Postgame Quote Sheet:
17/16 Wichita State 81, UCF 62
Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018
Wichita, Kan./ Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
 

---

WSU HEAD COACH GREGG MARSHALL ON…
 
… opening statement:
"I thought it was a very good team effort and a very good team win tonight. We looked at the videotape last time out against Houston, and we didn't have very many -- if any -- good performances. Against SMU -- maybe a few -- but tonight you can go down the list. We got contributions from a number of guys. From Shaq Morris with his scoring, rebounding and shot blocking.  Darral Willis looked healthy and was tremendous tonight. Austin Reaves was good. Samajae Haynes-Jones was good. Down the list, it was a team win against a very good team that is a little undermanned at this point."
 
… how the team reacted emotionally after two-straight losses:
"I would have to go back and look at the videotape. I would say much improved, but you should never have to get to that point. We were intimidated at Houston. The guys did not respond after being punched in the mouth. That's disappointing, and we talked about the urgency of now. What are they waiting on? We have 11 regular season games going into tonight. So it's about time to figure that out."
 
… the importance of playing at 100 percent:
"That's what we do. When guys slow down to 98 percent, 99 percent, then they have to come out, because the guy sitting behind him on the bench is equally as good. It's hard for me to figure out who to put into the game. They need to be playing hard, they need to be playing smart, and they need to be giving great effort."
 
… the starting rotation:
"I just thought it was time for McDuffie. Brown had not been playing well. Brown had two tremendous days of practice before the game and then played well tonight. Shaq and Conner missed practice on Monday with various injuries and whatnot. If they miss practice, they aren't going to start. If they can't practice at all, then they aren't going to play. I should have implemented that a long time ago. I've done it in the past, but with a veteran group you give them the benefit of the doubt, and it has happened too many times."
 
… UCF's grit, but WSU's complete game:
"I don't know if we sped them up. They are a well-coached team. I thought they continued to battle all the way through. We just had a good first half and a good second half. We methodically built that lead. When they made plays, we made plays, and we just made more of them."
 
… Morris' performance:
"I mean 8-of-10, the guys were finding him and he was making some moves inside. He did hit the one three. He took another three where he came down and another guy put his foot -- it wasn't intentional I don't think -- but there is a foot underneath him. He comes down and sprains his ankle, so we don't know what is going to happen on Sunday. But that's got to be a foul when you come out of a shot and land on a guy's foot."
 
…  the remaining schedule:
"I thought the game was a good turning point for us, I hope. We have Tulsa on Sunday, and we want to continue to win and build a little momentum before we head to Philadelphia."
 
… green ties and Coaching for Literacy:
"This tie, you all have noticed (pointing to a light green tie) represents Coaching for Literacy. Illiteracy is a problem in the United States. We are one of 40 programs in the country this season joining the fight for literacy games initiative. Coaching for Literacy has funded over 50 literacy projects in 20 communities across 11 states directly impacting over 8,000 children. The mission of Coaching for Literacy is to use the power of sports to raise awareness about the problem of illiteracy and generate financial support for literacy programs nationwide. There is a website to get involved: www.coachingforliteracy.org. The money that is raised will go directly to literacy programs in Wichita. According to the National Association for Educational Progress, the NAEP, 65 percent of fourth-graders in Kansas are not proficient in reading. Fans can support young students in Wichita by donating for each assist recorded by the Shockers—and we have a number of them usually—from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6 at www.pledgeit.org/shockers. That's why we wore the green ties tonight. Everyone deserves the opportunity to read. It's amazing how much money is wasted; illiteracy costs in the U.S. reach 225 billion dollars annually through non-productivity in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue. 85 percent of juveniles in the court system cannot read. 85 percent. 64 percent of American fourth^-graders are not reading at their grade level. So let's do something about it. This is not my favorite color, but I will wear it for that cause." 
 

---

SOPHOMORE GUARD AUSTIN REAVES ON...

... coming out with a victory after a two-game skid:
"We just had to get back to who we were. This last week of practice was hard. We competed first group against second group, and I felt like we went out tonight and competed really hard."

... getting Shaq involved on the offensive end:
"Coach preaches getting the ball inside. We play inside-out. When we have post players like these two (Kelly and Morris) Darral, Rauno...we feel like we've got an advantage every time we go on the block. When he gets it going like that, he's a problem. We look for him early in the game and if he's knocking down his shots or rebounding that, it's hard to guard."

... effort level on the court with a deep bench:
"Give it everything you got. That's what coach preaches. If there's a loose ball, dive on it. If you are not checking out, you are probably going to come out of the game. So when you are in the game you just got to give it 110-percent every possession. If you do that, then nine-times-out-of-10 good things happen...when you come out of the game and you know you are playing well, you are going to get right back in because our rotation is so good."
 

---

SENIOR FORWARD RASHARD KELLY ON...

... the team's effort and energy:
"It was a great team win. Across the board, we had a lot of good performances that we were looking for throughout the whole year. It's something to build on. When you lose two-in-a row you've just got to look up. We were in a hole, and we couldn't make that hole any bigger. We just had to look for something right, and a lot of guys played well tonight."

... the physicality of the game:
"We don't have a problem with it. I think that's kind of where our identity is...just as a culture at Wichita State. Playing physical, getting on the ground, boxing out...all that tough guy stuff. That's what all the fans want to see and that's just what guys before us that were here did. So we are just trying to buy into that..we just got to keep buying into it more and more. "

... speeding the game up and getting them out of their comfort zone:
"Yeah, I saw them play a game early in the year. It was like in the 40's. I think the lineups we kept throwing at them...just how active we were, they were gassed at the end of the game. They had two big men...two five men. We have a three-headed rotation at the five. Just simple keys like that that were able to help wear them down."

... Landry being a floor general:
"Just a great team win. Like I stated earlier, we have 17 guys on our roster, and Landry just found a way to affect the game. Six assists, can't ask more from a point guard, just be a general. 2-for-9 from the field, but look...we are going to have a game against Tulsa Sunday, and all those shots that he missed tonight don't matter. It was just a great team win."
 

---

SENIOR CENTER SHAQUILLE MORRIS ON....

... the difference between last two games and tonight:
"Coach got us ready from the jump. Stating a lot things that were obvious with the team. It just sparked us. Everybody that was on the court took care of what they needed to do within the time they were on the court. We are trying to get back to 'Playing Angry' and doing what we are known for."

... thoughts on not being in the starting lineup:
"I missed practice Monday because I had a headache. My teammates and coaches agreed that if you don't practice throughout the whole week, you shouldn't start."