On the last 24 hours…

“It started with a text from my high school coach asking what the rumors were about. I had no idea, its actually crazy how good some of you are at your jobs. We got a text earlier in the day that we were going to have a team meeting at 2:45 p.m. I kind of thought the two went together. So we had our meeting and didn’t really get a definite answer of what was going to happen. Basically he just told us that he would call us whether he decided to take the job or not. So we kind of sat around and waited, and of course saw some things online. We finally got things figured out this morning.”

On the mood of the team…

“Everyone was just shocked, everyone doesn’t really know what to expect. This is the last thing I thought would happen today, I mean I was expecting some assistant coaches maybe to leave (Mark Phelps), everyone has new opportunities, I just wasn’t expecting that.”

On this morning’s meeting with Athletics Director Mike Alden.

“Basically, he was here for us. Ever since I’ve been here, Mike Alden has been our biggest fan; I support him and I know he supports us. He was just telling us where in the process everything was, where the program stood and how he’s going to go out and find a good coach for us.”

On any signs he saw of Haith leaving Mizzou…

“You never really know the whole situation, so you don’t really know what he is going through. I’m sure there are a lot of circumstances; you have to do what is best for your family. You can’t judge a man (on this), you have to provide for your family. You don’t really know what was driving him to do what.”

On any pressure that may have been mounting on Haith…

“I think there was pressure on all of us. We were a fringe NCAA team so there was a lot of pressure on us to make it. Of course people see and hear things and everyone has high expectations for us, which they should, we’re the University of Missouri.”

On the importance of fan support now and in the future…

“It’s great to have fan support behind us. There will always be those that don’t really approve of everything, but as a team, we expect that we are going to win every game.”

On whether his teammates will stay or leave the university…

“I think I’m the biggest example, I’m a St. Louis kid, born in Missouri. I’ve been a Mizzou fan my entire life. This morning, even with everything going on, I looked in my closet and I was proud to put on a Missouri shirt.”

On the text message that carried the news from Haith…

“I’m sure he is very busy, I can’t blame the man, I’m sure we will have a talk. I support Frank Haith, he brought me here. I came here because it’s Missouri, but he had a lot to do with it also.”

On the desired attributes of a new coach…

“Just a strong leader, someone who is going to take us back to the NCAA tournament and win championships.”

On what these next few weeks will be like…

“I have a lot of faith in Mike Alden. I know he’s going to make a good decision. It’s a prestigious job, I would say, so I think we’ll have a lot of good guys try to come here.”