Staff Report

The Murray State News caught up with every player on Murray State’s men’s basketball team, and asked them one simple question: “What does making the NCAA tournament mean to you?

Jonathan Stark: “It means a lot to me. I know these fans have been waiting on this for a few years. They’re used to winning, and I’m glad we’re able to bring the tradition back

Terrell Miller: “I feel like when we go to the tournament, we’re going to play and to compete. No matter what team we go up against, we’re going to come out and play for the win.”

Shaq Buchanan: “It just shows that we put all of our work in and that that hard work paid off.”

Ja Morant: “It’s good because it’s saying that we got Murray State back to where it’s been in the past years. I’m proud of our team.”

Anthony Smith: “We are finally here and we have to make some noise.”

Zach Hopewell: “It’s unbelievable considering we’re just freshman, me and Whitley. It’s really just a dream come true to be a part of a team that’s this well rounded and close.”

Brion Whitley: “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a freshman in high school to play in the NCAA tournament. Watching March Madness and knowing that one day that I can be a part of that. To be able to do that in my first year as a freshman, I’m blessed.”

Jachai Taylor: “It just shows how hard we worked. We stayed together and stayed strong through it all.”

Byron Hawkins: “Everything. It’s what you’ve been dreaming of your whole life.”

Jalen Dupree: “It’s just basketball really. It’s just another basketball game for me.”

Brion Sanchious: “It means a lot. It’s going to be my first time there. I’m ready to experience the joy and the feeling of the great big dance.”

Devin Gilmore: “The tournament is really a dream come true. As a basketball player coming out of high school, that’s a real big thing for us to be on winning team. To play for something of that magnitude seems like it’s unreal.”

Tevin Brown: “It’s obviously a dream, because that’s what every basketball player wants to do. But for me, it probably means a lot more because my years of high school I never even went to the championship. So it meant a lot to win the OVC championship and to go to the tournament.”

Matt McMahon: “That’s the standard of excellence that is set here. That you go the NCAA tournament and you win championships. The winning and championships and all of that will hopefully be a byproduct of the way we conduct our program on a daily basis. I guess I’m most proud for our players and our entire coaching staff for the job they’ve done. I’m really excited for our fans, especially the ones who hung in there with me while we battled through some tough times to get our roster and our culture back to the way it needed to be. To have the great experience with our 2012 team as an assistant coach, and now to get to go as a head coach is a dream come true for me individually.”