KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2010 / SPORTS
7A
KANSAS 79, VALPARAISO 44
BASKETBALL REWIND
Howard Ting/KANSAN
Junior forward Markiett Morris goes up for a layup against a Valarapasio defender Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse. Morris recorded a double-double in the game with 12 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
Hawks outmuscle Valpo
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
twitter.com/kansanball
Kansas' (2-0) hot start didn't cool off in its 79-44 victory over Valparaiso (1-1) Monday night.
The layhawks were too much of everything for Valparaiso; too much offense, too much defense, too much strength and too much hustle.
- Valparaiso coach Homer Drew
* said that Kansas' quickness made
* this team a little uncomfortable.
- " Their speed really hurt us in transition early." Drew said. "They jumped on us early with just their speed and the physicalness inside off of our offensive board."
- The Jayhawks had only five points on the fast break, but the team overpowered the Crusaders for 40 points in the paint.
"They are good players." Self said.
"They do a little bit of everything."
Kansas also out-muscled Valparaiso on the glass, grabbing 44 rebounds to Valparaiso's 33.
The Morris twins led the layhawks, combining for 24 rebounds.
Coach Self said was pleased with how the twins played.
Drew said that the Morris twin combo is a scary one.
Marcus rarely missed Monday night,ight 10-12 from the field.
Marcus had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Markieff had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Marcus attributed his offensive game to an early rhythm he got into.
"When one shoots it, what scares you, is the other one dunks if he misses," Drew said.
"I just made shots and my teammates helped me and they were able to get rebounds and finish it when I missed." Marcus said.
What makes the Morris twins so dynamic is their versatility. They are able to post their man up on the inside and they can also hit shots from behind the arc.
Valparaiso forward Kevin Van Wijk said that he knew how physical the game was.
"I have played against guys that were heavier, but not as strong as they were, so adjusting to it was kind of hard in the beginning" Van Wijk said. "We knew coming in that they could shoot, and we tried to adjust as much as possible, but it's hard to defend somebody who can do both things instead of just one."
The sophomore from the Netherlands was one of the lone bright spots for the Crusaders. Van Wijk was one of two players for the Crusaders who scored in double
figures. He had 10 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
While Kansas only gave up 17 points in the second half, Self said it was more like 30 or 35 points because Valparaiso missed easy layups, but he said it was a step in the right direction on defense.
"It wasn't a gigantic step, but I certainly feel better walking out of here than I did the other night from a defensive stand point," Self said.
It helped that Valparaiso so could not hit a shot from behind the arc (2-19) and that the Crusaders went the final 5:11 of the second half without a field goal.
Notes
Edited by Roshni Oommen
- Sophomore guard Elijah Johnson did not dress for the second straight game.
- The 17 points Kansas let up in the second half were the fewest since Alcorn State scored 12 in the first half on Dec. 2, 2009.
- The Jayhawks extended the nation's longest home court winning streak to 61 games.
- Marcus and Markieff Morris were the only Jayhawks to shoot 50 percent or better from behind the three-point line.
- Bill Self said the timetable for a ruling on Josh Selby's eligibility is still unclear, but he had the feeling he would know when a ruling would come down soon.
- Self said he hopes to have Jeff Withe back in seven to 10 days, but that he already expected to have him back on the floor.
Morris hit 10-of-12 shots to finish with 22 points and 11 rebounds. His four assists were second only to point guard Tyshawn Taylor's five. There's really not much to say about Morris that hasn't already been said. He got a bunch of headlines and accolades in the preseason, and he's backing up all the hype so far, averaging 20 points through two games.
Game to remember
Junior forward Marcus Morris
Morris
Player to forget
Morningstar
Senior guard Brady Morningstar
Morningstar has done some great things over his career for Kansas basketball, but if he doesn't start hitting shots, Bill Self will have to start cutting his minutes. Morningstar is just 1-for-5 on the season from behind the three-point line, but he handled the back up point guard duties while Elijah Johnson was suspended for the first two games. With Johnson presumably returning next game, expect Morningstar to see less time.
Quotes of the night
"When one shoots it, what scares you is the other one dunks it when he misses."
— Valparaiso coach Homer Drew on the Morris twins
Prime plays
1ST HALF (SCORE AFTER PLAY)
16:49: Travis Releford hits the third three pointer in a row for Kansas. They Jayhawks started the game 3-4 from behind the arc. (10-4)
11:30: Mario Little denies Valporaiso the Erik Bugg's of a dunk leading to a Travis Releford layup on the other end. (19-11)
9:16: Marcus Morris draws a double-team and finds Thomas Robinson for an easy layup. (25-17)
6:22: Marcus Morris gets the fans on their feet with an ally-oop assisted by Brady Morningstar. (34-19)
1:41: Marcus Morris misses the second free throw, but grabs his own miss and hits a layup...an unconventional three-point play. (44-25)
0:20: Robinson makes up for a missed put back dunk, with a mammoth block that
not only sends the fans,but the KU bench jumping around (44-27)
2ND HALF
18:20: Morris-twin powers activate...Marcus finds Markieff for the ally-oop. (48-29)
7:33: Brady Morningstar gets his first bucket of the game after. He has been cold from the floor so far this season. (65-42)
7:15: Markieff Morris finishes a missed Tyshawn Taylor layup with a put back dunk. (67-42)
2:19: Thomas Robinson fin shes the ally-oop after a nice pass from Royce Woolridge. (77-44)
1:06: Tyshawn Taylor gets knocked down as he goes for a body bump with Royce Woolridge as it was caught on the video board. (79-44)
Key stats
13,11,10
Markieff Morris had 13 re-bounds, Marcus Morris 11 and Thomas Robinson 10. It's the first time in the Bill Self era that three Jayhawks have recorded double-figure rebounds.
2
Markieff Morris had 13 rebounds, Marcus Morris 11 and Thomas Robinson 10. It's the first time in the Bill Self era that three Jayhawks have recorded
61
Kansas won its 61st consecutive home game. It plays North Texas Friday with a chance to tie the school record of 62.
67
double-figure rebounds.
Valparaiso scored 67 fewer points than it did in its season opener.
Tim Dwyer and Mike Lavieri