Kansas forward Markieff Morris (21) slaps the ball away from Oklahoma State's Marshall Moses during the second half Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

‘Kieff steps up

Markieff Morris followed perhaps his worst game of the season (three points in loss to Kansas State on Feb. 14) with two monster games.

Morris had 15 points and seven rebounds in Monday’s 92-65 victory over Oklahoma State after scoring 26 points with 12 rebounds Saturday in an 89-63 rout of Colorado.

“We’re practicing harder,” Markieff’s brother, Marcus, said of the team. “I have to give credit to ‘Kieff. He is stepping up and becoming a leader of this team. ‘Kieff’s say-so is more than what I say. He’s been pushing everybody since the K-State loss. He’s been going very hard in practice, doing everything we need him to do. You can tell after that (KSU) game he became a different player. It (his play) is motivating everybody to do extra. We’ve got T-Rob (Thomas Robinson) back now and we’re rolling.”

Of Markieff Morris, Kansas coach Bill Self said: “The last two games, he’s been a beast. He’s going after the ball with two hands as well as anybody we’ve had here in a long time. He’s being very explosive. He’s playing well.”

Support of Taylor

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor sits on the bench as he watches warmups prior to tipoff against Oklahoma State Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU senior Mario Little said the Jayhawk players fully support junior Tyshawn Taylor, who has been suspended indefinitely by Self for violating team rules.

“We are a team. We keep his spirits up just like they (teammates) kept my spirits up (during Little’s six-game suspension),” Little said. “We are going to support each other no matter what happens.”

Little spoke with Taylor before Monday’s OSU game, the first game Taylor has missed in his three-year KU career.

“I told him, ‘Keep your head up and maybe you can turn this into a positive. Maybe take things a little more serious. Nothing is guaranteed,”’ Little said.