Press Conference: Kansas State vs. Kentucky Postgame - 2023 NCAA Tournament
March Madness
Marquis Noel expressed his gratitude to the Lord for the opportunity and blessings given to him along with the news that Kentucky will be bringing Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace. Kansas State is also on their way with Marquis Noel, Chiante Johnson, Naquan Tomlin, and Desi Sills. Marquis states that he was anticipating an opportunity to make a shot and when Keith found him, he had no hesitation and let it go. He is grateful that Keith trusted him to pass the ball for Coach Tank. Marquis Walker said he was in attack mode during the second half of the game. The team stayed positive in the locker room during halftime and told each other they would start hitting shots in the second half, which they did. The vibe in the locker room was nothing but positive according to Deante.
Marquise mentioned the journey to get to this point, from being doubted to summer workouts, and it meant a lot for him to have his moment. He expressed gratitude towards his teammate Wallace and talked about the importance of camaraderie towards winning. According to Marquise, “words can't express it man but I wanted one of those hugs and I'm thankful that I get to live life with this man back right Wallace.” (Josh Graham, WSJS) David Hill (ESPN) brought up Kemba Walker and the legendary stories of March Madness involving players who elevate their status during the tournament. Marquise acknowledged the contributions of everyone in the locker room and had faith in their ability to succeed. Coach Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston both viewed their appearance as a blessing. Coach Wallace commended his team’s fighting spirit and noted the occasional inconsistencies that can occur in a tournament setting.
This team has been through a lot, both individually and as a group. They stayed together and covered for each other through thick and thin, which shows how much they care for each other. The coach understands the frustration that some Kentucky fans feel due to the current situation. The coach repeatedly tells the players that this journey is not for everyone, as the expectations are so high, and the same should go for the coaching staff. Chris Michael said that this team has been through a lot. It was a journey full of ups and downs. Despite the challenges, he feels that there are many moments during the season for the team to be proud of, and he loved every moment of this year, getting to know each one of these players not only as players but as men and bonding with them. Kansas State deserves credit. They played a rough game and were always active with their hands, especially in the first half. They made basketball plays at the end that our team failed to make, so give them credit for a job well done. After the first game, where we did not shoot fantastic but fought well, I felt that this was a good sign. Talking to friends of mine, they told me that we were due for a big shooting night, and that motivated us to keep pushing.