Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Missouri Postgame Quotes
January 17, 2008 | Cowgirl Basketball
OSU Head Coach Kurt Budke
On the game
“I didn't think we were very sharp tonight. I think that our kids were emotionally spent from the big win (over Oklahoma). These are 19- and 20-year old kids and it is hard to get away from what a great night that was. Everybody in their classes talks about it and everybody in the town talks about it. I just didn't think we were as sharp as we were the other night. Saying that, to have this margin of victory on a night that I didn't think we were great says a lot about how far the program has come.
“I think that a lot of people probably predicted that we would be a little flat tonight. We needed to move on and play this game. I'm glad this game was at home. I have to be honest with you, I would hate to go on the road after (the win over Oklahoma). Now it is past us and we have to get ready for conference play down there at Texas A&M.”
On the balance play of his team
“I think for us to have success, we need to have box scores like this. This time of year, everyone has to get close their numbers and you always look for one to go off. I think Taylor Hardeman is that person tonight. She got 16 points and she did a great job. Then you see Shyvon Spears with 11 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, she did her role tonight. She doesn't have to score for us to be successful, she just has to do what she did tonight. Megan Byford is just getting better every night out. Nobody has ever competed for a Big 12 Championship with just one person getting that many every night.”
Senior Danielle Green
On coming back from Saturday's win over Oklahoma
“We were ready to get out there. Especially because a lot of people said (the win over Oklahoma) was kind of a fluke. We were ready to get out there and prove that we can do it again and that we weren't just on an emotional high. We just wanted to play.”
On the next two games at Texas A&M and at Texas
“They are huge, especially being on the road. We have been playing at home a lot lately. These games are huge. We have Texas A&M, which is a power house, and Texas, which is a power house. We have to go in and beat those teams to stay in the running.”
Junior Taylor Hardeman
On being on top of the Big 12 standings
“We are just trying to take it one game at a time. It s nice to talk about the long run, but we have Texas A&M on Saturday and that is our main focus for now. We are just ready to get back out there and show the world what we have.”
On the excitement surrounding the team
“We have just done so much work in the summer and leading up to now. Now, we're all doing what we know how to do and everyone is clicking. It makes practice more exciting and, obviously, it makes the games more exciting.”
Missouri Coach Cindy Stein Quotes
On the game
“Oklahoma State is a very talented team. They deserve a lot more people in the stands every night. The kids feed off the crowd and it could be an amazing environment here. I'm sure they were challenged to have a back-to-back outing after winning against Oklahoma. I thought they played like they were inspired tonight. They're very talented. They have so many weapons. I didn't think (Andrea) Riley was going to try and score 45 against us. I was hoping she wasn't anyway. I felt like we would have a really good shot at winning if we could contain people. I felt like we had some really good looks at the basket that didn't go in. We hit some of those baskets early and then Oklahoma State's defense picked up. OSU's depth is their key. Their depth is really good. (Megan) Byford can come in and just brutalize you. (Kristin) Hernandez came in and did well. They're very hard to defend because they're so aggressive and they just keep coming at you.”
On Coach Budke turning Oklahoma State around
“This is a very talented team. Kurt has done a great job. He has all the right kids. I have all the respect in the world for Maria Cordero. That's a kid we tried to get. I love her. She has tremendous hands inside and is a great inside-outside combination. He's got a lot of junior college connections and that helps.”
On competing in the Big 12 Conference
“At the beginning of every season, we're picked 12th so we're considered at the bottom. But I feel like we can compete every night. We just have a young team. That's what I like about our team is that we're going to battle every night.”
On Andrea Riley
“She's built really strong and she can absorb things. We fouled her to death. We bumped her three or four times before she even took a shot. She can shoot a three or at mid-range or a lay-up. She does a tremendous job.”
