Marquette University Athletics
Men's Basketball Holds Media Day
10/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Coverage of men's basketball team continues to grow
MILWAUKEE ? Just hours before Marquette Madness and the official beginning of practice for the 2005-06 season, the Marquette men's basketball team welcomed reporters to the Al McGuire Center for their annual preseason question and answer session.
Most of the questions from the journalists centered around the excitement that comes with move to the BIG EAST Conference and the promise of the freshman class.
Head coach Tom Crean stressed that this group, while young, is ready for the challenges of the long season that awaits.
"This team has a lot to learn and a long way to go, but I think they have the hunger to get there," he said.
Senior Steve Novak spoke on behalf of the seniors on the role that the leaders of the team share.
"I think all three of us (seniors Joe Chapman and Chris Grimm) all have taken on the leadership roles because we need to be leaders for the young guys," Novak said. "In turn the young guys look to us to be leaders. They look up to us. We are doing a lot with the freshmen to help them understand college is a completely different game."
The team will welcome the season's beginning on Friday night, October 14, with Marquette Madness, at the Al McGuire Center at 7 p.m. Recent changes in NCAA rules allow teams to start workouts at 7 p.m. Friday instead of midnight on Saturday morning.
The following quotes were taken from media day:
Head coach Tom Crean
On not being in awe of the BIG EAST: "We can't get caught up in the glamour. We have to be focused on every game like it's a big game. We have to treat everything ? whether it's a practice, film, a game against UW-Whitewater, Michigan Tech, Rice or Connecticut ? like it's the most important thing that we will do."
On how to compete with the teams in the BIG EAST: "The best teams in this league execute well, especially in the final five minutes of the game, especially teams like Villanova and UConn. We have to get ourselves to that level and that's going to make us successful"
On the comparison to the physical nature of the BIG EAST as opposed to Conference USA: "I thought Conference USA was a physical league. I thought when we played teams like Memphis and UAB, it was a physical game. But it's hard to know what to expect when you haven't gone through it before."
On how to handle a young team "We have to get the most out of practice. We have to stress to a young team that we have to get the most out of each time we step on the floor. The teams that have devotion can win and win consistently. Every time I see film, I see teams that don't beat themselves. That's what we have to do."
On playing on the road in the BIG EAST: "We're always up for the challenge. We've had some great road wins in the past. A lot of those players who had those wins are gone, so it's up to the older players to stress that to the younger players."
On the strengths of this team: "This team really communicates well on the floor. When you do that, the stress of a game goes down. We want to play with emotion and passion and that's going to lead us to be successful."
1 ? Dominic James (Fr., Richmond, Ind.)
On being thrown into the starting point guard position as a freshman: ?Coach has instilled a lot of confidence in me, and I feel I?m ready to take the next step. I?ve been able to learn from the older guys even though there isn?t true point guard on the roster to learn the nuances of the position from. After that first game we [Jerel, Wes, Matt, Dwight] won?t be freshman anymore.?
On himself as a player: ?Of course last year I led the state in scoring but I feel like I?m best at creating opportunities for my teammates. I need to improve my outside shooting and I?ve been working immensely hard to do so. When other teams close the lane I need to make them respect my outside shooting.?
On team chemistry: ?Everybody here gets along so well. Coach recruits not the same type of player but the same type of person so we all get along very well.?
On not winning Indiana Mr. Basketball: ?Well it?s obviously disappointing but Notre Dame freshman Luke Zeller is a great player. I feel like I was deserving as well. I have a lot to prove this year.?
2 ? Matt Mortensen (Fr., Provo, Utah)
On forgoing his previously planned mission to attend Marquette out of high school: "It was a personal choice. It was time for me to go to college. I feel it was the right thing to come here and to play basketball."
On the differences from high school to college: "Time management is the biggest thing. With academics, you have to study so much more and you're in the gym so much more. But you have to get the work in. With basketball, it's so much quicker and you have to adapt to that."
12 ? Dwight Burke (Fr., Brooklyn, N.Y.)
On his preparations for the season: "I've been working closely with Coach (Dan) Panaggio on my low-post moves. I'm working hard and trying to get better everyday. I need to work on being a more complete player."
20 ? Steve Novak (Sr., Brown Deer, Wis.)
On the BIG EAST Conference "Its a great conference, no doubt about it. We are glad to be in it. We are going to host a lot of great things and go to some new places we have never been at. So yeah, we are excited."
On his role as a senior and the freshmen class: "They are quick learners. They look up to us. Coach talked to us about being role models to them."
22 ? Jerel McNeal (Fr., Country Club Hills, Ill.)
On what preseason workouts have been like: "Coach has been giving us a lot of different looks. At times, we go small and run fast. At other times, we go big and defend the paint area. We're ready to do anything."
On the expectations of the younger members of the team: "As far as expectations go, we're not worried. The way coach pushes us is always a wakeup. It's like being thrown right into the fire. The freshmen expect to contribute right away. No one is expecting to sit on the bench. We want to come in and help us win."
23 ? Wesley Matthews (Fr., Madison, Wis.)
On the recruiting class: "This is a great recruiting class and I think it will push everyone to get better."
On his parents influence on his school decision: "Surprisingly, they really didn't have that much of an influence on where I decided to go. I always enjoyed watching college basketball, but was never dedicated to one certain team. I kept my mind open and when I came to Marquette for my visit, I just knew this is where I should be. I chose to come here because of the family atmosphere. When I went to other schools I could see the cliques in the locker room, but when I came to Marquette every one stayed together both in and out of the locker room."
32 ? Joe Chapman (Sr., Chicago Heights, Ill.)
On the BIG EAST: "Its exciting. We have to be willing to come out every day and compete. Its new to all of us, so yes, it will be exciting, but challenging as well. "
On freshman getting used playing in college: "They will get used to it in the first couple games, that's why we play them. In order for them to be prepared for those first couple games, us older guys need to bring it day after day in practice so they realize that the college game is a different pace than what they may be used to. "
On there being a one, go to guy on the team: "There is no one guy that will dominate this team. We all work together and balance each other out. Steve (Novak) needs other guys to penetrate and get the ball to him and we need Steve to score. "
33 ? Chris Grimm (Sr., Brighton, Mich.)
On the newcomers: "Dominic James is going to be a player that we're all going to look to throughout the year. But as you'll find out, everyone on this team can bring something to the game. Wesley is going to surprise a lot of people, he can play. Jerel on the defensive end is tough, Dwight's work ethic, Matt's shooting. At different points of the game and the year, we'll all step up and contribute."
40 ? MIke Kinsella (Jr., Rochester, Minn.)
On recovering from his injury: "I'm making progress from my injuries. I'm following a rehab program, doing things to strengthen and keep my conditioning - like riding a one-legged bike. We've set a mid-December date, but I'm not too concerned with the time, I'm more focused on just getting healthy."
41 ? Ousmane Barro (So., Dakar, Senegal)
On what he learned from last season: "I just have to be ready to practice and play; to be ready mentally and physically. "
On how he prepared to get better for this year: "I worked with (strength and conditioning coach) Scott (Holsopple) to get stronger to be able to stay down low and how to have quick feet."
43 ? Ryan Amaroso (So., Burnsville, Minn.)
On Marquette's critics: ?It?s good for this team because were flying under the radar. We?re working towards one goal. That is winning the National Title.?
On adjustments that have been made from high school to freshman year and to sophomore year: ?In the classroom the biggest adjustment was from high school to college because the workload was so much less [in high school]. Here we go on a road trip for two days and when we get back I have a test the next day. [On the court] the main thing that I had to do was put on weight to be able to compete. Scott Holsopple, the strength coach, has done a wonderful job.?
51 ? Jamil Lott (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.)
On making the jump to Division I: "I only have two years to play at the Division I, high-major level. I have a number of things that I need to learn and work on in a short period of time. Right now, I'm trying to get a feel for everything by working hard in practice, talking to the elder players and veterans, and the coaching staff. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can.
On whether he feels like a junior or a freshman after coming to Marquette from Junior College: ?I feel a little like both. In a way I feel like a freshman because I?m coming into a new situation but after being a leader last year at junior college, I feel like I?m older as well?
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