Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall spoke to the media Tuesday ahead of the Shockers' home matchup against Cincinnati and a road game against Houston. Coach Marshall talked about Jaime Echenique's recent stretch of play, TBT returning to Wichita and the team's mood over the past couple of days . Fans can purchase tickets for Thursday night's 6 p.m. tip at GoShockers.com/tickets or by calling (316) 978-3267.
 
GREGG MARSHALL on…
 
... the mood of the team over the past couple of days:
"Yesterday's practice was good. Our video session was good. They accepted coaching and we had a great practice. A lot of them had some valuable things to say amongst themselves and in front of the staff. We just need to play like we practiced yesterday."
 
… how to fix missing shots:
"We can certainly improve offensively. We can execute better. We can get the ball inside more. We can screen and cut with more purpose. In the end, you just need to make one more shot."
 
… how he views this week's slate of games:
"We need to win. We don't want to go on a losing streak. We've done that once. (Houston and Cincinnati) are two great programs. The best teams in the (conference) with Tulsa ascending this year to be right there with them. To me, until someone beats Houston and Cincinnati, Houston and Cincinnati have dominated the league since we've been in it. Both play really really hard. I don't think I need to do anything else other than show the Houston-Cincinnati game from Saturday. That was two teams playing really hard basketball and making plays and making shots. The degree with which you have to compete and the intensity in which you have to compete is really good."
 
… Cincinnati's difference from the beginning of the year to now:
"(Jarron Cumberland)'s making shots. He gets to the line, can drive it, get to the line, he makes good decisions. He's got the ball in his hands a lot. In the end, it's him and a ball screen with two guys on the left and one guy on the right. He makes a ton of plays out of that."
 
… the team's defense:
"We've been really good. We're still 17-4. When you start well and lose a couple, you can still have a good record. We're 17-4 with the 25th-youngest team in the country. We can't lose faith in these guys. We just have to keep working with them. Hopefully they can get better. Dexter Dennis was very astute with his comments to the team after practice yesterday. He said 'we were in this situation last year, and we got better. We can do the same this year and make the NCAA Tournament if we get better.' That's coming from him not a staff member. That was very mature of him and a great step forward in leadership."
 
… Jaime Echenique's recent stretch of success:
"I'm so proud of him. I thought he was one guy that played well (against Tulsa). He can't wait. There is no next year for him. He's the only senior. He wants to win and do well. He's a wonderful person and I love coaching him. The vibe for him is 'Come on guys. Let's do this now.' For the first time in 22 years as a head coach, I gave out our Junkyard Dog award when we lost a game because of his performance. He took some charges and blocked shots. One of those blocks came after he fell in the lane and got up – if you've ever seen him get up, that's the fastest he's ever gotten up – and blocked a dunk at the rim. He got some loose balls and had double-digit rebounds. He defended down low well, which was the game plan."
 
… on coaching Cincinnati coach John Brannen while Marshall was an assistant coach at Marshall:
"He was a hard worker. He was intense and a great kid. The sum of his game was greater than the individual talent. He worked so hard and had a knack for putting in the basket. He worked on his jump shot so much. He was an all-league player. His senior year was my first year at Marshall. We lost the conference championship game on a tip-in at the buzzer to go to the NCAA Tournament. It was a tough way to lose. He was a smart player. He was a Rhoades scholar candidate. We've maintained a relationship all these years. I was excited to see him get the opportunity at Cincinnati, but I also know that it's going to be very difficult because he's a very good coach."
 
… TBT coming back to Wichita:
"That's fantastic. I hope the guys that were tied up or injured last summer can make themselves readily available. I loved watching them. I was at both games and had good seats. That was the first time I was in Koch Arena watching an event like that with a rooting interest other than when I see some volleyball. That was fun. I did get my door dinged in the parking lot because it was so full."
 
… if that gives him perspective on what his program:
"I didn't build it. I'm just the steward now. People started going to games at The Forum and even before that probably. Those games were well attended. This is a basketball place. This program was way before us and will be long after."