Quotes from Baltimore Basketball Media Day

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Zane Martin on the Canada trip
It was exciting. Sightseeing was big. Whole different experience out of the country, which was my first time. I really enjoyed it. I'm just happy to experience different cultures and seeing new things.

On last year
Last year, I felt like we shorted ourselves in the final game (Charleston). We could have played a bit better. This year is going to be a good year for us. We're playing at a faster pace. This year should be good for us.

On John Davis
I felt like that if we would have had John, we would have knocked off Charleston. Speaking for me, he was like my big brother. I was really hurt and I wasn't talking. I was in Philly during that time. I was heartbroken, losing my big brother for the rest of the season. We went to the same high school. I was hurting.

On being from Philly
I have that chip on my shoulder at all times. I'm always confident. I'm team oriented. There are so many guys that play hard that Coach Skerry likes. I always play with a motor.

On Canada
When I was a freshman, I was not trying to force it. Stay in the background. But now that John and Moto are down, I need to step up. All summer, Coach Skerry just kept saying, keep working, it's going to be my biggest jump like Mike Morsell had from his freshman to sophomore year. I just knew that in the back of my head, I need to make that push. My team is going to need me. I had to step up in school, a leader off the court.

On starting
I wouldn't mind being that John Davis role coming off the bench but I feel like I've proven that I can start. But if I don't start, I won't be heartbroken. I'm only a sophomore. I know that I have Morman and Morsell in front of me. I feel like I earned it. I'd rather watch and see what mistakes people make and then come off the bench. I wouldn't mind that role either.

Adjusting from high school
Everything is fast paced. You have to be faster on offense and defense. That's why got me on the floor. When we played William & Mary and I guarded Daniel Dixon. That's what helped me get on the floor more. I realize that if I could defend, I could play. I knew I had to step up my defensive game.

On pressing
It benefits us. I thought last year we were kind of stiff. We're not as stiff this year. We're going to move up and down very fast, especially with Eddie Keith at the four. We will shoot more 3's, extending the floor. We'll be a fast-paced team.

On three-point shot
I worked on that all summer. I got up a lot of shots. Just trying to perfect my craft. Staying in the gym. Working out. I want to be that guy.

Jordan McNeill
Practice
It's been really competitive. Everybody is getting after it. We are all riled up. We get in a lot of fights but we're a team, we're a family. We get past it.

On being versatile
I don't mind (playing point guard). My game has grown a lot this past year. I've gotten a lot better. My whole game has changed. I'm playing a lot harder on defense. I'm able to facilitate and create shots for myself. It's good that I can play multiple positions.

On his first season to now
I've come a long way. I came in and I was not ready to play college basketball. One thing I could was shoot. I took my redshirt year and I got better. I have improved greatly. It's pretty crazy. I'm proud of how far I came. I put on 30 pounds since my freshman season. I was 160 to start. There's a lot of big strong guys in our league. It's easier to finish over big guys. I can jump

On what they need to get to the next level
We need learn to lock in. Our emotions get the best of us sometimes. We have to understand, we're all one team fighting for the same goal. Sacrifice. That's big for this season.

On leadership
Coach challenged me to do that. I think I have the respect of the other guys on the team. I'll use my voice on and off the court.

On Morsell
Mike is a really good player. When we're on the court, we play good together. I don't really care who starts or who doesn't start. We try to do our best on the court.

On EK
Eddie has never been shy to open his mouth. Once you get to know Eddie, that's pretty much who he is. Even if he doesn't know it.

On pressing style
It's a lot of fun. We're a really deep team. Pressing on every possession will force a lot of turnovers. We can get out and run. We won't have to do as much halfcourt offense, which we struggled some last year, especially with zones. If we press and score off our defense, that something we don't have to worry about.

On attacking zone
This year, we put in some good plays. I'm a shooter. I have to find my spots in the zone. Mike has to find his spots. But people like Deshaun (Morman) and Brian Starr, they are good at getting to the basket. We need to attack and kick and we should be good.

On missing Davis and Moto
This year, it's more guard-oriented. Eddie moving to the four, that's like having four guards and one big. That's going to help out a lot. Not many bigs are going to be able to stick Eddie. We can stretch him out, let him shoot. That's going to add more points for us.