POSTGAME QUOTE SHEET:
WICHITA STATE 103, UT MARTIN 62
NOV. 16, 2019 | WICHITA, KAN. /CHARLES KOCH ARENA
GREGG MARSHALL, JAMARIUS BURTON, TYSON ETIENNE, ERIK STEVENSON
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Head Coach GREGG MARSHALL on...
...Opening Statement
"That was a little more fun. Better than the last game, which was more like a visit to the dentist with a root canal. You saw our guys share the basketball with less one-on-one and hero ball and the result was incredible. 29 assists on 40 baskets and we shoot 56 percent from three. We shot 15 threes, which ties the school record. UT Martin, we knew they could score. We had watched enough video where they're scoring in the 90s. They have a lot of talent and tonight we were equal to the task of shooting the basketball the way that they do."
... applying what was worked on in practice
"They were told that if they take bad shots you're coming out. If there are 24 seconds and you take one that is partially blocked or it's an off-balance step-back, you're probably coming out. I was tired of watching that. It was a good week of practice. We were able to throw it on the block a little bit. We had 12 baskets from our five spot. They weren't selfish; they were throwing it out when they were double-teamed or in a bind. We were moving the basketball and we got a lot in transition as well."Â
... improving from last week's performance
"It was very important. Our goal was to try to get better and understanding how to execute. We talked about loving the game and loving our teammates and the people we play with before the game (started). If you love the people you play with and you love the game then you're not going to be selfish. We were nowhere close to selfish tonight. We were sharing the ball. A couple of times it was to the detriment of us scoring. We had really good looks and we passed it up and ended up with nothing. There's a fine line but we were very close to it tonight. We did a great job."
... the return of Jamarius BurtonÂ
"Jamarius Burton went 4-for-5 and it looked great coming out of his hands. It's wonderful having him back. He's one of our core guys and, unfortunately, right before the season started he has wisdom teeth removed and then he comes back and sprains his ankle in the first game. Everybody who played contributed in some way and you basically saw the depth of our team without our only senior and Josaphat Bilau." Â
... the hot shooting of Tyson Etienne
"He was 5-for-8 from three. When I watched him in the AAU circuit he barely hit the rim ever. It was just bottom of the net. Pure shooter for sure. He's still learning what a good shot is. He forced one, but when he's open I want him pulling the trigger."Â
... Erik Stevenson making his first shot and his week
"Awesome. It looked so good. I'm telling you, his grandpa was a special, special gentleman. You could tell the reverence he was held in by everybody. It really tore Erik (Stevenson) up. He said that was his favorite person on the face of the Earth. It was hard for him. I was glad to see him have a great night and I thought the school did a wonderful job in mentioning all of the accomplishments of his granddad."Â
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Sophomore Jamarius Burton on...Â
... Erik Stevenson's emotional week and making his first shot
"I'm just happy for him. I know he's going through a rough time. We've all been here supporting him and giving him what he needs to get through this time."Â
... coming back from injury
"It felt great. I was just out there trying to get a win. I was in rhythm, my teammates found me, and I just took what the defense gave me."
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Freshman Tyson Etienne on...Â
... the return of Jamarius Burton
"It just gave us another weapon. We know how good JB (Jamarius Burton) is. We weren't happy that he was sidelined but it was good for him to come back. It was great for him personally and for his confidence."Â
... the feel of the offense
"I think it was the emphasis that coach put on us this week. Everybody's going to eat. We saw it today the way that we shot the ball. Everybody's knocking down shots. Everybody's making the next pass. If we play like that and everybody's doing their job then there's going to be a lot of open games like this."
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Sophomore Erik Stevenson on...
... the performance of the team
"Tomorrow's not going to be so bad. We shot the ball well and assisted well. That's Shocker basketball and that was the emphasis this week in practice, sharing the ball and getting better looks."
... his emotional week and making his first shot
"It's been tough this week. I can't really speak on it without getting emotional. I was very grateful for that moment that they did for me and my family. I'm just glad I'm here with my brothers. This is the only spot I'd rather be than at home right now."Â
"It had to go in. Felt good. His last text to me was 'Keep throwing up the threes. They're going to fall.' And that one fell."Â
