Mizzou Men’s Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Lipscomb 81, Mizzou 76
Mizzou head coach Kim Anderson
Opening Statement…
“Willie (Jackson) came to me a couple days ago with his mom and his family has some medical issues at home. He felt like he needed to be closer to Cleveland and so he decided that he wanted to leave. Certainly I support that because of the family situation. It was very tough on Willie. He had a great desire to be closer to his family and so obviously we’d help him in any way we can. I enjoyed coaching him. He is a great young man, he did a great job in school. I certainly wish him the best. Frankie didn’t get back in a timely manner from Cleveland and therefore he hadn’t practiced so he wasn’t really ready to play. I held him out and didn’t play him. He’ll practice tomorrow and we’ll evaluate his future as far as playing but he’s back in practice tomorrow to get ready for next week. In regards to the game, disappointing. I could sit here and I could tell you positives. We did a great job on the boards, we did a great job getting to the line, but we didn’t shoot the ball very well and we haven’t. I thought we had some pretty good looks. In the second half, we did a good job of coming back to get a lead, but down the stretch couldn’t make free throws. They made free throws and we didn’t and that’s the difference in the game. Certainly I knew coming into this game watching (Lipscomb) play that they could really shoot the basketball and they did in the first half. We did a little better job in the second half on them but I knew if the score was in the 70s that it would a challenge to win. Certainly we had trouble getting to the shooters and they got some penetration too.”
On the challenge of conference play considering where the team is at…
“This game is tough. You referenced the fact that we lost games we shouldn’t lose and I guess it’s good we have a little bit of time (before the next game). The bottom line is you have to make shots. I can sit here and draw up plays and do everything else, but at some point we have to have the confidence to step up and make shots. Certainly conference play will be a challenge for us but we have time to prepare, get Jordan Barnett a bit further along and get Frankie back. We’ll be ready to go by next Wednesday.”
On Jordan Barnett…
“With Jordan, I really don’t think he’s played that well. I’ve seen him play better in practice. I’m sure it’s tough on him but I thought he did a good job tonight. Still, I think his mindset has to be a little more selfish than it is. He’s an unselfish guy and he has some basketball ability that we need to see. Our team needs to see it. Hopefully we can keep working on it.”
Sophomore guard Jordan Geist
On what the mindset of the team was the last three or four days…
“We’re just trying to get wins. Whoever is with us, it doesn’t matter. Everyone wants to go out there and win. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to win.”
On how Lipscomb pulled away late following Mizzou’s run to take the lead…
“It came down to just making free throws. They made their free throws and we didn’t. We have to get more stops. They scored 81 points. We just don’t usually give up 81 points. We’re not shooting the ball that well, we have to get stops on defense.”
On if his career-high point total means anything to him following the loss…
“I mean not really. I am just trying to go out there and do whatever I need to do to win.”
Junior forward Jordan Barnett
On what the mindset of the team was the last three or four days…
“I agree with (Jordan) Geist. Whatever happens, happens. You can’t do anything about it. We wish (Willie Jackson) the best of luck and we have no choice but to move on.”
On tallying a double-double…
“It doesn’t really matter too much to me. If I came out with a win and didn’t score; I’m happy. After a loss, it doesn’t really matter. The stats really don’t matter right now.”
On how stunned the team is after losing three nonconference home games…
“It hurts. I haven’t won a game yet here, so it definitely hurts. Just have to get back to work. That’s all.”
