Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall spoke to the media Tuesday ahead of the Shockers' trip to Fort Worth, Texas, for the AAC Tournament. Coach Marshall spoke about getting a first-round bye, the depth of the American Athletic Conference and seeing former assistant coaches succeeding. Fans can purchase tickets for the tournament at https://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/gdvxs8. The Shockers will be in the early session on Friday with a 2 p.m. tip against either No. 5 seed UConn or No. 12 seed Tulane.
 
GREGG MARSHALL on…
 
... Jaime Echenique being named to the All-Conference Second Team:
"I'm happy for Jaime. I think he's had a great year. I don't know where he came in the voting or how close he was to First Team, but I think he was right there. There are a lot of good players in this league, obviously, and he's one of them. He was very vital for us to get to 23 wins in the regular season. I'm glad he was honored in that way."
 
… the advantages or disadvantages of only playing UConn or Tulane once in the regular season:
"Well, you're not as familiar with them as you are with a team you played twice, especially UConn. We played them so early in our third conference game. We've played 15 games since then. We played Tulane a little later, so we should be more familiar with them. UConn has gone through some personnel changes so they're a different team. They're playing very small. They're basically playing four guards. We just saw Tulane a few weeks ago, so they shouldn't be that different."
 
… the possibility of playing UConn and the challenges in facing them:
"(Christian Vital) is a really good player. He's been a really good player all three years we've been in the league. He's probably one of the best shooters, gets to the line and makes those shots, knocks down 3s, can score in transition and in the mid-range. (James) Bouknight is playing really well as a freshman. They're a different team from the first time we played them the first time. They play hard, well-coached. They're a good basketball team and it would be a great challenge."
 
… the advantage of getting a first-round bye:
"Well winning three games in three days is hard. It's even harder to win four games in four days. Essentially, beating Tulsa and UConn's win over Tulane gave us the fourth seed. We get the opportunity to scout the UConn-Tulane game on Thursday, and our guys will be fresh going into Friday's game. UConn will have all the nerves out. They will have played on the floor. It could be Tulane that has the kinks worked out without a new-ness of playing on the floor for the first time or whatever it may be. I'd prefer not to have to win Thursday to get to Friday."
 
… the conference's depth:
"The league probably isn't as good at the top as it was last year or the year before that when we were one of the top teams. I think the bottom is much better. Whoever is down there, I don't even know because it changes daily, can beat anyone. I think Tulane beat Cincinnati earlier this year. UConn beat Houston just the other day. The bottom is hungry to move up to the middle, and the middle is solid. What is SMU seeded? What is Memphis seeded? They're pretty talented, so the league is kind of cannibalistic, if you will, and I think it has hurt our ability to get three or four teams in the NCAA Tournament. We just need to do what we need to do to get in. Cincinnati is thinking the same way. Tulsa had a chance until we beat them. We had a team finish first in our conference and they're not even considered a bubble team, which is unfortunate, but that has to do with their non-conference games. The league is very tough. It's strong at the top, solid in the middle and much better at the bottom."
 
… if it's frustrating to see other conferences with a majority of their teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament:
"You really don't know (what's going to happen). I'm not going to set the bracket and these so-called experts aren't going to set the bracket. The bracket will be set next Sunday. We could have three teams in and another win the conference tournament. I don't know if they're going to reward every team in the Big Ten a bit because they tricked the system and played nobody in the non-conference. It looks like a smart move on their part, but there's no way that's going to hold water. But I have no say. I'm not going to be in the room. I just hope our league gets our due and what we deserve. We'll know more in about six days."
 
… if the players have the urgency to win games not only because of NCAA Tournament implications:
"You would hope so. I mean, I know I'm 57 years old, but every time I walk onto a basketball floor, I try to win the game. It doesn't matter who we're playing or whether its an exhibition or if it's Duke.  I'm trying to win the game. I hope our players have that same mindset and I think they will. When you're in the dog days of November and you haven't played anybody, I tell them 'You'll want to win these games come March.'"
 
… if he thinks Shocker fans will create a home-like environment in Fort Worth:
"There will be more Shocker fans than anyone else. There will probably be more Shocker fans than SMU fans, and that's a challenge to the SMU fans. I'm thinking there will be more Shocker fans there than anyone else."
 
… what it takes to win a conference tournament:
"You need to have defense and rebounding in your back pocket. Everyone's got to be carrying water. There can't be distractions. There can't be people worried about whether they're in the starting lineup or how many shots they're getting. They just need to go in and play well and help us win. If we do that like we did against Tulsa, we have a pretty good chance and we're a pretty good ball club. If we don't do that, that just takes away from our opportunity."
 
… how he looks back on his non-conference schedule:
"It was pretty good. We played Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, VCU, South Carolina, West Virginia. That's about as good of schools as we want to play. Abilene Christian and Gardner-Webb have both been to the tournament. Generally, if you take those teams in a given year, you're going to have a good strength of schedule."
 
… seeing former assistant coach Steve Forbes lead East Tennessee State to a SoCon Tournament title and a 30-win season:
"I watched that. I got a text from Steve and I wished him well before the game. He sent me a picture of him and his family holding the trophy. I told him 'You've done a great job with a clean sweep – regular season conference title, conference tournament title and coach of the year – now go win a game or two in the NCAA Tournament and then prepare to make some tough choices.' But they're good choices. He's doing a marvelous job as is Chris (Jans) at New Mexico State. Chris (Jans) had huge injuries and starters out for a long period of time and then he goes undefeated in the conference. He'll be a favorite to get to the NCAA Tournament again. I'm really proud of those guys. I follow (former assistants) as best I can, but I've got my own ship to get into port."