Oct. 11, 2006

Media Day Photo Gallery

MILWAUKEE - With less than three days remaining until the first official practice of the 2006-07 season, the Marquette men's basketball team met with reporters at the Al McGuire Center, Wednesday, answering questions for their annual media day.

Head coach Tom Crean was first to speak and stressed the importance of improvement as a team, versus the expectations of a team.

"Any year you start, you don't focus on expectations or lack of expectations, you are always focusing on if your team can have some kind of constant, consistent improvement. I think that is exactly where we are at right now. Three things we always want to get established with our team are a work ethic, a style of play, and an attitude, and the attitude has got to be one of enthusiasm. When you can build that on a daily basis with the team, and get that constant and consistent improvement, then you have a chance to have a good team and I think that is where we are at right now."

Sophomore Jerel McNeal spoke about himself, along with classmates Dominic James and Wesley Matthews, coming back as the team's top three returning scorers from last season.

"There are high expectations for us and it will be more challenging for all three of us. Yes, there is a ton of pressure, but we are competitive players and we are going to step up. We accept the challenge."

The team will officially kick off its 2006-07 campaign, Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m., with Marquette Madness, the Golden Eagles' first step towards their season opener, Nov. 10, at the Bradley Center against Hillsdale College.

The following quotes were taken from media day:

Head coach Tom Crean

On expectations: "We want to constantly improve. What you want to get established with your team is solid play, a work ethic and certainly what your attitude is going to be like. If you get that on a daily basis, I think expectations and things of that nature take care of themselves."

On the depth of team: "The greatest form of toughness is consistency. That's how you win on the road, that's how you win games. If you can get your team to play at a consistently high level and enough of it, then you have a chance to win a lot of games, and right now we have to get to that point."

On how what was learned last season will carry over into this season: "There are a million-and-one things that go into being a part of your team, like what is expected of them in a practice, film sessions, conditioning sessions, and more importantly not what is expected of them, but what they expect from each other. I think that is where the experience comes in. In my opinion in coaching, you don't go back and look at last years practice plan, ever practice is different and every day is different. We plan the first four practices out, and from there it's daily. Right now, every day is a new, shared experience with a group of guys."

On who will be leaders: "We talk a lot about our big men on defense being great talkers, and our guards on offense doing the same, because it's very important that you don't get to just one voice or two voices are what you listen to and what you are responding to. I think when you get a team that can really step up and talk to one another and bail people out of situations, and never make somebody feel like they are alone on defense or somebody like they must do it alone on offense, you have a group of leadership."

On motivation for the team in the BIG EAST: "This team hasn't done anything spectacular to make them think that they don't have to work at an incredibly hard pace and high pace everyday to get better. I think our players, and I know our coaches, have great respect for this league because we have been through it now. You get into an environment where you gain a tremendous respect for your competitors, so I don't think you have anybody in our environment here that is looking at it, feeling like it is anything relatively easy. The team has been outstanding. In the weight room, the classroom and watching extra film, I sense a hungry group. If they remain hungry and humble, we should have the opportunity to have a good year."

#10 - David Cubillan (Fr., Maro Caibo, Venezuela)

On his role with the team: "I am doing what I can to earn my minutes by just working hard. Only coach knows how much we will be playing. I just have to do my job by working hard."

#2 - Maurice Acker (So., Hazelcrest, Ill.)

On balancing academics and athletics: "Our athletics advisor Adrienne Trice has really had a big impact on making this transition easier. She is always there to help and sets up tutors for us."

#12 - Dwight Burke (So., Brooklyn, N.Y.)

On his role with the team: "We don't look at others expectations for the team. We go in the gym each day and practice hard and let the chips fall as they may. My focus this year needs to be on rebounding. Everybody on the team needs to step up and work on rebounding and that is what I'm really expecting my role to be."

#1 - Dominic James (So., Richmond, Ind.)

On being a leader for Marquette: "Steve was definitely are vocal leader last year. I have to work on being more vocal in order to help lead this team."

#22 - Jerel McNeal (So., Chicago, Ill.)

On the team as a whole: "The new guys bring a lot of athleticism to this year's team. We see last year's success as a challenge for us. Anytime people give you pressure, you take it as a challenge. We probably have higher expectations of ourselves than other people do." On the upcoming season: "We did a lot better last year than a lot of people expected... our main focus right now is us being as prepared as possible for each game."

On his sophomore season: "I was to come out and be better. We have improved a lot in the off-season and we want to work and play as a unit. We want to do more, contribute more, and just be better. Our goal is still the same, get to the NCAA Tournament and win games."

On who will step up as a leader" "Not one person will be able to fill those shoes that the three seniors last year had. It was amazing and unbelievable what they did and it couldn't have been a better situation for all of us freshmen last season to step into. I don't think there will be just one person to step into that role for us this season. I think it could be a lot of different people."

#41 - Ousmane Barro (Jr. Dakar, Senegal)

On his growth between last season and this season: "Every year is a step. There have been changes this year and we will see how this year will be."

On his playing comfort level: "It's getting there ... every year it is another step. I have to work on it every day and do my job at practice."

#21 - Lawrence Blackledge (Jr., Carbondale, Ill.)

On coming to Marquette: "The adjustment with coming to Marquette has been hard. Things here are a lot more fast paced. I am just trying to adjust as fast as I can."

On improving: "I'm an athlete. I need to get physically stronger and work on my jump shot. If I use my quickness, my strength won't be a problem."

#5 - Dan Fitzgerald (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.)

On the team stepping up offensively: "We have so many shooters on this years team. With Steve and Joe leaving we are going to have a lot to make up in that area, but I think this team has the capability to do that."

On the seniors: "Mike and Jamil have stepped up and done well taking on the leadership role as this year's seniors."

#40 - Mike Kinsella (Sr., Rochester, Minn.)

On the versatility of the team: "Everyone has gotten so much better in the off season. I think everyone on this team can step in and play at different roles. We have different options for the four and five position. Depending on who we are playing and how coach wants to play, we have the ability to play big and play small."

On his health: " I am healthy right now and I want to keep it that way. Being a senior, I want to contribute this season more than I have in the past. Over the years I haven't been able to because of my injuries. So I hope to put together a whole season and do what I have to do."

On the amount of TV games and exposure this season: "We are excited about it ... national exposure helps every part of this program. It is a chance to show the nation who we are and how we play."

#51 - Jamil Lott (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.)

On the off-season: "During the off-season I mainly just worked on improving all-around. As far as my position goes, I have just worked on being more versatile in every aspect. As a "big man," I have been working in the alley and scoring in different angels under the basket. Basically I have been working putting the ball in the basket everywhere."

About Ousmane Barro: "He is always improving ... He is the first guy in the gym and the last guy to leave. He has shown tremendous improvement."

On his personal goals: "As far as our team goals, we want to win, but for me personally, I just want to develop everyday and become a better player."