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TULSA, Okla. -- Tired? Who's tired?

Certainly not Tyler Wilkerson.

"We're going to run until the wheels come off," Wilkerson said Monday before the Marshall University men's basketball team embarked for the Conference USA tournament.

As a benefit of having a first-round tournament bye, Marshall players had an extra night's sleep in their own beds. They also missed one less day of classes.

Marshall, the No. 4 seed with a 23-8 record, left campus Tuesday evening and will rest some more Wednesday in their Tulsa hotel rooms after visiting with the children at Kendall-Whittier Elementary School and a practice at Oral Roberts University.

"The focus is on ourselves right now," Marshall head coach Donnie Jones said. "We want to make sure we stay fresh. You hope to play Thursday, Friday and Saturday then play again quick next week."

C-USA tournament games begin Wednesday at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa and Marshall swings into action at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, against the first-round winner of No. 5 Tulsa against No. 12 Rice. Marshall had a regular season split with Tulsa and defeated Rice in the only meeting.

Marshall coaches already have scouting reports on both possible opponents that will be fine-tuned before game time.

The conference champion receives automatic entry into the NCAA tournament. Other teams such as Marshall are eyeing NCAA at-large bids or invitations to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), College Basketball Invitational (CBI) or CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).

Playing a 31-game regular season schedule didn't affect Hassan Whiteside, the Thundering Herd's freshman center who was selected as an All-C-USA second-team member.

"In prep school I played like 45 games," said Whiteside, who played last season at The Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C.

Whiteside said he likes to spend free time sleeping, watching TV and playing PlayStation and other video games.

Free time for Wilkerson means it's time to sack out.

"I like to sleep," the senior forward said. "I get as much sleep as possible. We were playing video games Sunday and I fell asleep on Damier (Pitts)."

Wilkerson, who joined Whiteside on the all-conference second team, realizes his Marshall career might end with the next loss.

The C-USA tournament is his opportunity to suit up for the Green and White some more.

And, he won't go out easy.

"I give my all for my team for every game," the Lexington, Ky., native said.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall's Tyler Wilkerson drives against Geoff Hogan of Tulane during the C-USA mens basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.

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