The Shockers are playing faster and with greater confidence on the offensive end, but they'll need to take it up another notch Wednesday to keep pace with Tulane's turbo-charged attack. Wichita State head coach Isaac Brown met with local media Tuesday afternoon to preview the matchup and more. Read on for the transcript:
 

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HEAD COACH ISAAC BROWN ON…
 
… Tulane:
"They have three (of the preseason) top-10 players in our conference, and it'll be a big challenge for our defense. They're averaging 81 points-a-game. They shoot 82% from the foul line, and they get to the foul line (21.4) times-a-game. (Their free throw percentage is) second in the country. They have a matchup zone that our team hasn't gone against yet this year. That'll be a big challenge for us, to be able to move the basketball and try to score inside and out; try to get some baskets in transition. I think it'll be our biggest challenge of the year. Offensively, they're really good. I know those three players can really score the basketball, so our defense has got to be on point."
 
… Contributions up and down the lineup at SMU with Craig Porter sidelined by foul trouble:
"It helped those young guys gain confidence. Shammah Scott, who hadn't played much this year, as well as Melvion Flanagan, those guys came in and gave us big minutes off the bench. (Isaac) Abidde got some tough rebounds, made some free throws. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, who hadn't played the last few games… came up with some big rebounds. Any time you can get a win on the road like that, it gives your team confidence."
  
… Second-half comebacks in three of the past four games and what it says about this team:
"Toughness. Character. These guys stand together. They're not pointing fingers, not making any excuses. (They) know that we have to play better the second hand, and it always starts with our defense."
 
… Tulane's all-conference forward, Kevin Cross:
"He's a 'point center.' He rebounds. He brings the ball up the floor. And they do stuff you haven't seen before. Like, they get their center involved in the ball screen. That's something you don't practice going up against, but it's something we've got to work on in practice… He's a tough matchup -- a guy who can shoot the three, who can really drive the basketball either way and can finish with both hands. He's tough, tough kid."
 
… Tulane' defense:
"We've got to get stops and get out in transition to try to beat the zone down the floor. They're going to be in a matchup zone. This is a new (Shocker) team with a lot young guys. This will be their first time facing it, and they've got to know that you can't stand (around). You've got to have basket cuts, you've got to post, you've got to penetrate the zone, you've got to shot fake, and you've got to be able to make stationary threes." 
 
… Factors that determine playing time and whether he puts more stock in game or practice productivity:
"We play to win, and we put the players in the game that we think can help us win the basketball game. A lot of that is based on practice and how well you practice. We're not just going to throw you in the game if you're not practicing well. Melvion Flanagan has shown that he can come in and shoot at a high percentage, and Isaac Abidde has stepped up and given us big minutes. He's gaining more and more confidence. Shammah Scott, I think that he's gaining more confidence in himself. Xavier Bell, you know, the last game at home, he had 13 points off the bench and he played well. Any given night, your number can be called. You've just got to be ready to go when we call."
  
… Earning more playing time:
"Guys ask me all the time, 'Coach, what can I do to play more?' And I just tell them, it's simple. 'Be better than the guys in front of you.' So, players determine playing time. It has nothing to do with me. It is determined by how well you play in practice, and you've got to be better than the guys in front of you."
 
… Areas he feels have improved the most throughout the first half of the season:
"I would say, offensively, moving the basketball, taking better shots, realizing that we're not a great three-point shooting team. Those guys are starting to drive the basketball and we're shooting better percentages… We're still not shooting great from the three-point line, but guys are starting to understand where we can score, like getting out in transition, shot-faking and driving the basketball, moving the basketball, only taking stationary threes or shots that are just great shots."
  
… Porter's success with ghost screens:
"He's just one of those guys that is confident. It's really a one-on-one play. We set a ghost screen, and it allows him to get to his right hand to drive the basketball. He can also post up on that play, where he can drive you or he can continue to back you down. He's a veteran guy. He's won a championship with the game on the line. He wants the ball in his hands. I want to put it in his hands, and he bailed us out the last game. Stepping up and making (three) free throws. He's the leader of the team, and we want to give him the ball. We trust him. He's one of the better guards in the league."
 
… Incorporating more spread sets into the game plan:
"It's a lot of movement and that's what we needed. Guys are sharing the basketball, and you don't know exactly who it's going to. It could go to the first cutter, the second cutter, or it's a dribble handoff. So, it's a good action because you move the basketball and multiple guys will be able to touch it."