[GoMarquette.com] Open Practice, Press Conferences Highlight Wednesday's Schedule

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Open Practice, Press Conferences Highlight Wednesday's Schedule
       

The Marquette University men's basketball team continued preparations for the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., completing the team's first practice session and participating in the event's media obligations.

The No. 6 Golden Eagles face No. 11 seed Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. CT Thursday at the Honda Center.

"We're honored to be here," head coach Tom Crean said. "It's our first trip to the Honda Center, but it's our third-straight as a unit to the NCAA tournament and we're excited about that.

"We know we're going to have a great battle with Kentucky," Crean added. "They are game tough and know how to win at home and on the road. They play with passion that Billy Gillispie coaches with and they play with the intelligence that he coaches with."

Marquette conducted a workout session at a local high school in the morning before arriving at the Honda Center. Head coach Tom Crean and players, Ousmane Barro, Lazar Hayward, Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal all participated in the press conference session, while the remaining team members were available to the media in the team locker room.



   

MU was the third team on the court for the mandatory open practice sessions, following Cornell at 1:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles focused on team shooting during the 40-minute session, conducting a variety of competitive team drills.

"We have experience now," junior guard Dominic James said. "This is the third-straight year for a lot of us and I feel like the experience and the maturity of this team is going to play a major factor in how well we play tomorrow against Kentucky."
       

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