SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 12, 2021

Dru Smith

Missouri Tigers

Postgame Press Conference

Arkansas 70, Missouri 64

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions for Dru.

Q. What sort of adjustments can you make as player when you see how many offensive fouls are being called in the game?

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I think just trying to play off two feet more than anything. Just make sure that you're coming to a jump stop whenever you're getting there in the lane.

Q. It seemed like y'all were able to get the ball around the rim, it was just tough to convert. Is that something to do with what Arkansas was doing defensively or just a matter of putting the shots through?

DRU SMITH: I think it's a little bit of both. They were making plays on balls at the rim. Also we just have to concentrate once we get there.

Q. Does it help you going into this game to face a team like Arkansas who is going to be highly rated in the NCAA tournament, going into the NCAA tournament?

DRU SMITH: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you that well.

Q. Does it help going into the NCAA tournament that you faced a team that is probably going to be highly rated going into that?

DRU SMITH: Yeah, Arkansas is a good team. I mean, we seen them a couple times this year. I felt like we were prepared. I mean, yeah, hopefully it prepares us for what's to come.

Q. It seemed like Arkansas made some of their runs when they went small. Is that normally when you guys feel like you would have the advantage?

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I mean, I think it kind of gives an advantage to both sides at the same time. It's just something that we have to adjust to. We have to recognize and be able to get the ball to J.T. down there whenever they do go small, then on the defensive end just understand they have a lot of guys that can put the ball on the floor. We have to do a better job of sitting down and staying in front of guys.

Q. After a long season, your team's fate comes down to the Selection Committee. For you not to have more time in Nashville to make your case for a higher seed, where is your mindset at as it pertains to Sunday when the bracket comes out?

DRU SMITH: Just hoping that we're in, hoping that we're going to get that opportunity to go try to make a run.

Q. As an Indiana kid, what is the emotion like making your first NCAA tournament appearance in your home state?

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely exciting. Obviously growing up in southern Indiana, IU, places like that are teams that you watch all the time, places that you visit just as a kid.

It's definitely exciting. It will be nice for my family not to have to travel that far.

Q. Talk about the first half, having the lead, then chipped away when fouls started to pile up, how that shifted momentum.

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I mean, there was a bit of a momentum shift there in the second half. I think we just have to do a better job of making adjustments to how the game is being called, like we saw they were calling a lot of charges. Just understand that we have to be able to make that adjustment, still continue to play our brand of basketball.

Q. (Question about Notae.)

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I mean, he's a good scorer. We knew that when he was coming in. I felt like he hit a couple tough ones there the first half. That got his head up. He was aggressive after that.

We just have to try to do a better job contesting those, making them I guess a little tougher.

Q. What is the mood of the team right now? NCAA tournament has to be pretty exciting coming up.

DRU SMITH: Yeah, I think honestly right now we're still kind of taking this loss in. Like you said, it's disappointing, frustration. That's kind of the head space I'll be in for today at least, next few days maybe. Looking forward, yeah. Obviously I think when the time gets closer, it will definitely be an exciting time.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks.