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Men's Basketball

Friday, September 3, 2010

KU basketball players bulking up during offseason

By Gary Bedore

Kansas forward Marcus Morris stands in Allen Fieldhouse in this file photo. The Jayhawks' boot camp has begun.

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris stands in Allen Fieldhouse in this file photo. The Jayhawks' boot camp has begun.

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Kansas University’s basketball big men have gotten bigger since the start of last season.

Frontcourt players Markieff Morris, Jeff Withey, Marcus Morris and Thomas Robinson have put on 13, 10, 10 and seven pounds respectively as reported on the 2010-11 roster, which was posted on KU’s website on Thursday.

“Marcus and Markieff, Jeff and Thomas ... they are all trying to outdo each other,” KU strength coach Andrea Hudy said. “They are competitive. They all jaw at each other. They like to show off for each other,” she added, smiling.

Markieff Morris, 6-foot-9, 232 pounds at the start of his sophomore season, opens his junior campaign 6-10, 245.

“I remember weighing him in the locker room in January of ’09, and he was 208,” Hudy said. “Now he’s 245. The commitment he and Marcus have put in ... the two of them trying to be great players and making a great team at Kansas, I think, speaks for itself.”

Marcus Morris checks in at 6-9, 235 after reporting at 6-8, 225 his sophomore season.

Sophomore center Withey stands 7-foot and weighs 235 after starting 7-0, 225 a year ago.

“He was very thin when he got here, lacked muscle,” Hudy said of Withey, who transferred from the University of Arizona in January of 2009. “He looks a little thicker. For a 7-footer to put on almost 30 pounds (since first stepping on campus) is pretty good.”

Withey may yet add additional beef.

“We will have to look at how he performs at this weight. He’s never weighed 235 in his life. We have to see how he adapts to that,” Hudy said.

Robinson opens his sophomore season at 6-9, 237 after starting his career 6-9, 230.

“Thomas since he’s been here (in June of 2009) has put on about 20 pounds of lean muscle mass,” Hudy said. “He’s a hustle guy. He’s done a great job this summer.”

Three guards have had significant weight gains. Sophomore Elijah Johnson, who was listed at 6-2, 183, last season is now 6-4, 195. Senior Tyrel Reed, who started last season 6-3, 185, now is 6-4, 193. Senior Mario Little checks in at 6-6, 218 after opening last year 6-5, 210.

“I think it’s consistency in the weight room. These guys are in here four to five times a week during the summer,” Hudy said, lauding the entire team.

“The guys started coming in right at the end of last season. We’ve been training in April, half of May, all of June and July, half of August. We’ve been at it two weeks now (since start of school). A lot of guys didn’t take time off when they went home (first two weeks of August). When they went home, they took their workouts home.”

Reed continues to impress. He hang-cleaned 302.5 pounds during the Jayhawks’ most recent testing session, top mark on the team.

“That explosive lower-body power is what I’m interested in,” Hudy said. “You look at 302 divided by his body weight, which is 193, he is probably the strongest per pound we have. Tyrel Reed is an exercise-science major. He has an interest in performance training. He not only studies it academically, he asks questions on what we are doing in here. He is cerebral about it.”

She noted that Reed and Brady Morningstar, “both had their best performance scores in the weight room in their careers here, which speaks a lot for their work.”

The team will continue in the weight room four to five times a week through the first week of October. The team normally has Boot Camp the last week of September and first week of October, then starts for real with Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 15.

KU 2010-11 roster:

0 — Thomas Robinson, 6-9, 237, Soph., F, Washington, D.C.

2 — Conner Teahan, 6-5, 212, Sr., G, Leawood.

4 — Justin Wesley, 6-8, 200, Soph., F, Fort Worth, Texas.

5 — Jeff Withey, 7-0, 235, Soph., C, San Diego.

10 — Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, 185, Jr., G, Hoboken, N.J.

11 — Royce Woolridge, 6-3, 182, Fr., G, Phoenix.

12 — Brady Morningstar, 6-4, 185, Sr., G, Lawrence.

14 — Tyrel Reed, 6-4, 193, Sr., G, Burlington.

15 — Elijah Johnson, 6-4, 195, Soph., G. Las Vegas.

20 — Niko Roberts, 5-11, 175, Fr., G, Huntington, N.Y.

21 — Markieff Morris, 6-10, 245, Jr., C, Philadelphia.

22 — Marcus Morris, 6-9, 235, Jr., F, Philadelphia.

23 — Mario Little, 6-6, 218, Sr., G, Chicago.

24 — Travis Releford, 6-5, 207, Soph., G, Kansas City, Mo.

40 — Jordan Juenemann, 6-3, 195, Jr., G, Hays.

x-Freshman guard Josh Selby to be added to roster if and when cleared by NCAA.

Head coach: Bill Self. Assistants: Joe Dooley, Kurtis Townsend, Danny Manning.

Comments

  1. kushaw (Chris Shaw) says…

    Not only are the Jayhawks adding muscle, but they also are getting taller? I wasn't too surprised to see EJ grow 2 inches, but Reed and Little both still growing?

    1. dagger108 (anonymous) replies…

      The sad thing is that if they are actually growing an inch or 2, but only gaining 10 pounds this offseason, then they really aren't bulking up much at all.

      Taken to the extreme, it would be like saying that Withey is more muscular than Brandon Bourbon b/c he weighs more. Glad the guys are working out, but something is spinning funny here.

    2. dmb40fan (anonymous) replies…

      funny I think also how there is NO mention of TT, he didn't do anything positive this summer, a time in which he really needed to re-dedicate himself, sad, very sad

    3. ralster (anonymous) replies…

      So "no data" about Tyshawn= "negative". Hmm, that's a spin also...

  2. drgnslayr (anonymous) says…

    I wonder the same, kushaw... sometimes college players grow and inch or two, but all these players adding inches?

    If this is really true then we have a much larger team this year. Just from the players mentioned above, we've added 6"!

    I know we were all shocked when Cole checked in at only 6'9"..... I'm still a bit confused as to his real height. Everyone is talking shoe height... so maybe many of our players have gone to thicker tread.

    I'm skeptical but hopeful the height increases are real!

  3. drgnslayr (anonymous) says…

    I wonder the same, kushaw... sometimes college players grow and inch or two, but all these players adding inches?

    If this is really true then we have a much larger team this year. Just from the players mentioned above, we've added 6"!

    I know we were all shocked when Cole checked in at only 6'9"..... I'm still a bit confused as to his real height. Everyone is talking shoe height... so maybe many of our players have gone to thicker tread.

    I'm skeptical but hopeful the height increases are real!

    1. kcn18 (anonymous) replies…

      maybe cole showed them all where he bought his shoes from

  4. drgnslayr (anonymous) says…

    Sorry for the double post.

  5. mhughes1 (anonymous) says…

    ...can't help but notice that Tyshawn's name didn't pop up in this article. Anyone know if he's been in the weight room and/or grooving his shot with Travis?

    1. sabd (anonymous) replies…

      I noticed the same thing. Trying to stay positive about TT but he was the only major contributor from last year not mentioned. I don't think his height or weight has changed from last seasons roster either so they must not be doing him any favors.

      1. mhughes1 (anonymous) replies…

        I'm as excited about Mario Little and Travis Releford's new perimeter shot as everyone else, but there's no way the 2011 team won't miss Xavier Henry's 3-point shooting.

        I'd love to hear that Tyshawn has spent the summer perfecting his outside shot.

        1. dagger108 (anonymous) replies…

          Unless of course someone(s) on this team can hit 50%.

  6. memhawk (anonymous) says…

    drgnslayr -

    I think you've stumbled on to a new stat: Aggregate Height Per Team (AHPT)! I can see this being widely used as a comparison to previous teams as well as to other teams. Probably as a statistic, it is virtually meaningless. But, it sounds good. Like in other things, it's not the size, it's how good you are with what you've got, right?

    We may not, however, want to adopt the Aggregate Weight Per Team stat, just in case we end up with somebody who is turns out to be a follower of the Sherron Collins program!

    1. ParisHawk (anonymous) replies…

      http://kenpom.com/height.php?s=HgtEff...

      If you look at the explanation, Ken Pomery says height seems to matter the most on defense and in the 4 and 5 positions.

  7. jayhawkerjoel (anonymous) says…

    Seems like a lot of KU players have been stretched over the years. The two that come to mind are Keith Langford and Richard Scott. Langford was always listed between 6'4" - 6'5" when in reality he is a little over 6'3". Richard Scott was listed between 6'6" - 6'7" and he was barely over 6'4" (although he played much bigger.)

    1. PikesPeakSmitty (anonymous) replies…

      Fletch Syndrome

  8. yates33333 (anonymous) says…

    "Freshman guard Josh Selby to be added to roster if and when cleared by NCAA."

    I thought it was just when. The if is new, isn't it?

    1. okjhok (anonymous) replies…

      No...if it was just "when" then there wouldn't be an ongoing investigation and we wouldn't be talking about it.

  9. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…

    I feel a Jaybate Extreme Muscle Ball post coming very, very soon!!!!!

  10. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…

    Player..........................Weight Training Motivation

    Marcus........................NBA in his future
    Markieff........................NBA in his future
    TRob............................Paint Domination thru Muscle Mass
    Tyrel............................Keep working with the KU Women's Team
    Brady...........................Redemption
    Mario...........................Ain't Little no more
    Elijah...........................Playing Time
    Jeff..............................Avoid getting broken in half at practice
    Josh............................Currently in "Wait" training

  11. jhawk613 (Eric Williams) says…

    It's common knowledge that depth charts do not report the actual height of players. Most players receive a 1" or 2" bump because coaches like to think that it intimidates the opponent when they try to match-up.

    1. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) replies…

      Plus no one plays bare-footed...bring on those high heeled sneakers!!

    2. dmb40fan (anonymous) replies…

      If you remeber that when Danny Manning came out of KU to the Clippers, the Clippers measured him at 6'9 and many KU guides had him at 6'10 to 6'11. Very common practice.

  12. RochalkJHawk (anonymous) says…

    Great work by the guys. Hey Gary, what about the women's strength and weight gains over the summer. Have they been making similar strides? Could you give a similar update on their progress? From what I can tell we routinely get pushed around by the better teams in the women's conference (OU, etc)

    1. jayhawkinmullen (President Obama) replies…

      Nothing is sexier than a greased up muscle bound woman. I would love to hear how these woman have put on weight. My guess is though they would not love for us too hear how much weight they have gained. After all these are women we are talking about.

  13. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    "Some Ways You Know The Team Is Gaining XTReme Weight"

    ~Naismith Court recently reinforced with concrete pilings to bedrock.

    ~Japan's Sumo All-Stars recently turned down recent KU offer to stage a Sumos and Hoopahs Fighting Cancer fundraiser exhibition match with KU ballers.

    ~Northern Iowa refused to respond to home and home offer from Perkins and Self; then signed to play Southern Iowa instead.

    ~First steps of KU's bigs leaving holes in practice floor.

    ~KU team bus denied permission to cross some Federal highway bridges due to load limit violations.

    ~Airlines forcing KU to charter 747s for team flights due to excess muscle mass.

    ~Big and tall clothing stores in bidding war to become new sponsors of KU game broadcasts.

    ~Tyshawn Taylor wants to telegraph taking a poke at a KU offensive tackle, rather than sucker punch him.

    ~Climate researchers hypothesize that KU basketball players are blocking out enough sun that Lawrence is developing a microclimate in danger of triggering a new ice age.

    ~Bill Self overheard telling Eddie Sutton on the phone, "The running game is for pussies. Let's get ready to rumble."

    ~Mario Little rumored to have officially changed his name to Big Little.

    ~Jeff Withey no longer evidencing pathological fear of light breezes.

    ~Tyrel Reed reportedly ready to give XTReme Physical Therapy to board rats lusting after his sister.

    ~At training table, Marcus Morris reputedly now has to say, "Pass the butter, Mr. Morris," or be thrown through one of the windows by brother Kieff.

    ~Anyone on the team that has not gained ten pounds this summer has to wear "Im uh skinny mo-fo" t-shirt to class.

    ~President Obama took one look at the KU's new height and weight numbers and said, "Turn the page. Bring the boys home. Any terrorists wanna screw with us, just send in the Jayhawks."

    ~Bill Self overheard laughing and saying, "Okay, Coach Consonants, we'll play it any dirty, cheap-shotting way you want, but we'll out weight you 20 pounds a man. Capice?"

    ~Izzo getting night sweats and calling out in nightmares, "How can we beat KU if we can't intimidate them!"

    (Note: All fiction. No malice.)

    1. ralster (anonymous) replies…

      +1

  14. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    "Regarding Weight Gains"

    Prologue: If Self doesn't play 9-10 guys this year, he's not playing to his strength.

    Tyrel--an inch taller, ten pounds heavier, even slight improvement on defense, and with the same trifecta spells starter, or Sixth Man and 25-30 minutes per game. Tyrel is one of three reasons CJ Henry took a powder. Tyrel shoots the trey as well and makes no mistakes.

    The Prophet--at 6'4" and 195, and with even a 38% trifecta, Selby has to be thinking about using the NCAA shake down as an excuse to go somewhere else. The Prophet at this height and size, and with a trey could revolutionize the team. The Prophet is the second reason CJ Henry took a powder. The Prophet is faster and jumps higher than CJ.

    Travis Releford--Travis at 210 and with a trey is the third reason CJ Henry took a powder. He is stronger and a better defender and much longer in the open court than CJ.

    Epilogue: Reed, The Prophet, and Travis combine to take up all the situational supporting minutes at any positions CJ might have competed for. I still think CJ might have beaten one or some of them out for significant minutes, but in the end he wanted more FGAs per game than any realistic scenario could yielded.

    1. ralster (anonymous) replies…

      Best analysis yet of why CJ "chickened out" of the Hawk-ranks...

    2. CaliHawk33 (anonymous) replies…

      What powder did CJ take? Apparently it wasn't a performance enhancer...

  15. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    "Miscellaneous"

    ~So: the purpose of Nike Air shoes is finally clear. Pumped up, they add an inch.

    ~Will KU be the first team to lose the best incoming recruit in the country, Josh Selby, and then go on to win a ring?

    ~The weigh gains are encouraging, but I can gain 10 pounds in a week on a Princess Cruise. And I used to gain ten pounds in a summer of weight lifting without benefit of a training table. What is with a measly 7-10 pounds on growing boys with the kind of nutrition KU is able to provide?

    ~Withey's ten pound gain is enough to let him play some minutes inside, but he really needs 15 more to become an anchor in the middle. Still, Hudy is making the issue clear. Withey's problem has only partly been weight. He just hasn't been strong enough pound per pound to play any position. The age of XTReme Muscle Ball is largely about strength and weight, not just weight. Weight can make you hard to move. But it takes strength and weight applied with leverage to push others out of position. Here's hoping that Jeff's weight is now biased to muscle. Increases in strength, while they can take time to translate back into smooth coordination, give huge instant confidence bonuses. To feel stronger, even a little, gives swagger. We'll know when Jeff is ready for war, when he has a some swagger. Once he has the swagger, of course, he will then have to actually endure combat to see if he has the warrior's mentality to carry on amidst mayhem and bodily harm. This season should be Jeff's transitional season--transitioning from bench warmer to reliable, 15-20 minute back-up. Next season should be his real manning-up season.

  16. dmb40fan (anonymous) says…

    Question, is anyone aware of a deadline or stop date of what is too late for Josh to actually enroll the first semester at KU. This investigation is going on for a bit now, and is not giving me a warm "fuzzy" feeling

  17. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…

    I told you all!! :}

    1. jaybate (anonymous) replies…

      "You made me love you/
      I didn't wanna do it/
      I didn't wanna do it..."

      --"You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" is a popular song. The music was written by James V. Monaco, the lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. Judy Garland sang it to Clark Gable in my favorite version.

      1. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) replies…

        Just a small note, I think it was a picture of Clark Gable, wasn't it?

        1. jaybate (anonymous) replies…

          Can't slip anything by you. :-)

          On a technicality I do believe Judy reputedly sang it to Clark live at a birthday party the Eared One on the Metro lot. Supposedly some special verses were added to the song for her singing it for his birthday, and to the picture you so rightly note.

  18. jhwk215 (anonymous) says…

    I actually follow TT on Twitter for the purpose to see what type of trouble if any that he is getting in and to answer your questions, no, he has not been working out. He's been gone all summer doing everything but practice.

    1. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) replies…

      CRAP!!

    2. murph (anonymous) replies…

      That figures. What a waste he is!

    3. ralster (anonymous) replies…

      How do you know? I mean, just how exhaustive and frequent are his twitter entries? ? ? Or would every college player twitter "today I practiced" every single day, or rather would he twitter more vacation-like/fun activities that he thinks are more interesting to his followers on Twitter? I dont know, just wondering.

  19. drgnslayr (anonymous) says…

    KU 2011-12 roster:

    0 — Thomas Robinson, 6-11, 287, Jr., F, Washington, D.C.

    4 — Justin Wesley, 6-10, 240, Jr., F, Fort Worth, Texas.

    5 — Jeff Withey, 7-3, 285, Jr., C, San Diego.

    10 — Tyshawn Taylor, 6-5, 205, Sr., G, Hoboken, N.J.

    11 — Royce Woolridge, 6-5, 212, Soph., G, Phoenix.

    15 — Elijah Johnson, 6-6, 215, Jr., G. Las Vegas.

    20 — Niko Roberts, 6-1, 205, Soph., G, Huntington, N.Y.

    21 — Markieff Morris, 7-0, 295, Sr., C, Philadelphia.

    22 — Marcus Morris, 6-11, 265, Sr., F, Philadelphia.

    24 — Travis Releford, 6-7, 227, Jr., G, Kansas City, Mo.

    40 — Jordan Juenemann, 6-5, 205, Sr., G, Hays.

    x-Sophomore guard Josh Selby to be added to roster if and when cleared by NCAA.

    xx-projected sizes based on historic data.

    1. jaybate (anonymous) replies…

      If Roy were still KU's coach, Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor, Niko Roberts, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris would not be on the roster.

      Josh Selby, if he were finally admitted, would also not be on the roster.

      Interesting.

      1. kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…

        Good thing Ole' Roy isn't here.

  20. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    "Strategic Thought for the Day"

    "Strategy, as Hans Delbruck used to say, consists in making one less error than the enemy."
    --Alfred Vagts (b. 1892, d.1986), first German and then American military historian ultimately at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies, referring in Vagts's own brilliant "A History of Militarism" to Hans Delbruck, one of the first German military historians (b. 1848, d.1929)/

    Were Delbruck and Vagts influenced by Forest Allen, or vice versa? :-)

    Reading Vagts "A History of Militarism: Civilian and Military" will make what has happened to America the last 25 years unmistakeably clear.

  21. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    Post Script on Delbruck and Vagts:

    I have no knowledge of their anti-semitism, or lack there of. But Mel Brooks reputedly took a few subtle pokes at Delbruck in a couple of his movies. So reader beware.

  22. KULA (anonymous) says…

    Wow, that Hudy is a miracle worker if she can get everyone to grow an inch over the summer! Sounds like a lot of BS to me.

  23. memhawk (anonymous) says…

    Maybe it's one of those school-kid pranks. You know how you substitute a little larger or smaller size article of clothing very discretley over a period of time to make somebody think they're either gaining or losing weight? Maybe somebody has substituted an altered measuring device that is used for height measurments and it just appears that they're getting taller! ......it could happen!....!

  24. KULA (anonymous) says…

    No wait--I know what happened. They measured them on the space shuttle! Zero gravity makes you 1 or 2 inches taller.

    1. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) replies…

      That is correct!! Zero gravity allows the space between each vertabrae to expand slighty but when added up the length of the back, it becomes a measurable amount [ 1 to 2 inches, I think]

    2. stravinsky (anonymous) replies…

      Daaang I knew we had improved our athletics training facilities over the last few years, but i didn't realize we had improved them THAT much.

      1. memhawk (anonymous) replies…

        Maybe, everything is measured using Lew Perkins as the standard. We do tend to shrink some as we reach Lew's age. Being measured next to Lew last year and again this year would tend to explain the guys appearing taller. Just another theory!

  25. ralster (anonymous) says…

    Lets just see if they look bigger, and more importantly, play bigger.
    ---------------------------
    Regarding Tyshawn: Even if he got no bigger/taller whatsoever...If he simply improves his consistency alot, he will be "big" asset!

  26. ralster (anonymous) says…

    ...Or maybe, the hoops players are worried about the next fracas with the football team and all the big, big O-linemen Gill is bringing in...hehe...

  27. jhawkr (anonymous) says…

    Note to the "Withey" family .......... Send Jeff more lunch and junk food money !!

    Not to sure about all the measurements of note above. Sometimes it depends on how you hold the yardstick on top of their head. Angled up or down (lol) !!

    You gotta remember that usually at the NBA combine most kids measure smaller then listed in the school program. Rarely are they larger.

  28. tomhawk26 (anonymous) says…

    How about some news on the Selby situation? It does seem somewhat important! Not that shoe size, jock itch control and other related stories aren't mesmerizing; but not a word about Selby for how long? Waiting until Rivals or some other sports organization gives you the okay to write about what's happening. Pathetic as usual. Get a clue, or another job you hacks!!

  29. jayhawkster33 (anonymous) says…

    http://theshiver.com/2010/09/selby-al...

    Sounds like Selby has gotten the OK and it'll be announced Tuesday by the NCAA.

    1. ParisHawk (anonymous) replies…

      Thanks for that, 33!

  30. BP2U (B to the P) says…

    “That explosive lower-body power is what I’m interested in,” Hudy said.

    That's what she said.

    Seriously though - all the 'analysis' on CJ leaving? Surely you know he came to Kansas just to play with his brother.. and now that he's gone, CJ wants to play. Somewhere. Did you really think he was a Jayhawk for the long haul?