WICHITA, Kan. - Men's basketball head coach Gregg Marshall held his weekly press conference today, where he discussed tomorrow's opponent Indiana State, Missouri Valley Conference play, potential areas for improvement and more. Read below for the transcript.
 

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HEAD COACH GREGG MARSHALL ON…
 
…Conference play vs. non-conference play
"This will be our first Valley game [of the year] of course. With the new rules – or new emphasis, I should say – who knows what it's going to be like. Generally, teams know each other better. They're familiar with the style, the coaching, [and] some of the athletes from the year before."
 
…The keys to being successful in conference play
"We have to defend well, we have to rebound well, we have to take good shots, let the offense create good shots, and when it doesn't, you have to go make some plays. We have to be tough and smart. Just all the things you need to do to win a basketball game."
 
…Assessing how prepared the guards are for conference play
"They've had their moments. Obviously there's things that we'd like to see them do better at. Some games they're better than others shooting ball. Other games, they're better defensively…I think overall if I had to grade the four or five guards that we play at the 'one' and the 'two,' I would give them a B... I want to get them better every day. That's the goal with this team. For the most part, we'll have these guys back next year…we just want to keep getting better."
 
…Indiana State's Brenton Scott
"He's a dynamic scorer, he's averaging 19-plus per game. He can shoot it from a distance, he can drive it, gets to the foul line. You can't lose discipline defensively against him, or it's going to be two or three points. You've got to stay locked in and force him to take a lot of bad shots. He's going to score, he'll get his points. You can't get discouraged and let something on the offensive end affect your defensive intensity on him... He can make difficult shots, he's talented and skilled. You want to force him to take contested shots and not rhythm threes or contested looks. You can't let him get to the rim…There will be multiple people guarding him."
 
…The rest of the Sycamores
"They've got other good players. [Brandon] Murphy's like Shaq but bigger and a little more athletic. [Matt] Van Scyoc really shoots the ball well. You can't let him get going behind the arc. Everett Clemons and those other guards are tough. They're very competitive, they get loose balls, they [get] offensive rebounds, they drive it to the basket, and they can post up a little bit."
 
…How to translate success in practice to success in games
"Just practice. Practice makes perfect. Whether [the players] want to believe it or not, the time spent in the gym and getting reps in a competitive situation makes you better. We'll obviously try to replicate what Indiana State does with our scout team…you just have to work and get in the gym."
 
…If he's seen someone take up Evan Wessel's mantle in hustle and diving for loose balls
"As a general rule, I don't think we have anyone like Evan Wessel. He was just a different breed of player; he was a throwback. He was very, very tough and very team-centered…he was just trying to help his team win, we find value in that. I don't think there's anybody on this team that's as good, but that's not a slight on anybody. I don't know if I've had anybody in my 19 years of coaching that's as good at getting a loose ball than he was."
 
…What Conner Frankamp driving to the basket can add to the offense
"Well it gives an opportunity for a layup. Generally, it's easier to make a layup than it is a 15-footer, and it's a lot easier than a three-pointer. It just just puts more pressure on the defense to have to guard another facet."
 
…If anyone has emerged as a vocal leader
"I think we're a little better at it today than we were last week, and a lot better than where we were a month or two ago. It's still not where you want it to be, but again it falls under that category of getting better."
 
…If the team has more room to grow than past teams
"I think so. We've got guys playing that are just beginning their college careers with us. We could get healthy…There's opportunities for them to grow individually, and if they get better individually, then we improve collectively."