NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - MISSOURI VS OKLAHOMA

March 20, 2021

Jeremiah Tilmon

Lucas Oil Stadium - Equality Court (North)

Missouri Tigers

Postgame Media Conference

Oklahoma - 72, Missouri - 68

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions, please.

Q. First question for you, the emotions that you're going through, walking off the court after a hard fought game.

JEREMIAH TILMON: It was pretty tough. Especially expecting to win. I wanted to at least make it past the first round. Everybody out there was going hard and playing nobody was expecting to lose so it just got really emotional out there walking off the court.

Q. And then coach mentioned specifically after the time that you missed the two games that you missed it was different after that, did you feel anything different in the locker room or kind of on the field in y'all closing games in the second half?

JEREMIAH TILMON: Yeah, it was a little different. But it was just up to us to bring it back together and recognize that, like you said, once I came back, things was different and we wasn't clicking like we was, but we got it back together but it just probably was too late.

Q. The matchup with Manek tonight, him getting lose for a few of those threes, how much did that kind of hurt your guys when you were trying to make that run there in the second half?

JEREMIAH TILMON: We just got to know key personnel when it comes to the players, so of course we scouted it and knew he was going to be a shooter so we just made some adjustments and had me guarding different players because when we was in the ball screens I was having to help and do downs and stuff like that and giving him too much space so we just made a couple adjustments.

Q. What were you expecting from Oklahoma's low post players kind of coming in the game and then what did you end up seeing that was different from them in terms of how they defended you or anything like that?

JEREMIAH TILMON: I expected what happened tonight, them sending the double team and either coming from the back side or the high side, just knowing which way they're coming from and I was expecting that and that's what happened, honestly. So I was already, I was pretty prepared for it coming into the game.

Q. Coach told us that this group of seniors got the program, got Missouri's program back where it needs to be. What do you feel like this senior class accomplished and what do you take from your time here at Mizzou?

JEREMIAH TILMON: I think that we accomplished a lot. We always been underdogs and people always looked upon us when it comes to playing big games and stuff and we just proved a lot of people wrong that we can play against anybody this year and we, like you said, we turned the program around, we just, we built a culture and kept it going and hopefully everything continues from here on out.

Q. Coach mentioned that it's hard to kind of run a play when Oklahoma turns the ball over going into that last possession for y'all late, I guess what was kind of supposed to happen in your mind and just kind of walk me through that kind of scramble that led to Drew getting the ball?

JEREMIAH TILMON: You said going into halftime or the end of the game?

Q. No, no the end of the game when you had the ball and they ended up fouling Drew Bugs?

JEREMIAH TILMON: Can you say that question again.

Q. Sure. Coach said it's kind of hard to execute a play when Oklahoma turns the ball over going into that stretch. What was kind of supposed to happen, I guess and then just kind of walk me through your perspective of that sort of scramble that ended up with the ball in Bugs' hands and getting fouled?

JEREMIAH TILMON: We were trying to play great defense, the clock was ticking and we were still down, so when he got the stop we just drew up plays to get us three and we executed two of them, honestly, but, and it helped us out, but we didn't get the outcome we wanted, of course, but I hope that answers your question.

Q. Kind of expanding off of his question, coming in here as a freshman seemed like your time went by pretty fast here at Mizzou. Can you kind of expand on that a little bit, just how, what's it been like being here and kind of taking the opportunity this year to be one of those leaders for the Tigers.

JEREMIAH TILMON: Oh, it's been good. I mean I've had an exciting four years. I don't regret anything for being here. When I came in, freshman year we made it to the NCAA tournament and played against Florida State and lost in the first round. So, I mean, this year was the year we played again and we was just trying to get further than what we did in the first time and just take each game at a time, one step at a time, take it each game by one by one. But we didn't get out come we wanted though, but we're going to keep our heads high.

Q. I wanted to ask about a fellow senior Drew Smith. Could you describe what you saw out of Drew Smith, especially down the stretch there in the game?

JEREMIAH TILMON: Drew Smith's always played smart, he never gives up and he just knows how to keep the keep contained and do what he's supposed to do. Those shots he took at the end of the game, those was, I mean, he makes those shots, so we trusted him with the ball. And we was coming to him at the end of the game, each play we was trying to get the ball up in his hands so he can make shots. We trust him a hundred percent. So I mean that should tell you everything you need to know.