18/14 K-State Meets the Media Prior to NCAA Tournament game with UC Irvine
Mar 21, 2019 | Men's Basketball
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber and members of his No. 18/14 men's basketball team met with assembled media on Thursday to preview its NCAA Tournament matchup with Big West regular-season and tournament champion UC Irvine.
The Big 12 co-champion Wildcats (25-8), which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 31st time and the fifth in the last seven seasons under Weber, will play the 30-win Anteaters at 1 p.m., CT (11 a.m. PT) on Friday at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. This will be the second meeting between the teams and the first since a 71-49 win on Nov. 17, 2017.
Below are quotes from today's press availability.
Head coach Bruce Weber
Opening statement…
"Obviously you're always excited to be part of March Madness, just so proud of our team, to do what they did to overcome injuries, illnesses, you know, just seen so much adversity, and to stay consistent and resilient, you gotta be proud of them to win a Big 12 Championship and then give themselves an opportunity to play in the Big Dance.
I couldn't be more proud of our seniors. That group kind of got our program going again a few years ago, and they've been our leaders, they've been our foundation. Just my heart goes out to Dean Wade, you know, two years in a row to have injuries, almost the same time of year, and then just what he went through as a senior, not to be able to really practice and try to play in games.
It's just sad because you always want guys to be their best at the end of their senior year and have a chance to show what they can do on the national stage. But he can't do it. So that part's sad, but our other group has been able to pick up pieces and figure things out, and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.
Barry's been as good a leader as anyone I've been with in my 40 years. Kam Stokes is that little guy that keeps trucking along, dealing with all the things he's had to do, and Xavier Sneed, you know, Mak. The whole group. Just a fun group to coach, and hopefully they're up to the challenge tomorrow."
On missing Dean Wade…
"He just does so much. If you studied his stats, he's leading rebounder, he's probably the best passing big guy in the country. Maybe (Ethan) Happ, Wisconsin, those two guys are both very, very good. We could run our offense through him and he would get so much attention. When he's not out there, you gotta do other things, and that's why I give our guys credit, because they've been able to improvise, our coaches have done a great job figuring out new game plans, ways to score.
And you got a really good defensive team tomorrow. They're one of the best field goal percentage defense. Points allowed, especially in the two point, that part of the game, so we're going to have to move them and hope we can find other ways to score. It would be nice to get some transition. It always helps."
On how the team is different without Wade…
"Well, you go from kind of a legit power forward that can do a lot of things to a small ball team for a lot of the -- you know, now tomorrow because they present problems with their size, we might have to play big at times and use some of our bigger guys off the bench, just kind of deal with them and combat their inside presence.
But we have -- if Cartier Diarra, we're fortunate. I guess right timing, get him back, he gives us some quickness, some ability to get to the basket. You got Xavier Sneed can play 3-4 and then the two guards really spread you out. And Makol Mawien can score inside. I think that will be a key in the game tomorrow who gets points in the paint. And whether it's transition, it's inside presence, drives to the basket, we gotta protect the paint against them and we gotta be able to score in the paint at some parts of the game. I don't think there's any doubt."
On the team's defense…
"Our foundation is what Coach Keady, we started years ago, and we found ways to win in the Big Ten at that time, whatever he was, six-, seven-time Coach of the Year nationwide, the Big Ten Coach of the Year. And defense was always our foundation. You know, you have to tweak it. One thing he taught me years ago, if you want to stay in the business, you gotta be flexible because the game changes, kids change, people change. And you have to do that. So when the rules, the touch fouls changed, you know, we couldn't pressure, we used to pick up and get after people, wear them out, you had to change a little bit of that. When ball screens became prevalent, you had to change how you did that.
But again, I hopefully give credit to our coaches. Our principles are the same, our foundation is the same. Our commitment, our pride is the same, but at the same time you have to change because of the rules and the way the game is being played."
On playing on the road…
"Yeah, it's not a pure road game even though we're playing a team from California in California. But that's why we got here, one, to get our time clocks. We talk about preparation, and they've been so good about preparing. Part of preparation is not only the scouting report, but it's also getting mentally and physically ready.
We just thought it was important to get out here. We got here Tuesday night, so Wednesday we could practice early here. We had a good practice yesterday, very good. You could have a relaxing day. We let them go shopping last night, kind of hang out after dinner. Today we had a quick practice, go about an hour workout and now we'll shoot. And then you got your film and stuff. In the early morning, wake up tomorrow and get ready to play. They're a mature team. Our veterans know what's at stake, and hopefully they come ready to play.
Barry Brown, Jr., Senior
On UC Irvine…
"I mean, I think they just got good guards that can pressure the ball. And they got two bigs and even bigs that come off the bench that good rim protectors. They like to help the helper a lot. Kind of just help from all facets of the court corners, being in the gaps a lot, really packing the lane in."
On the team's health…
"I think we're all good, man. Just extra day. Just got our minds right, bodies right. Able to rest, get some extra sleep and feeling good right now."
On comparison to UC Irvine and a Big 12 team…
"I can't really think of a team that they compare to in the Big 12. But, I mean, we played them last year. We kind of know them a little bit, because, I mean, they got the same team back. We also got the same team back, so it's kind of a team that we've already been through, have some old film. And you know, they got a few new players in there, adjust things they do offensively and defensively, but for the most part we have a little history with them."
On what makes the team so good defensively…
"I'm not sure. Different backgrounds, people from different areas. So I don't really know about their mindset when they come in here. You're definitely going to leave defensive minded. You're going to come in here and do a lot of shell, you're going to get yelled at a lot. You're just going to just get coached, going to have to play defense and get on the floor."
Kamau Stokes, Senior
On his health…
"With the extra days' rest, physically I feel good. 100 percent. So I'm good."
On playing the NCAA Tournament without Wade last season…
"Just a sense of confidence and knowing what to do on the court at the different positions and being able to exploit different matchups that we have. Just going in there and being the best possible threat for the team."
On what makes the defense so good…
"Some of it is from continuity, of course. And then the other part of it is just playing harder. And we gotta really fight for things we want to do, and in order to win games, especially in the Big 12, you gotta be able to stop your opponent, and that was our emphasis for the year."
On the last matchup with UC Irvine…
"From what I can remember, I think we shot the ball pretty well, especially early. Like you said, we got off to a good start. And holding them to 28 percent is credit to our defense. Like Barry said, you're going to leave this program defensive minded. And in order for you to stay on that floor, you gotta be able to play defense, and from what I can remember from that game, we did a pretty good job with that."
On what last year's run in the NCAA Tournament means this year…
"I mean, of course we have to go game by game, but we're definitely motivated. When we came in, we knew it was going to be tough, especially our freshman year. We didn't make the tournament. And then every year after that we just preached on getting better every year. And we've done that. And this is our last go-around, so, like you said, hopefully we can make another run."
Xavier Sneed, Junior
On the culture…
"We're coming to be a great ball club. We got some things on our back with these guys and things they did and how they left their legacy here at K-State, and hopefully continue to keep pushing forward."
The Big 12 co-champion Wildcats (25-8), which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 31st time and the fifth in the last seven seasons under Weber, will play the 30-win Anteaters at 1 p.m., CT (11 a.m. PT) on Friday at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. This will be the second meeting between the teams and the first since a 71-49 win on Nov. 17, 2017.
Below are quotes from today's press availability.
Head coach Bruce Weber
Opening statement…
"Obviously you're always excited to be part of March Madness, just so proud of our team, to do what they did to overcome injuries, illnesses, you know, just seen so much adversity, and to stay consistent and resilient, you gotta be proud of them to win a Big 12 Championship and then give themselves an opportunity to play in the Big Dance.
I couldn't be more proud of our seniors. That group kind of got our program going again a few years ago, and they've been our leaders, they've been our foundation. Just my heart goes out to Dean Wade, you know, two years in a row to have injuries, almost the same time of year, and then just what he went through as a senior, not to be able to really practice and try to play in games.
It's just sad because you always want guys to be their best at the end of their senior year and have a chance to show what they can do on the national stage. But he can't do it. So that part's sad, but our other group has been able to pick up pieces and figure things out, and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.
Barry's been as good a leader as anyone I've been with in my 40 years. Kam Stokes is that little guy that keeps trucking along, dealing with all the things he's had to do, and Xavier Sneed, you know, Mak. The whole group. Just a fun group to coach, and hopefully they're up to the challenge tomorrow."
On missing Dean Wade…
"He just does so much. If you studied his stats, he's leading rebounder, he's probably the best passing big guy in the country. Maybe (Ethan) Happ, Wisconsin, those two guys are both very, very good. We could run our offense through him and he would get so much attention. When he's not out there, you gotta do other things, and that's why I give our guys credit, because they've been able to improvise, our coaches have done a great job figuring out new game plans, ways to score.
And you got a really good defensive team tomorrow. They're one of the best field goal percentage defense. Points allowed, especially in the two point, that part of the game, so we're going to have to move them and hope we can find other ways to score. It would be nice to get some transition. It always helps."
On how the team is different without Wade…
"Well, you go from kind of a legit power forward that can do a lot of things to a small ball team for a lot of the -- you know, now tomorrow because they present problems with their size, we might have to play big at times and use some of our bigger guys off the bench, just kind of deal with them and combat their inside presence.
But we have -- if Cartier Diarra, we're fortunate. I guess right timing, get him back, he gives us some quickness, some ability to get to the basket. You got Xavier Sneed can play 3-4 and then the two guards really spread you out. And Makol Mawien can score inside. I think that will be a key in the game tomorrow who gets points in the paint. And whether it's transition, it's inside presence, drives to the basket, we gotta protect the paint against them and we gotta be able to score in the paint at some parts of the game. I don't think there's any doubt."
On the team's defense…
"Our foundation is what Coach Keady, we started years ago, and we found ways to win in the Big Ten at that time, whatever he was, six-, seven-time Coach of the Year nationwide, the Big Ten Coach of the Year. And defense was always our foundation. You know, you have to tweak it. One thing he taught me years ago, if you want to stay in the business, you gotta be flexible because the game changes, kids change, people change. And you have to do that. So when the rules, the touch fouls changed, you know, we couldn't pressure, we used to pick up and get after people, wear them out, you had to change a little bit of that. When ball screens became prevalent, you had to change how you did that.
But again, I hopefully give credit to our coaches. Our principles are the same, our foundation is the same. Our commitment, our pride is the same, but at the same time you have to change because of the rules and the way the game is being played."
On playing on the road…
"Yeah, it's not a pure road game even though we're playing a team from California in California. But that's why we got here, one, to get our time clocks. We talk about preparation, and they've been so good about preparing. Part of preparation is not only the scouting report, but it's also getting mentally and physically ready.
We just thought it was important to get out here. We got here Tuesday night, so Wednesday we could practice early here. We had a good practice yesterday, very good. You could have a relaxing day. We let them go shopping last night, kind of hang out after dinner. Today we had a quick practice, go about an hour workout and now we'll shoot. And then you got your film and stuff. In the early morning, wake up tomorrow and get ready to play. They're a mature team. Our veterans know what's at stake, and hopefully they come ready to play.
Barry Brown, Jr., Senior
On UC Irvine…
"I mean, I think they just got good guards that can pressure the ball. And they got two bigs and even bigs that come off the bench that good rim protectors. They like to help the helper a lot. Kind of just help from all facets of the court corners, being in the gaps a lot, really packing the lane in."
On the team's health…
"I think we're all good, man. Just extra day. Just got our minds right, bodies right. Able to rest, get some extra sleep and feeling good right now."
On comparison to UC Irvine and a Big 12 team…
"I can't really think of a team that they compare to in the Big 12. But, I mean, we played them last year. We kind of know them a little bit, because, I mean, they got the same team back. We also got the same team back, so it's kind of a team that we've already been through, have some old film. And you know, they got a few new players in there, adjust things they do offensively and defensively, but for the most part we have a little history with them."
On what makes the team so good defensively…
"I'm not sure. Different backgrounds, people from different areas. So I don't really know about their mindset when they come in here. You're definitely going to leave defensive minded. You're going to come in here and do a lot of shell, you're going to get yelled at a lot. You're just going to just get coached, going to have to play defense and get on the floor."
Kamau Stokes, Senior
On his health…
"With the extra days' rest, physically I feel good. 100 percent. So I'm good."
On playing the NCAA Tournament without Wade last season…
"Just a sense of confidence and knowing what to do on the court at the different positions and being able to exploit different matchups that we have. Just going in there and being the best possible threat for the team."
On what makes the defense so good…
"Some of it is from continuity, of course. And then the other part of it is just playing harder. And we gotta really fight for things we want to do, and in order to win games, especially in the Big 12, you gotta be able to stop your opponent, and that was our emphasis for the year."
On the last matchup with UC Irvine…
"From what I can remember, I think we shot the ball pretty well, especially early. Like you said, we got off to a good start. And holding them to 28 percent is credit to our defense. Like Barry said, you're going to leave this program defensive minded. And in order for you to stay on that floor, you gotta be able to play defense, and from what I can remember from that game, we did a pretty good job with that."
On what last year's run in the NCAA Tournament means this year…
"I mean, of course we have to go game by game, but we're definitely motivated. When we came in, we knew it was going to be tough, especially our freshman year. We didn't make the tournament. And then every year after that we just preached on getting better every year. And we've done that. And this is our last go-around, so, like you said, hopefully we can make another run."
Xavier Sneed, Junior
On the culture…
"We're coming to be a great ball club. We got some things on our back with these guys and things they did and how they left their legacy here at K-State, and hopefully continue to keep pushing forward."
Players Mentioned
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