even when we were going through that losing streak. I think now they might be having a little more fun than they were – just winning a game or two and playing well. I do think we don't have to practice as long now. We still have to practice. We still need a lot of practice. Their focus has been pretty good for the time that we're out there. We're doing a lot of video work. We're playing nine guys, but we're really playing seven or eight guys big minutes. So, we're trying to also keep them off their feet."