Markieff Morris Has Career Day as Jayhawks Cruise
Feb. 19, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Junior Markieff Morris looked like a man on a mission as he paved the way for the Kansas Jayhawks in an 89-63 rout over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, Feb. 19 in Allen Fieldhouse. Morris’ career night was much needed after the setback suffered at Kansas State Monday day.
Morris recorded a career-high 26 points and tied a career-high with 15 rebounds. This performance comes after posting just three points and zero rebounds in his last game versus Kansas State.
“I feel like I wasn’t in the Kansas State game. There was a lot of stuff going on, but that’s in the past and I have to get better,” Morris said. “Twenty-six (points) was my career-high. I don’t know about the rebounds, but I was just out there trying to play hard.”
Morris’ 26 points came off an outstanding 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. The Jayhawks improved to 25-2 overall and 10-2 in Big 12 play as they bounced back from their second loss of the season Monday against Kansas State.
Morris’ double-double was his 10th of the 2010-11 season, which leads all Big 12 players. His previous career-high was 21 points versus California earlier this year and it is the third time he has recorded 15 rebounds in his three-year KU career. Head coach Bill Self was impressed by the junior’s performance.
“Markieff (Morris) goes three and zero against K-State to 26 and 15 today. He’s been our best player in practice this week and certainly he played like that today,” Self said. “I really don’t know (what made the difference), maybe his mindset. But I thought Markieff was really good today and of course Marcus (Morris) was good too.”
Morris was definitely zoned in on a day where the Jayhawks, as a team, shot another high percentage, 52 percent from the field on the afternoon. Maybe it’s that twin connection that the Morris brothers have going on, but Marcus could tell before the game his brother (Markieff) was going to let loose on the Buffaloes.
“I mean, from being his brother, I could tell that he was going to play well; the way he practiced this week and the way he dominated everybody in practice. He was dunking everything that was around the rim,” Marcus said. “Coach Self always says practice refers to the game and that’s exactly how he played. If you dominate in practice, then you are going to dominate in the game.”
Morris put together his best game of the season and one of the best games of his career. Stats-wise it was the best game of his career. In addition to his 26 points and 15 rebounds, he also recorded two assists, two blocks and two steals. There wasn’t an empty column on his stat line.
“As a team I think we had something to prove tonight. It was embarrassing losing to Kansas State and we don’t want to do that again. We have to get better and I guess it starts with me,” Morris said.
Kansas will be back in action when it hosts Oklahoma State Monday night in a game televised on ESPN at 8 p.m. Central.
