4B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON IN REVIEW
The Kansan's 2008-2009 report card
BY TAYLORBERN
Sherron Collins, junior guard
Kansas leader on the court and in the locker room, Collins had more to do with this season's surprising success than any other player. He shrugged off preseason doubts and averaged 18.9 points and five assists per game. In addition to his late-game heroics (think Oklahoma) Collins played a big role in the maturation of the newcomers, especially freshman Tyshawn Taylor.
Cole Aldrich, sophomore center
Aldrich was tapped as a veteran on this team after just one season in which he played mostly mop-up minutes. He delivered on the preseason hype with 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Aldrich capped his tremendous sophomore campaign with a historic triple-double against North Dakota State. The scary thing for Big 12 teams is that Aldrich has barely tapped into his offensive arsenal.
Tyshawn Taylor, freshman guard
Taylor looked like he was going to be that consistent third scoring option everyone was searching for. That was the case every now and then, like during his 26-point performance against Oklahoma. But Taylor often disappeared late in the season, especially in the NCAA tournament. Still, he was the Big 12 Rookie of the Week four times, and spending more time under Collins' wing would only make him better.
Marcus Morris, freshman forward
Morris was shuffled in and out of the starting lineup for the first two months. Coach Bill Self moved him in permanently against Texas A&M and he responded with 10 points, including two three-pointers. Morris, a freshman, wasn't perfect — he didn't score against Dayton — but he was solid down the stretch, including a career-high 15 points at Kansas State.
Brady Morningstar, sophomore guard
Self has called this super-sophomore the "anchor" of his team. Like an anchor, Morningstar's game isn't pretty — he hit 12 of 43 shots in the final eight games — but his defense was crucial to keep Kansas close in many of its games. He's not an outstanding talent, but Morningstar gives maximum effort and he has carved a place for himself in Self's system.
Tyrel Reed, sophomore guard
Reed was a one-trick pony this season. However, any coach in the country would love to have a guy on the bench who could come in and hit a three-pointer late in the game. Reed's defense is mediocre, at best, but he clinched a handful of games with clutch shots. Although this season was a success, Reed will probably get lost in the shuffle next year.
Mario Little, junior guard
Without the injuries, perhaps Little would have lived up to his preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award. Alas, we'll never know, as a pair of injuries (ankle, wrist) kept him out until January. By then the lineup was mostly set and Little was forced to play out of position most of the time. If he stays healthy throughout the offseason, Little has a chance to be Kansas' most-improved player next season.
Markieff Morris, freshman forward
Who's the better Morris twin? Marcus answered that question with a tremendous second half of the season. Markieff scored in double-digits just once all year and scored a total of six points in three NCAA tourney games. The focus for him in the offseason has to be defensive control. Markieff led the team with 98 fouls and five foul-outs. He can't contribute when he can't stay on the floor.
Travis Releford, freshman guard
Speaking of count time, Releford was expecting to see more of it when he committed to Kansas last year. Releford, a Kansas City, Mo., native, scored nine points at Missouri but failed to crack the main rotation and averaged just seven minutes per game. Depending on who rounds out Self's recruiting class, Releford may see the court even less next season. Taking a red shirt, like Morningstar did after his freshman season, may be best for Releford in the long run.
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
for three exhibition games. They all look back and laugh about it now. The layhaws weren't so good back then. It took some late-game
heroics from freshman guard Travis Releford and sophomore guard Tyrel Reed to beat one of the Canadian teams, Carleton, by
one point.
Although it should be noted that Collins and the Morris twins didn't play in Canada, Aldrich
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But ask the lajwhacks and they'll tell you that's part of growing up. Five of Kansas' top nine players this
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way. For as many positive memories as the Jayhawks have, there are also a few moments theyd like to forget — including but not limited to a 61-60 defeat to Massachusetts at the Sprint Center and a 19-point shellacking at Texas Tech.
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"These guys are phenomenal." Aldrich said of his teammates. "We came and practiced and every day worked hard and battled until the end."
was still amazed that the same team lost by five points to the eventual national runner-up six months later.
Collins has an idea. Collins said that if he and Aldrich came back for another year instead of entering the NBA Draft, Kansas could get back to Indianapolis.
Sure, it got bumpy along the
"I don't think it's a disappointment," Collins said. "I think it's a success."
"Being so young this year and doing what we did this year," Morris said. "who knows what we can do next year?"
Next year, Lucas Oil Stadium doesn't have the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. It's the host of the Final Four.
year were newcomers.
It's always easier to look ahead. But Collins said there were plenty of reasons to remember Kansas' 2009 season.
— Edited by Heather Melanson
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