MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY QUOTE SHEET


HEAD COACH GREGG MARSHALL…
 
... Emotions of playing in a different conference.
"I'm excited and anxious. We know that we are stepping up to The American conference with great coaches, players and teams."

... Being picked second in The American.
"If the shoe were on the other foot and I were in another league and a new team was coming in, I wouldn't like the fact that they were picked to win our league in the very first year. That would motivate me if I were one of the other 11 teams."
 
... Getting Midtgaard adjusted to Wichita and D-I basketball.
"He's made the transition very well. Our team has been very helpful in that regard. These guys are great young men, and they try to embrace him. The coaching staff has, as well."
 
... His expectations for McDuffie as an upperclassman.
"I just want him to be a more efficient and smarter player. He plays really hard, is coachable and a great kid. He's worked really hard with his upper body and has gotten stronger."
 
... On Brown heading into his senior season.
"He knows everything about what we are doing and obviously is a great defender. He can shoot the three-ball, and he's trying to drive it a little more than he has in the past."

... The addition of assistant coach Donnie Jones.
"He's experienced, won national championships and coached Division I for nine years. He brings calmness and a positive vibe to the office and players; I think they really like that. He's just a tremendous person, great family man and great coach. We need him to be all those things."
 

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ZACH BROWN ON..
 
… Excitement for the season.
"This is history. This is a history-making year. We want to continue this tradition, this legacy that Coach Marshall and the old teams started with the 35-0 and the Final Four teams. We want to continue all that."
 
… Preseason hype.
"Rankings don't matter. At the same time everyone is going to come at you 100 miles-per-hour, just because we wear Wichita State on our jersey. It's the same mindset [as before]. We have to keep rolling and do what we need to do."
 

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RASHARD KELLY ON..
 
… What he is excited about most this upcoming season.
"Just the opportunity we've got in front of us. We are just trying to start off right. We have UMKC coming in, and then we go to Maui. Start the preseason and non-conference off right. "
 
… Stepping up to a new level in The American.
"You just have to bring it. You prepare by trying to be your best everyday in practice, then you don't have to worry about anything else. "
 
… How having six seniors will benefit the team.
"Everybody knowing there roles, everybody knowing what needs to be done and what they do and what they don't do. We have been a tight knit group of guys these last four years, and we will just keep building off of that. Remember that everyday we are a band of brothers. Whatever we do it affects all of us not just one person."
 

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MARKIS McDUFFIE ON…
 
…His expectations for the season.
"Be the best team we can be. Improve each year… First we have to figure out what this team is about, and we are still working on that. Just because we have everyone coming back, we still have to regather ourselves. We have a whole new conference, a whole new look this year."
 
… Being picked second in The American preseason poll.
"I think there is a big target on our back, for us to come in the conference new and be number two, it's a big target. Everyone wants to beat us now. I wouldn't say it's a lot of pressure, but we are definitely the team that everyone wants to beat. We just have to be the tougher team."
 
…His experience at Monday's American Athletic Conference Media Day in Philadelphia.
"It was a great experience. New conference. New location. It was great to see some of the guys on each team. It's just a different view, different conference and new culture. "
 
… On his rehab progress
"Its going good right now. All I can do is just rest up.  Let the [my foot] heal by itself and continue to rehab."
 
… Motivating teammates even though he's not able to practice.
"Telling them what to do, getting these young guys right. I'm sitting down and observing practice, and just trying to pick certain people to work with and get them better. It's a long season, and we have a long way to go."
 

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LANDRY SHAMET ON..
 
… On his injury rehab.
 "I'm running, and I'm cutting a little bit now…Hopefully I can be back pretty soon. Trying to stay positive."
 
… Haynes-Jones' progress.
 "A guy that is really going to help us, a lot. A lot of talent, and [he's] still learning. He's willing to learn and that's what I really like most. He accepts coaching, whether it is from coach, or an assistant coach. I've been trying to coach him up too, cause I know he can help us, and I like what he brings."
 
… How he is handling his down time with this injury, compared to the one he suffered two years ago as a true freshman.
"This time is obviously different. Last time it was more of me being in the backseat learning, trying to find my own place. Now I kind of know my own place here…I'm still trying to be a leader as much as I can without playing…and try to be a positive guy for us."
 

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CONNER FRANKAMP ON..
 
… Preseason hype surrounding the Shockers:
"I think everyone has pretty high expectations for us, because we are pretty much senior led and we were in the Valley the last couple of years. The new conference is going to be a big challenge for us, we obviously need to get better on some things but we are coming along pretty good. "
 
… Settling in as a senior:
"I feel like I am really comfortable. I know the system well. I know the one and two positions. I feel like my confidence is back up… It's been pretty smooth so far."
 
... Playing in The American:
"I think we are going to love it. Obviously we are going to have a good game every single night…  which will be really good for our program... We have to prepare even better, but I am sure the coaches will do a great job with that."
 
… What he is seeing from the new guys:
"Samaje is probably above everybody else. He is extremely fast and quick. He can score the ball well. He obviously still has to learn the system, but he is doing pretty good at that and coach is helping him."
 
 

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ASBJØRN MIDTGAARD ON…
 
… What made him come to Wichita State.
"How we do it here. We make players here."
 
… Getting to know some of the players and taking him under his wing.
"They are doing a great job. They are really handling me well, especially since I am from Europe. They are just showing me how to do things around here, like being a part of the culture and everything. I really like it."
 
 … What he is looking forward to most about this season.
"Playing here on this court. I have never been to a game [at Charles Koch Arena]… Playing in front of 10,000 people is going to be incredible."
 
… Senior teammates, like Rauno Nurger, helping him transition.
"A lot. We are playing against each other every day at practice. While we are battling under the basket he is just giving me information on how we do things around here. He has been a really big help, especially because he is from Europe."
 

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SAMAJE HAYNES-JONES ON…
 
… How the preseason is going so far.
"I'm doing good. I'm loving the process. There are ups and downs right now… adversity in practice, but that makes you a better player. I'm just enjoying the process."
 
 … The biggest adjustments he has had to make coming from junior college.
"Running a lot of plays, learning all the plays, a lot of the presses and the defensive schemes. It is kind of the same defensive-wise, but we didn't run a lot of plays at Hutch that we do here. You just have to learn, especially as a point guard. You have to be very, very vocal."
 
… Learning from Landry Shamet.
"Landry helps me a lot with the point guard spot because he knows all the plays, and that's the difference between Hutch and here, there are a lot of plays…and I go to Landry when things get tough, or I forget a play and he helps me in a lot of ways.
 

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DARRAL WILLIS JR. ON…
 
… What he is seeing from the new guys.
"Just got to get them on board, showing them what toughness is and learning all the sets. I have seen a lot of energy from the guys, so that's a good thing. "
 

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ROD BROWN ON..
 
... Adjustment to college game:
"It is tough. It is very tough. I've been working my whole life to get to this position. The fact that I have only been playing for four-and-a-half, five years and I am at this point in my life where I can play Division I level and to be on the team with the seniors we have, its huge… There is leadership. They always keep everyone on the team in order and doing the right thing. They are always keeping me focused and reminding me what I am really here for. We all have one goal, and that is win.
 

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AUSTIN REAVES ON…
 
… Moving to The American:
"It's gonna be fun, there's going to be a lot of nights where if we don't play well we have a chance to be beaten. Last year there were some nights where we didn't play well, but we escaped with a win. This year we are going to have to play well every single night. That's the fun thing about it, we are going to get to our highest peak this year, because we are playing better teams, and hopefully that will help us out a lot.

… Wichita State's depth:
"Growing up, I never would have thought I would have been playing with such awesome players. It's going to be a great year. We have six seniors, so we are senior-led team.  We just have a bunch of guys who are leaders.
 

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C.J. KEYSER ON..
 
... Making progress from his freshman season..
"I just need to focus on defending, rebounding, doing all the little things. Try to get on the floor as much as possible and not doing too much, while giving maximum effort at everything I do. "
 
… What makes this team so unique.
"I think the experience.  We played in two games in the NCAA tournament last year. We have a lot of seniors on our team, and that means a lot. "
 
… Expectations for the year.
"Getting back to where we were last year. Not taking a day off. We ended at the tournament last year, and we just want to start with that same mindset this year."
 
… Thoughts on new conference.
" I am definitely excited about the new conference. We have a lot of schools that are close to where a lot of our players live. It's a chance for a lot of our families to see us play and it's different competition and traveling different places so that is always a plus. "