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2008-2009 KANSAS BASKETBALL
FEBRUARY 2, 2009
Morris twins key to victory in Waco
BY CASE KEEFER
ckeefer@kansan.com
WACO, Texas — They do everything together.
Freshman forwards Marcus and Markiefi Morris wear the same clothes, eat at the same places and take the same classes. So it's only appropriate that the Morris twins both compiled breakout games in a 75-65 Kansas victory against Baylor at the Ferrell Center.
"Coach always groups us together and says if one of us plays good, the other plays good and if one of us plays bad that means we both played bad," Marcus said. "Today, he told us we played awesome."
Marcus scored 13 points and had six rebounds. Markieff added nine points, nine rebounds and two blocks. More importantly, they combined for 11 points during a 16-7 run at the beginning of the second half that separated the Jayhawks from the Bears.
Markieff made the third three-pointer of
his career from the top of the key to cap off the run and put Kansas ahead 43-33. When Baylor coach Scott Drew called a timeout immediately afterward, Marcus ran out on the court to congratulate his brother with a chest bump.
"When they're getting hyped," junior guard Sherron Collins said, "there isn't any limit to what we can do."
The game was never the same after the twins' energetic start to the second half. Although Baylor went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the lead to three, it never got any closer than that to beating Kansas for only the second time in 15 all-time games.
The victory improved Kansas to 7-0 in the Big 12 Conference and 18-4 overall, but this was about more than that. This was about the Jayhawks playing their best game of the season.
And it all started the way Kansas coach Bill Self wanted it to — with defense. The Jayhawks held Baylor's leading scorer, senior
guard Curtis Jerrells, to four points on 0-for-7 shooting from the field.
The lajahawks ran to the locker room clapping after the first half. Despite trailing for most of the half, Collins tossed in a floater at the buzzer to give Kansas a 30-28 lead.
All five Jayhawk starters scored at least four points in the opening half. But their most impressive accomplishment came on — where else? — the defensive end.
Baylor ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring and prefers to push the pace early. Kansas wouldn't allow it.
The Morris twins were key. Despite Baylor's lineup of speedy guards, Marcus and Markieff were able to hold their own and contribute to the Jayhawks' defensive effort.
Then came the second half where Marcus and Markieff took over. Together.
"If he's doing good, I'm going to try to match his intensity," Markieff said. "I'll pick up his slack and he'll pick up my slack. We talk about that."
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Freshman forward Markieff Morris and Baylor guard Curtis Jerrells exchange words after a conedst play during the first half. Markieff and twin brother Marcus combined for 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Self looks past positives, focuses on shortcomings
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
He had enough choices.
Kansas coach Bill Self could have focused on a number of positives that transpired for his team in a 78-67 victory against Oklahoma State.
Option A: For the first time this season, junior guard Mario Little led the team in scoring with 13 points.
"I did?" Little asked. "About time."
Option B: Sophomore center Cole Aldrich recorded a career-high 18 rebounds — the most by a Jayhawk since Wayne Simien had 20, four years ago against Kansas State.
"It's tough," Aldrich said. "It takes a lot out of you to get 18 boards."
Option C: Junior guard Sherron Collins held Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton to eight points on 2-of-6 shooting, preventing a repeat of last season when the Cowboys beat the Jayhawks 61-60 behind Eaton's career-high 26 points.
"We just weren't going to let that happen," Collins said. "Especially not in our house."
So, which did Self choose after the victory that improved Kansas to 8-0 in Big 12 Conference play and increased its home court winning streak to 37 games?
None of the above.
"We finished the game miserably," Self said. "The last taste I have in my mouth is how we finished the game."
The Jayhawks couldn't have started much better. They stormed out to a 22-12 lead eight minutes into the game behind two three-pointers from Collins. Oklahoma State never trimmed the deficit below 10.
After Travis Releford threw down an alley-oop from Collins with nine minutes remaining, Kansas had its biggest lead at 64-44.
From there, the Cowboys outscored the Jayhawks by nine and made four three-pointers.
APRIL 27, 2009
"It was an efficient win." Self said. "Until the last seven minutes or so."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN