Postgame Quote Sheet
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015
Wichita State 56, UNLV 50

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HEAD COACH GREGG MARSHALL…
 
…On the win over UNLV
"I'm just really proud of the whole team. That was a throwback win. That game was won on the defensive end with heart, determination and toughness. We great job rebounding against a very talented and athletic and well-coached team. So I'm just very, very happy."
 
… On limiting turnovers against a UNLV team that thrives on defensive pressure.
"Any time you can keep it under 10, that's big… Against a team that presses a lot and has all of that length and size at the rim, I was pleased with our ball-handling… How many times were we in there handsy, deflecting balls, the ball loose on the floor? Our defense was able to be aggressive."
 
… On WSU's first half defensive performance
"We kept them out of the lane early. They were forced to take a lot of threes. They had some errant threes… They average 82 points per game, and they shoot it at a very high percentage. They didn't do that tonight."
 
… On Conner Frankamp's debut
"He's (Frankamp) out there, he got his feet wet. He swished two free throws when we really needed them.  He looked a little nervous, but it could be expected. He's been waiting a long time for this opportunity…. I predict he'll make his first jumper at Intrust Bank Arena."
 
…On Evan Wessel's underrated performance
I thought Evan Wessel may have been the MVP of the game.. Evan played his game that he played last year. He didn't make a bunch of shots, but man did he defend. He got on the floor for loose balls. I bet he got us six or seven extra possessions – just coming with loose balls and passes that would otherwise be turnovers. It's almost like going back to the football days. He's going to get hit by the safety. There's going to be a collision, yet he comes up with it… Those are big plays in my estimation, but they're not statted
 
…On VanVleet's night and overcoming poor shooting
Pretty good. He carried us in that first half. They couldn't keep him in front. He was herky jerky. His assist total should have been way up there, but guys were missing bunnies and open threes. We were getting pretty good shots. I don't recall a horrible shot tonight. I don't recall a really, really bad shot, yet we shoot 39 percent. To me this was a throwback game, kind of like my first couple of years here and my entire career – except maybe the last year or two – at Winthrop. We just won on the defensive end with grittiness and toughness and resolve.
 
…On this week's tough stretch with Utah and UNLV
"This is a big week for us, and we got the first half of it to redeem ourselves a little bit. Redeeem. Revival. Revive what we're about and just get our resolve back."
 
"We've had a couple of great days of practice. We practiced well before Saint Louis. This team feels like – when Fred's back and when Conner makes his debut tonight. Even though we're far from healthy… it feels much better when you have guys come back."

… On his frontcourt rotation, now that Rauno Nurger is no longer redshirting
 
He and Shaq Morris and Bush Wamukota, they've got to be a three-headed monster at the five, and all three of them are nothing but five, and all three can do different things. I've got to sub them situationally. One's better offensively. One's better defensively. Really it's going to come down to their motor and how they're practicing and performing in games. Tonight it was pretty even. Shaq gets 16 (minutes), Wamukota gets 13 and Nurger gets 11. And most importantly, we get the win against an NBA five-man.
 

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SENIOR GUARD, FRED VANVLEET ON…
 
…Defensive play tonight
"I think we got back to playing the way we normally play, the way we've played in the past. Obviously Orlando wasn't a pretty showing…but we guarded St. Louis pretty well. To hold this team (UNLV) to 50 (points) when they average 82 per game, I think that's a feather in our cap. We still haven't had a good shooting game yet…so we had to get stops and we did that tonight."
 
…Winning an important game after a slow start to the season
"I think it's big. You talk about at-large bids…us as players try to just focus on the next game, but big picture-wise we need to string together some wins, or even just some respectable play. With this team coming in and followed up by Utah, we know it's a big week. You can't win both without winning the first one, so tonight that was our main focus. This team is really, really good…had it been a new week, they'd probably have been in the top 25. St. Louis was a step, tonight was a big step, and now we got to keep taking steps in the right direction."
 

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SOPHOMORE GUARD, CONNER FRANKAMP…
 
…His first game as a Shocker
 
"I'm glad we won. I was nervous before I came in, but it was great to be back out there. The atmosphere as great, and coming away with the W is the most important thing. I knew I'd be [nervous].
 
It slowed down probably after my first minute of being out there. I just tried to slow down, relax, and make the easy plays."
 
…The influence that Baker and VanVleet have had on his transition to Wichita State
 
"They've been very helpful in all aspects. Playing against them everyday has really helped me, and guarding them has helped my defense. We've grown to have a great relationship, and I'm excited to be here with these guys."
 

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SENIOR GUARD, RON BAKER ON…
 
…Improved defensive effort tonight
 
"I think we just stuck to what the scouting report had tonight…UNLV was pretty simple when it came to their offense, and coach [Isaac] Brown broke down their film very well and we paid attention to detail."
 
…Winning the hustle plays
 
"Every time there's a loose ball or an offensive rebound in jeopardy, I thought Evan Wessel, Bush [Wamukota], and even Zach Brown did a great job of keeping balls alive and getting second-chance opportunities. Those plays you can't coach. It's all about your effort and energy…it's great to have those kinds of players on your team."