Opening Statement:
"First of all, congratulations to Missouri. They’re a really good basketball team. I thought their energy and their fight really got to us in the second half. I thought we did some good things in the first half, and had an opportunity to have a lead at halftime, but I don’t know who that was out there for us in the second half. That’s not taking anything away from Missouri, because they took it from us. We talked at halftime about transition defense and valuing the ball. Then on the very first play, they reach out and take the ball from us and get a layup. We come down on the second play, take a quick shot-- which I didn’t necessarily think was a bad shot-- but we take a quick shot, and then don’t get back into transition, so right away they have four points right after halftime off of transition and we’ve turned the ball over. From there I didn’t think we fought like a team that’s really hungry to win, that’s tied 4-5 with this team and has a chance to come in and get a win on the road against a top 20 opponent. I don’t know the reason for it. I’m disappointed, but again those kids played really well."
On Andrew Fitzgerald’s two quick fouls...
"I think we had a lead, if I’m not mistaken, when he was out there. When he’s not in the game we really don’t have anyone we can throw the ball inside to, so they don’t have to guard anyone for us down there. I thought they were two interesting calls. The last one was 94 feet away from the basket, you know, but we are a different team with him out there. I don’t know though, he played, what, 23 minutes and didn’t have a defensive rebound? How is that even humanly possible? You’re in 23 minutes, you’re our biggest guy and don’t have a defensive rebound. We need everyone rebounding."
