Kansas sophomores Travis Releford and Markieff Morris were in Emporia on Wednesday working at the Jeff Boschee Basketball Clinic.
The Gazette sat down with Releford and Morris to ask them about the upcoming season, who would win 1-on-1 between them and their brothers and the craziest request they’ve ever received from a fan.
Q: What have you been working on this summer?
Releford: Just getting stronger.
Morris: I’ve been working on getting stronger a lot. I think I gained like 32 pounds since the season was over. Just been in the gym. Last season, it wasn’t really disappointing, but we wanted to go further. We’re just getting mentally stronger and stronger physically so we can go further.
Q: How different does it feel going into this year compared to going into your freshman year?
Releford: I’m more mature and understand the system a lot better.
Morris: I know what to expect. I know how boot camp is. I know what Coach is going to put us through and how to take it.
Q: Who has been the toughest guy for you to guard this summer?
Releford: I would have to say Marcus (Morris).
Morris: Probably my brother. He’s gotten a lot better and been real tough to guard.
Q: In my estimation, KU is a legitimate 14 players deep. How’s that going to work? Is there enough playing time for everyone?
Releford: It’s going to be tough to get out on the court. We’re going to have to come out and compete every day in practice for playing time.
Morris: Man, we just have to wait and see. I really don’t know anything. I know we’ve got a good chance to win the national title this year. I don’t remember the last team to go 14-deep like we can, so this will be a very, very exciting season.
Q: Most preseason rankings have KU No.1. What are your expectations for this team?
Releford: We just need to come out and prove it. Being No. 1 at the beginning of the season don’t mean nothing. It’s who’s No. 1 at the end.
Morris: I don’t know. A lot of teams will be coming at us because we’re Kansas and we’re the No. 1 team in the country, but we’re not going to back down from nobody. It’s going to be an exciting season.
Q: Who wins in 1-on-1, you or your brother? (Releford’s brother is Bishop Miege point guard Trevor Releford, the No. 14-rated point guard in the class of 2010 by scout.com.)
Releford: I win all the time, every time.
Morris: It depends on the type of 1-on-1 games we’re playing. If we’re going to play a shooting game, he probably will. But if we’re going to play everything, I most likely will.
Q: Craziest thing a fan has ever done or craziest request?
Releford: They haven’t gotten too crazy. Just sign their arms and legs, forehead maybe.
Morris: I don’t really know. They have our faces in their hands, but other than that, everything’s been normal.