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/ **SPORTS** / WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
MEN'S BASKETBALL REWIND
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Junior forward Markieff Morris battles for possession of the ball with Texas Tech forward Mike Singletary during the second half
Jayhawks hammer Red Raiders, 88-66
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
twitter.com/kansnball
LUBBOCK, Texas — For the first time during Bill Self's tenure with the Jayhawks, Kansas won in Lubbock, Texas, defeating Texas Tech 88-66.
It was Self's fourth trip to the United Spirit Arena, but his first time walking off the court with a victory. Kansas hasn't won in Lubbock since 2003.
"We needed to win here, because we haven't done it yet," Self said.
Self said the team is spoiled because it consistently plays in front of 16,300 people at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas did it in front of an official attendance of 9,055 fans, but the arena seemed to be half that. It was in the tens before the game started, which might have kept fans at home.
"They play better when there's an atmosphere. Of course tonight, with the weather, there wasn't going to be an atmosphere," Self said.
The Jayhawks controlled the game early and it wasn't even
close.
"Making shots is contagious too," Self said. "When you miss layups, it seems like your 15-footers get harder, but when you make layups, its seems like your 15-footers get easier. Certainly, we made so many shots early, I just think everybody was confident."
ones or three-on-twos than any team around and we got to get better at that because those are the easiest scoring opportunities," Self said. "I've got to do a better job of creating those situations in practice. You get five of those a game, you got to come away with 10 points, and we're coming
"I just think we out worked them. They were really short on big men."
Raiders by 21, Kansas took control of the ball and continued to go down low to the post. Kansas scored 48 of its 88 points in the paint.
When the Jayhawks were able to grab a defensive rebound, they wanted to push the ball as quickly up the floor as possible. However, they were only able to score four points on the fast break. Self said the team was poor in transition.
away with two or four"
MARCUS MORRIS Junior forward
or four."
"We botch up more two-on-
Self did say the ball was moving even though he doesn't think this is a great passing team. The Jayhawks were effective in working
the ball to the post. The Morris twins and sophomore forward Thomas Robinson used their size and quickness to defeat their defenders.
Junior forward Marcus Morris led Kansas with 18 points on 8-13 shooting. Morris scored six of the first eight Kansas points in the first 3:28 of the game.
Morris didn't think it would have been that easy.
them," Morris said. "They were really short on big men."
Kansas had five players who scored in double figures. Robinson scored 17 of Kansas's 42 bench points. Robinson also grabbed nine rebounds and went a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
Senior guard Brady Morningstar scored in double digits for the second time in three games. He scored 12 points and continued his hot shooting performance over the last week and a half going 5-7 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.
"I just think we outworked
Morris said the offense is better because of Morningstar.
"Brady's been shooting it a lot better these last couple games," Morris said. "He's definitely back to the Brady we're used to. The more aggressive Brady and making the right plays."
Morris is not sure why Brady has been playing so well, but he said the team was closer because of the recent death of Robinson's mother, Lisa.
— Edited by Caroline Bledowski
Kansas
Texas Tech
29 | 37—66
Points
Jayhawk Stat Leaders
Marcus Morriss
Rebounds
18
Markieff Morris 12
Assists
Josh Selby 4
Brady Morningstar 4
Game to remember
Brady Morningstar
Morningstar finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in his second double-digit performance in three games. He also finished with four assists against just one turnover, continuing his recent string of excellent play. Marcus Morris attributed Kansas' recent offensive renaissance to the rebirth of Morningstar's once-dwindling offensive game.
Game to forget
Morningstar
Tyshawn Taylor
It's hard to give this to Taylor, who has reengineered his game to fit what the Jayhawks need in a completely selfless move. Taylor has the ability to be a premier scorer, but he's deferred to his teammates and seen his scoring average drop from 10.4 in nonconference play to 5.9 in conference play. His assist-to-turnover rate has sparkled since his scoring dropped, but the Jayhawks need at least more than the zero points he gave Tuesday.
Taylor
Quote of the game
Thomas Robinson
"Tonight, you know, things just came easy."
Robinson
Key stats
18,11,17
please recycle this paper
48-16
Marcus Morris scored 18, Markieff 11 and Thomas Robinson 17. It's the second straight game all three have been in double figures.
17-6
Kansas tripled up Texas Tech in points in the paint, 48-16.
The Jayhawks had 17 assists against just six turnovers.