KU coach Bill Self huddles with the Jayhawks after a Boot Camp conditioning session in this file photo from 2006. Boot Camp 2011 was to begin at 6 this morning.

Merv Lindsay, who has developed a close friendship with former Kansas University basketball player Marcus Morris since arriving on campus in June, had a heart-to-heart talk with his brother-figure the other day.

The topic? Bill Self’s two-week Boot Camp.

“He said, ‘Man, they are going to kill you … but you are going to be all right,”’ Lindsay, KU’s 6-foot-7 freshman guard from Moreno Valley, Calif., said with a smile.

“I am not worried. I’m more anxious to see what it’s all about. I’m up for the challenge.”

Ready or not, Boot Camp 2011 was set to start at 6 a.m. sharp Monday in the Jayhawks’ hoops practice facility adjacent to Allen Fieldhouse.

On tap were a series of sprints, defensive slides, backboard touches and more sprints for 50 minutes or so … with no basketballs in sight.

“They (teammates) say it’s going to be tough, but I think it won’t be as tough as they say because I like to run a lot,” said KU junior Kevin Young, a 6-8 newcomer from Perris, Calif. “Then again, I heard it’s not all running, a lot of it is mental, too. I think that’s good, to see how well we discipline ourselves and each other as teammates.”

KU senior Tyshawn Taylor can think of a lot of words to describe Boot Camp. “Good” is not necessarily one of them.

“Boot Camp is bad. It’s terrible, but I think it’s more so the time that it’s at,” Taylor said of the pre-dawn hours. “That’s the worst thing. If it was at 3 in the afternoon, it’d be a hard workout, but it wouldn’t be something we dreaded. It’s getting up every morning (Monday-Friday for two weeks), still having to go to class right after, still having to do individual workouts, lifting, still having to go to tutoring and then wake up and do it all over again.

“It’s pretty bad, pretty bad … but it can’t be any worse than the last three years,” he added, looking at the bright side.

Former KU center Sasha Kaun, who survived four Boot Camps, says there’s one way to make sure the process is productive.

“The biggest thing,” Kaun said, “is be on time for Boot Camp, be on time for class, be on time for tutoring. If you do that, it’s pretty easy. The coach is happy, and you don’t have to run extra, the Boot Camp is fine and you get everybody better. Once you start being late and tick off the coach, the coach is mad, and he is making it harder on you, and you have to run extra, and now you are mad. It becomes a chain reaction and turns into a disaster.”

Easy is not the word former KU guard Xavier Henry would use to describe Boot Camp.

“I remember guys throwing up, being tired. There’s not too many funny things about Boot Camp,” said Henry, a second-year Memphis Grizzlies guard who experienced one Boot Camp. “That’s what is good about it. It’s so serious. You know you’ve got to come in and do your work. Just listen and pay attention to coach, don’t try to do your own thing, makes sure you can follow directions.”

Of course, KU’s returnees have an advantage in they know what to expect.

“You can never really get used to Boot Camp, but from last year I know it’s a lot of running, everything is full speed,” sophomore guard Niko Roberts said. “You don’t stop. There are no breaks. It makes you tougher, and that’s the point of Boot Camp.”

Nobody has attended more Boot Camps than fifth-year senior Conner Teahan.

“Just because you have been through it four times doesn’t mean it’s any easier,” he said. “There’s always some new challenge.”

It’s a challenge most are up for.

“I think a lot of guys get asthma, get sick this time, around Boot Camp time,” Taylor said with a smile. “Everybody’s injuries are a little more than what they really are around Boot Camp time.

“We’ll be ready for it,” he added in a serious tone. “It’s good for us, but I definitely won’t miss it next year.”

Still sidelined by NCAA

Two Jayhawks — Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor — cannot participate in Boot Camp drills, according to NCAA rules. The two have been cleared to be on scholarship and attend class, but cannot compete in official team activities until the NCAA clearinghouse deems them fully eligible.

“We knew we were going to have to work through some things. The way we see it (is), they did the work (in high school), but the way the NCAA sees it is, they need more information. Where they are coming from and the focus on academics, that’s fair,” Self said during Saturday’s halftime TV interview at the Legends of the Phog. “I don’t like it, but it’s fair. We have to provide some additional stuff for them (clearinghouse officials). I don’t know when we will get a final determination. Last year for Josh (Selby) it took until Late Night. I don’t think it’ll be that long this time.”

Late Night in the Phog is Oct. 14 in Allen Fieldhouse.

White enjoys KU visit

Andrew White, a 6-6, 210-pound senior small forward from Miller School in Chester, Va., who attended Legends of the Phog, said he will visit West Virginia next weekend, then may visit Texas and/or Louisville.

“The biggest memory about Kansas was the fan support,” he told jayhawkslant.com. “The relationships with all the players and just being in such a big basketball city. The rich tradition gave me a good feeling about why the program is so great.”

The No. 56-rated player in the Class of 2012 said KU freshman Naadir Tharpe was his host, but he also spent a lot of time with Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson and Taylor.

Twitter

Several participants in Legends in the Phog praised the experience on Twitter.

Mario Chalmers wrote: “What a game today!!! Had fun bein back in the Allen Fieldhosue. We have the greatest fans in the world. I luv y’all. That shot (to tie game at 111-111) was for y’all.”

He said he dedicated the shot to his late grandfather.

Paul Pierce, who hit a three to bust a 108-108 tie, wrote: “Today’s game in Allen Fieldhouse brought back so many memories. I couldn’t have scripted the game today any better. Best fans in the world.”

Nick Bradford wrote: “Could it have ended any better way? That was some Hollywood type ending! Oscar for the script haha!”

Brandon Rush wrote: “Good time at the fieldhouse today. Time to clean up and head to my grandma birthday party.”

Wayne Simien, who had a vicious dunk, wrote: “Adrenaline going down from the game, soreness going up. I sure don’t miss the feeling.. .. My ears are still ringing from that amazing sellout crowd. THE best venue in ALL of college hoops.”