The biggest lesson Christian Moody learned last year as a freshman men’s basketball player at Kansas University was that it’s no fun getting pushed around constantly.

Not that 6-foot-9 giants Wayne Simien and Jeff Graves don’t push most people around with their 250-plus-pound frames, but most people don’t have to collide with them on a daily basis like Moody does. Among the mighty oaks, he felt like a lonely leaf.

“I’ve been trying to hold my own,” he said. “It’s always a challenge, though.”

Moody knew he needed to make some changes in order to contribute. The sophomore forward found his Miracle-Gro in the weight room, adding 10 pounds of muscle to what is now a 215-pound frame and sprouting two more inches to almost 6-foot-9.

“I knew I had to get faster and I had to get stronger,” Moody said. “I’ve really been trying to get stronger because the biggest thing I need to conquer is learning how to bang with these guys.”

So, has the added muscle allowed Moody to start tossing Simien and Graves like rag dolls?

“No,” he said, “but I think I’ve been doing better. Some days I feel like I’m really tall, like I’ve grown in my sleep or something, but some days they still make me feel smaller, depending on how hard they’re going.”

It might not be possible for Moody to become as broad-shouldered and beefy as Simien and Graves, so he has had to develop other aspects of his game. What he lacks in physical presence he makes up for with speed. He is focusing more on fundamentals and footwork. He has learned not to force things.

“He’s a really smart player,” sophomore forward Moulaye Niang said. “He just lets the game come to him. He grew a little bit, got stronger and I think he’s playing much better.”

New coach Bill Self said he hasn’t defined many players’ roles yet, so Moody said he’s prepared for anything.

His role likely won’t change much from last year. He’ll again play the role of scout-teamer against KU’s starting five. He’ll be an aggressive competitor in practice but see little court time on game day. He’ll play during the closing minutes of games when the Jayhawks are ahead by a lot, or when the starters are struggling. and Self is looking for someone to give the team an energy boost.

“Personally,” a determined Moody said, “I’m going to do whatever I can to compete for whatever spot they need me.”