Go figure

Nick Krug

60.7 Kansas’ field-goal shooting percentage (34 of 56)

The Kansas kids on Kansas University’s basketball team stole the show Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

Sophomores Tyrel Reed of Burlington and Brady Morningstar of Lawrence combined for 31 points off 12-of-18 shooting while starting and playing 29 minutes apiece in the Jayhawks’ 98-79 exhibition victory over Washburn.

“I’m just happy for those two guys. I knew they were good enough to play with us out there and good enough to play against those guys. I think they are for real,” KU junior point guard Sherron Collins said after his own 22-point, seven-assist outing against the outmanned Ichabods.

“We saw it every day in practice last year. We see it every day in practice so far this year.”

If the stats counted, the Kansas connection would have set a batch of personal-best marks Tuesday.

Reed hit five three-pointers in six attempts and scored 16 points. His best official game at KU was an 11-point outing – which included three treys – against Louisiana Monroe last season. His previous high in minutes was 21 versus Northern Arizona.

Morningstar, who red-shirted last year, hit seven of 11 shots, good for 15 points. His previous high was five points three different times, with two field goals his best mark. Morningstar’s previous high in minutes was 14.

“I think we’re going to count on them no matter what,” KU coach Bill Self said, asked if he’d count on the two sophomores a lot early in the season as the seven newcomers learn the system.

“We can’t bank on Tyrel being 5-of-6 from three every game. Tyrel was the most important player in the game from my vantage point because when the game was close he stepped up and made plays.”

Reed and Morningstar combined for 18 of KU’s first 27 points as the Jayhawks grabbed a 27-19 lead. Reed had 12 of KU’s first 21 points.

“We’re going to count on those guys. Those guys can make shots, can get those (other) guys into it a bit more,” Self said.

Reed acknowledged it was a thrill to be in the starting lineup.

“Just being from Kansas, being a small-town kid, it was nice to get your name heard over the loudspeaker,” he said. “But once that’s over with, you just have to play basketball. It doesn’t matter if you come off the bench or are a starter. Last year we had Sasha (Kaun) come off the bench, and he was one of our main guys. So starting doesn’t mean much, but it was nice to have that feeling.”

Of his start, Morningstar noted: “It was good. It was fun, but coming off the bench would have been just as good as starting. It was a great feeling to be out on the court (after sitting out last year).”

Reed scored 13 points the first half and Morningstar 10 – to go with Collins’ 14 – as KU took a 57-35 lead into halftime. The Jayhawks were outscored the second half, 44-41.

“We actually have played better than that second half (at practice this year). Of course, so have most junior varsity junior high teams,” Self said, admitting he was “really kind of mad, to be honest” when he called two quick timeouts in the second half. “We were absolutely not very good in the second half. I mean, there were turnovers and carelessness. I thought our young kids really played to their age in the second half.”

Quintrell Thomas had the best game of the freshmen with 10 points and six boards. Tyshawn Taylor had seven points and an assist against five turnovers. Markieff and Marcus Morris were a combined 3-of-9 shooting, with Marcus fouling out in seven minutes. Travis Releford had three points and three boards.

“The young kids don’t know how to guard yet,. This is a good experience for them. We are really young. Every day it’s a box of chocolates,” he quipped of not knowing what to expect.

KU will meet Emporia State at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse.