CHRISTIAN BRAUN:
Q: Can you now start looking forward to Saturday?
A: Oh yeah. Yeah, I was looking forward to it before to be real honest with you, but I'm excited. I know all the guys are excited.
Q: What is it about this game that brings that out in you?
A: I mean, just growing up in it and seeing it firsthand? It's just Missouri, that's what I'm excited for. The rivalry is a lot bigger than me and my family. We watched this game growing up and seeing how intense the rivalry really is. So yeah it's big for my family, but I'm just excited to play with Kansas across my chest and get a win.
Q: Was it hard to not look ahead?
A: Yeah. I mean, obviously, there's people camping, you walk through the field out to practice, there's people already camping for the game, so that was exciting. But, we had to focus on this game we knew that, but I think the first thing everybody said when we got in the tunnel was who we got next.
OCHAI AGBAJI:
Q: Was it hard to not look ahead to Saturday? I mean, that's kind of a big game compared to this one.
A: A little bit. Yeah. It's just a big week, coming off the St John's win. We were coming back here, we were going to play in front of T-Mobile crowds, going to be fun. And then we obviously had Saturday's game, but never looked past the game. That's when you under underestimate your opponent.
Q: What does Saturday's game mean to you?
A: A lot. I didn't grow up, but you know, a KU Missouri fan. Because I had moved here from Milwaukee, so I've known the rivalry. I know the border war, so it should be a really fun game. That's all I got to say.
Q: You say it means a lot to you.
A: Oh. I mean, yeah, it means a lot to me because growing up, being on the Missouri side, I kind of get their perspective on KU. So now being at KU, I just know they both hate each other, so.
Q: Do you get a sense of what it means to other people, whether it's alums or former players or just the fans?
A: Yeah. We had a Sherron Collins and Jamari Traylor, just in the locker room. And they were talking about how much it means to them. And I know it means a lot to the alumni, to the whole program, to both universities. So it's a big game.
BILL SELF:
Q: Was there any concern they'd look ahead to Saturday?
A: Yeah, I think so. I think this was a trap game or whatever, but yeah. And we haven't played great over here as you guys know in this particular game. So I talked to him about that, but I didn't think it was a trap game, but it was a game in which the guys are... Monday morning we, we left to come over here. Guys showed up at noon, I guess, to lift. And there was well over a hundred camping groups already, which means over 2000 students are already waiting there since Monday morning to go to the game. And that number will go to one 150 or 200. And so we're telling them how important this game is, but they're thinking about what's getting ready to happen on Saturday. I think they handled it OK. But they're excited for Saturday. I'm sure Missou is as well.
Q: What's it going to be like over there?
A: What's it going to be like? Well, I would assume it's going to be pretty good. I would assume that there won't be a lot of empty seats. It's the best game on our schedule. And you talk about Kentucky or Baylor, Texas, or this one. This is the best game on our schedule. And at least from a fan participation and from a player participation... We haven't played them in nine years. Back when we did play them it was the best game on our schedule.
Q: Do you remember coming off the floor of that night?
A: In Lawrence?
Q: Yeah.
A: Oh yeah. Yeah. Well, I don't remember everything but I was thinking where's Neil Jones. I hope he interviews me. I wasn't thinking of it like that but it was probably the most emotional home game that I've ever been a part of. There was pressure on us to win that game and we didn't handle it very well. Then when the lid came off, we played pretty well down the stretch. But that was college basketball at its best, the OU game at home. There was three overtimes, but I don't know if there's another game like those two, those two were the best games.
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