Postgame Quote Sheet
Wichita State 75, Catawba 64 (Exhibition)
Oct. 30, 2018
Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)
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HEAD COACH GREGG MARSHALL ON...
...Tonight being a struggle:
"I think we were a little worse than what I thought we would be tonight. We had some guys that were kind of frozen in the moment and not playing with their hair on fire. Then we had a couple guys step up. I thought
Jamarius Burton was tremendous and I thought Samajae was pretty good, but we've got a lot of work to do to get better and figure out a way to prepare for some of these teams we have coming in."
... Jamarius adjusting to the speed of the game:
"He's just got a very mature way about him, and not just in his basketball game... He's very conscious of his academics. He's just really mature and an old soul... He's really methodical, doesn't get sped up and handles situations well. He's one of the few."
... Markis in the second half:
"Markis just slowed down. He played like a mature senior. In the first half he played like another freshman. He got caught up in the whole bad shots and no execution -- the same thing that caused him to have a poor year last season. He's been playing so well in practice. I was really surprised by that. I was thinking Markis was back to being mature, really smart and all of those things, but tonight he reverted to the way he played last year when he struggled. He has got to slow down and let the game come to him a little bit. He's so talented and such a great kid, but for whatever reason he is in a big-time hurry."
...What he said at halftime:
"Well you're in a dog-fight and you've got 20 minutes to not be a national story. You've got to find a way, gut it out and you've got to be tough and smart. Execute, defend, rebound, make a shot every once in a while, knock some free throws down and try to win this game."
...Size advantage inside:
"They are a pretty good size. They don't have the 7-footer but they have several guys 6-8. I went through that handshake line and they've got four to five guys 6-7, 6-8. They can drive the ball. They are more perimeter-oriented than our guys. We have some straight five-men -- like Udeze and Midtgaard are strictly five men. The other two can step out a little bit. You saw Chandler make a jumpshot and Echenique had a jump shot but he didn't know what to do with it and traveled. It's just getting these jitters out. I hope we can get them out and play better. It's going to be up-and-down. I've been saying it for several months, and I hope now people see what I'm talking about."
.. Anything that stood out:
"I'll just point to those individuals -- I thought Samajae and Jamrius played really well. I've got a lot of coaching to do. My staff has a lot of coaching to do, and we have to get these guys to speed up on defense and rebounding and slow down on offense. It's just going to be a lot of work,and hopefully these kids will buy in to it."
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SENIOR GUARD SAMAJAE HAYNES-JONES ON....
... Picking up the team after falling behind in the first half:
"That's me being a leader. Me being a senior, I have to pull these young guys together and just keep going throughout the game. We came out with the win."
... His mentality compared to last year:
"I've been doing it since June. I knew coming into this season, with all the young guys, that I have to be a leader. "
.... Rhythm in the second half:
"It's just me creating. At the end of the shot clock, just trying to make a winning play. Not trying to really force anything. Overall, just trying to play defense at the end."
.... Thoughts on Jamarius and his game
"His poise. Taking control of the game when he was in the game. Making big plays... at the end of the game."
... What message he would give to the newcomers after the game:
"Mentally, just stay positive. This is going to be a long season. We are going to go watch film, and just learn every day. Go out there and play hard. Don't get down on yourself. Go out there and play the way we always play - - play angry."
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FRESHMAN GUARD JAMARIUS BURTON ON...
... His Shocker debut:
"My biggest focus coming out was not even to focus on the crowd. That was my whole thing, I didn't even look at the crowd. I just tried to stay locked in and pay attention to my leaders and Coach Marshall."
... Doing the little things:
"I was just out there trying to do what I could to help the team -- whether that was assisting or trying to take a charge to get us an extra possession. I just tried to do what I could."
... Whether pace of the college game:
"I've been practicing with these guys all summer long and into the year. The speed wasn't a problem. I just tried to stay sharp mentally. I felt like if I just go out there, keep my composure and don't even look at the crowd -- I know that will build nerves -- but I didn't look (at the crowd) and it helped me. "
... Watching Samajae (Haynes-Jones) play with confidence:
"I know I have a hard time (guarding him in practice). Just to see him having fun out there, playing confident...it was a sight to see.
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SENIOR FORWARD MARKIS MCDUFFIE ON...
... Second-half adjustments:
"It's our first game. It was just like...Alright, we got the jitters out, time to calm down, relax and just figure ourselves out and evaluate ourselves. That's what we had to do. We realize we still have a lot of work to do. College basketball season is here. We are going to have to continue to get better and just continue to go out there every game and give it our all."
... His message to the young guys after the game:
"First, I told them to keep their head up. We got a 'W.' With these guys, you always have to bring positive energy to them because they can get down real fast. They aren't used to this type of adversity. You have to always stay positive, keep their head up. Get on them when they need to get right, when they need to turn it up. Stay positive and tell them we are going to keep getting better."
... Trying to find his rhythm in the second half:
"The first half I was just trying to figure out how I'm going to help this team. I know I have a load to carry -- the only one coming back. Everybody obviously expects me to be that leader, that guy. I kind of thought the first half I tried to do too much in terms of trying to carry the load when I didn't really have to. That's just really all learning. I couldn't wait for the first game. Playing with these guys every single day, once you get to play another team you get real anxious. That's what happened to me. I'm learning, too, as a leader, how to be a great leader, and I'm glad we got this first game out of the way. I'm glad it didn't count. We just are going to continue to get better. This is just one game. I'm glad the fans got to see what we are really about. I'm telling you, we have a week left to our actual first game....and I promise you we are going to be much better."
... Seeing Samajae (Haynes-Jones) play with confidence and leading the younger guys:
"It's amazing, man. He looks way more comfortable... way more confident this year. I can't wait for me and him to be those two guys to help get these guys better. We just have to stay solid, stay together. We can't ever put our head down. We always have to be up. I was missing shots early, but I knew I couldn't get frustrated or anything. I know these guys, I have to show them I'm a role model and a leader. I have to continue to play. We are both going to keep striving for greatness."
