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Monday, August 25, 2008

Guard a wily veteran

Morningstar 'focused' heading into season

By Gary Bedore

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Photo by John Henry

Brady Morningstar spent last season as a red shirt on Kansas University's men's basketball team. He hopes the year off will lead to significant playing time this year.

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Brady Morningstar Interview

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KU basketball team preparing for journey to Canada

In 5 days, the defending National Champions will pack their passports and head north for Ottawa, Canada for three days of preparation for the 2008 season.

Brady Morningstar, who turns 23 on Jan. 23, is older than your average college sophomore.

"They always joke to me I'm going to graduate when I'm 27," Morningstar, Kansas University's third-year soph basketball shooting guard, said with a laugh, referring to his Jayhawk teammates.

"I've always felt like an older guy on the team," he added, asked about his status as a team veteran.

"I had five years of high school and red-shirted last year."

One of four returning scholarship players from KU's national championship team, Morningstar is hoping his age and/or experience leads to extended playing time during the 2008-09 season.

"I'm focused. I've been here two years, and haven't played a meaningful minute," said Morningstar, who practiced but did not play in games last season after scoring 34 points and dishing eight assists against four turnovers as a true freshman in 2006-07.

"Right now, I'm just trying to make everyone around me play better and try to prove to myself I can actually play here."

Morningstar earned all-state honors his senior year at Free State High and, as team captain, averaged 22 points a game at New Hampton (N.H.) Prep School.

He believes he learned what it takes to play at this level while sitting out last season.

"I learned a ton just practicing every day, especially against all the great players we had," Morningstar said of departed guards Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Jeremy Case and Rodrick Stewart.

"Watching other teams play, all the great players : I saw just how hard you have to play and how good you have to be out there."

The 6-foot-3, 187-pound Morningstar worked hard on his game over the summer. He enrolled in both sessions of summer school while also weightlifting, playing pick-up games with teammates and competing in the Kansas City Pro-Am Summer League.

"I tried to improve in every asset of the game," Morningstar said, noting, "I am in pretty good shape, but I can always get stronger and quicker."

There is still a batch of guards on KU's roster: returnees Sherron Collins, Tyrel Reed and Conner Teahan, as well as newcomers Tyshawn Taylor and Tyrone Appleton, plus swingmen Mario Little and Travis Releford.

"Everyone is working hard now, trying to play their roles," Morningstar said of practices leading up to the Jayhawks' Labor Day weekend trip to Canada.

Coach Bill Self would love to be able to grant playing time to the sophomore guard trio of Morningstar, Reed and Teahan.

"Tyrel and Brady have to step up and be counted. They have not had a chance yet. I think they can be a part of the rotation. Hopefully Conner can play as well," Self said.

KU's sixth-year coach said Morningstar needed to be one of the squad's best shooters and as well as be "a little more aggressive."

Morningstar will take whatever comes his way.

"I mean, as long as I do what I'm capable of doing and work hard, I hope it will be (the case)," Morningstar said of earning extended playing time. "I just want to get out there and contribute to the team any way I can."

He's already doing his part at practice.

"A lot of reps we are out there first," he said of the returning players. "We know what we are doing. The younger guys are watching us. It's how it'll be for a little bit. I don't mind at all.

"It's a little strange not having eight of the guys we had last year. It's different, but every team changes every year. It just so happens we lost all those guys. It's a re-start, but also pretty good, pretty fun."

Notes: Collins, who is coming off left knee surgery and reported to camp out of shape, practiced over the weekend, Self said. "No live stuff, though," Self said of keeping him out of scrimmage situations . ... Self said former KU guard Russell Robinson, who was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft, will play in Turkey this upcoming season. Robinson played for the Houston Rockets' summer-league team. ... Jordan Hamilton, a 6-7 senior forward from Los Angeles, tells zagsblog.net he is considering KU, UConn, Texas and Syracuse. ... Lance Stephenson, a 6-5 guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., tells Zagblog.net he has a list of Memphis, Texas, KU, Southern Cal and St. John's. He said he will not choose a school in the early signing period.

Comments

Toto_the_great (anonymous) says...

What about the twins? Can they play?

August 25, 2008 at 4:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brock (anonymous) says...

Well, we know that one of them can shoot.

August 25, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

crooner (anonymous) says...

^

Aw, Brock, that's raw! Cool points, though!

I'm glad to hear that Brady is up to 187. Sherron needs to lead, or he could fall to the background quickly. We simply have too many hard-working pretty good guards, to let one not-so-hard-working very good guard steal all of their minutes.

Collins needs to know that a mature level of dedication is the difference between the leaders and the shoulda-beens, the Jameer Nelsons and Danny Mannings from the El-Amins and Chenowiths.

August 25, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

The twins can't be declared eligible until at least later today/Monday. They weren't eligible on Friday, and the NCAA doesn't work over the weekend. That's probably tough to grasp, but go back and read the quotes from Coach Self last Thursday/Friday, and just think about it a bit. You'll probably grasp it eventually.

August 25, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

grantmvb (anonymous) says...

If we all only had as much common sense as dagger. He's a smart one.

August 25, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Brock, the shooting joke jumped the shark some time ago. Try again.

Crooner, you're funny. Brady is going to "steal" minutes from Sherron huh? Because he works harder. Hey nothing against Brady, but he couldn't "steal" a quick glimpse of an overweight Collins blowing by him to the hole. You no nothing.

August 25, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Lots of people go to school for seven years ...

August 25, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubasketball0809 (anonymous) says...

I want to know if the twins can play

August 25, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

Yep, they're called doctors!! funny.

kg, i feel pretty confident that if Collins doesn't get on the same page as all of our other guards that are working hard, we won't even get to see him on the floor, so to say that about any of our other guards, even Brady, maybe you know nothing. Coach Self has made it pretty clear, that if Collins does not do it his way, he can sit there. I, for one, hope Collins does get his act together, because we are better with him. If he doesn't it just gives one of our other guards a chance to step in and help.

August 25, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cstevenday (anonymous) says...

Brady is the 7th best guard on the team. That equals very little playing time except in blowouts. But congrats on being on the team. Your dream came true. And you got a ring!!!!

August 25, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk52 (anonymous) says...

I still don't understand why Brady suited up for all the games last year. I think that's as close to glory as he's going to get. But, don't you think it odd that a red-shirt suits up for games and warms up with the team?

August 25, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldalum (anonymous) says...

cstevenday: Have you had a chance to see Brady play this year? I was hoping there would be a big jump in his game since he had a year to practice without us seeing him play. Since you put him at 7th, I was just wondering if you had see this year's model and still think he's at the bottom of the list.

August 25, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

KGphoto.

Who in the F do you think you are? Seriously, you "no" no more than anyone else. I don't like to get on people's english unless they're sitting their criticizing someone else. It's "KNOW", as in "knowledge"... not "no", as in zero.

IF Sherron continues to not respond to Self's challenge of getting to work and getting in shape... I'll guarantee you he'll have minutes stolen by any number of different guards on KU's squad. Depending on how other character issues pan out and how much he gets to work... I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him off the team.

I hope not, but I also wouldn't be shocked. I'd rather see ANY of KU's other guards play than any talented guard who simply shows up and feels entitled to play because of his raw ability.

August 25, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Throw it down, Lebowski!

Clone on KGphoto.

Clone on Sherron's precariousness.

Good to see someone enforcing on the digital blocks.

Consider this help defense. :-)

Sherron's over charged his credit card with Coach Self. Self has no history of backing down on these sorts of bad work credit issues. He's very very smooth and ingratiating man, but there is a hardness underneath him that Sherron should avoid at all costs.

Probably, there is something inside Sherron crying out for discipline. He's about to get it. Just ask Mario about two seasons ago, when Self decided Mario wasn't tough enough yet and thought he was.

August 25, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Regarding Brady:

Brady is so old he is the first Jayhawk player to collect social security while still on the team.

Brady is so old the trainers lace his gatorade with geritol.

He is so old he puts Metamusil in his beer at the Wheel.

He is so old that he wears sansabelt jock straps.

He is so old even AARP won't let him be their spokes person.

He is so old that his athletic cup is made of bakelite.

He is so old that he can't remember what he can't remember.

He is so old that he was turned down as a member of the Grey Panthers.

He is so old that his favorite song is "Constipatin' Rhythmn."

He is so old that he won't finish a Ph.d. till the 22rd Century.

He is so old that Max Falkenstein calls him "Pops."

He is so old that Bill Self refuses to talk about "the age thing."

He is so old that when he goes up for a j, his dentures often arc higher than his shot.

He is so old that they want to carbon date his iPod.

He is so old that Bill Mayer was only 22 when he wrote his first historical perspective about Brady.

He is so old that Chuck Woodling was still growing up with an inferiority complex in Missouri, when Brady first failed to throw it down.

Brady is so old that when Coach Self tells Brady to put it on the deck and take it to the rack, Brady thinks he means to take one last push on the shuffle board and put the puck and stick away.

He is so old that when Danny Manning talks about the '88 team, Brady thinks he's talking about the 1888 team.

He is so old that he thinks arenas are for Christians and lions.

He is so old that he gave James Naismith the idea for the game of basketball.

He is so old that he told Joe Dooley on a recruiting trip back east: "Come with me now down the New Jersey Turnpike, we've all come to look for America."

He is so old that his dad, Roger, can already out jump him!

Now, no more old jokes. :-)

August 25, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

Nice

August 25, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cstevenday (anonymous) says...

Oldalum.......
I haven't seen Brady play this year. That seventh ranking I gave him was my pure opinion. When he did play as a 21 year old freshman, he was not quite the player as true freshman T. Reed. Self sat him in hopes that he'd mature and get stronger. All of that could happen, but we wouldn't have brought in the 2 JC players and also signed Releford if Brady was going to be an impact player. At 23, he should already be strong and mature and at the top of his game for college. There should be no retrain and work harder at that age. Of course these are my humble opinions, and time will tell if I'm correct. Been around the game a long time as a player and a coach. I see what I see.

What I don't want to see is Brady blowing kisses into the TV camera and winking as he has done the past 2 seasons on the bench. He needs to tone that junk down and blow kisses and winks once he's score a thousand points.....not 34!

Again, all my opinion.

August 25, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

KU depth at guard right now.

Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrone Appleton, Mario Little, Sherron Collins, Travis Releford, Tyrel Reed, Brady Morningstar.

Let's assume now that Brady has improved to a level that he has jumped over Tyrel on the depth chart, and that Sherron ends up in the doghouse for a lack of work ethic. He's still fifth on the depth chart! Appleton and Little both have proven themselves at the juco level. Both Taylor and Releford come in highly recruited. Sherron is a better player when healthy. Tyrel has also shown that he is a better player.

I'm sorry, but I have been to the mountaintop, and I looked over. I did not see more playing time for Brady there. He'll get plenty of minutes early in the season, probably even hit some threes against Yale or Ohio or whoever it is that we beat up on in the early season blowouts. But once January rolls around, he will be doing about the same as he was doing this year - watching. Brady may be able to reprise the Jeremy Case roll in another year or two, but until then, I just don't see him getting a ton of minutes.

Brady's a great guy and had a stud high school career. But the game is bigger and faster and better than he is. That's just how it breaks sometimes.

August 25, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jujubean (anonymous) says...

Has anyone considered that Bill went hard on Sherron to set a tone for him that from this point forward, he better get in shape and become a team leader? That his knee surgery was more extensive than media reports let on and that Bill never really expected him to be in shape to play in Canada?

I think the extreme concern regarding Sherron's lack of conditioning is overblown. I think the only thing that has Bill pissed off is that he went home to Chicago instead of staying in Lawrence the 3 weeks prior to practice starting.

I think Sherron will be fine. The only thing that concerns me is whether he can stay healthy through the season. Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong.

August 26, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

All this hype with Morningstar is nothing but drama. If Self thought he was all that he wouldn't have brought in so many guards. He'll continue to hold the bench down nicely.

August 26, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

I dont think any of our first 8 guys on the Champ team were under 195lbs(Mario), and all had superior athleticism and skills. Brady is now 187lbs at age 23...the judgement on his athleticism and skills compared to the other guards on the team keeps being made over and over. Is he another Kirk Hinrich, I ask rhetorically? (Y'all know the answer...)
jaybate- i liked the old jokes. Specially the one about the dentures...lol! I find PolyDentXXXXStrength works well when I shoot the fading, fallaway jumper, ala MJ...because sometimes you land on your butt and thats a second jarring jolt. (The Depends help cushion the hip to prevent fracture...). Its all good (&gray). It all held up well in the FlabFour game on Memorial Day...(annual charity event of full-court bald to benefit those in need of bone mass).

August 26, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I'm in full agreement with everyone that it won't be Brady who gets meaningful minutes.

But I strongly disagree with the one sentiment that some have stated that the whole lack of conditioning is overblown. When Bill Self starts publicly calling out individuals, and saying things to the extent that 'this kid has not shown he can be a leader'... it's quite the serious issue to the man. The last thing Bill Self is going to convey to his team flooded with new talent is that you don't have to work hard.

If Sherron doesn't do a 180 and start earning praise from his coach for his work ethic, there will be many moments where the rest of you are asking "why isn't Sherron getting more minutes?" Self will most definitely make an early example of him if he has to.

August 26, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Well said, Lebowski! I had earlier commented on Bill Self's own QUOTED comments critical of Sherron (a few days ago), and someone took enough exception to my generic comments about "the very capable Sherron has got some big shoes to fill (Robinson+Mario)" that they actually emailed me personally to tell me to "back-off Sherron" (wow!--we are not talking about April 7, we are talking about KU ball preseason 08). I totally agree that if your own head coach is NOT pleased enough to say something in public--he is damn serious about it, and Sherron better listen...obviously all of us who read Self's comment are worried for Sherron. This is part of the young man's growth as a player and a man--control the things you can control, because so much in life you cannot. Shine, because you did or surpassed what was expected of you, when so many others failed to do what was expected of them... Positive examples for Sherron would be Mr. Rush, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Chalmers, Mr. Robinson...
I am confident Sherron will shine for us in 08-09.

August 26, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )