Marcus Morris once fouled out of a Pennsylvania high school playoff game because the referee erroneously credited him with a foul his twin brother Markieff committed.

Unfortunately for Marcus, referee Steve Welmer and his crew didn’t make any identity mistakes in Kansas’ 98-79 exhibition victory against Washburn last Tuesday. Marcus fouled out in only seven minutes all by himself.

“I felt like I played so much longer,” Marcus said.

Fouling five times in seven minutes may have surprised Marcus, but Kansas coach Bill Self knew it was going to happen. In the two weeks of practice leading up to the game, Self told the Morris twins repeatedly they could foul out quickly in the game.

Self suspected his team was ignoring the message. He was right.

“I didn’t believe him,” Marcus said. “Until the game, after the game.”

There was no denying it then. Marcus said he thought he put his hands on the Ichabod frontline players too often. Or maybe, he was just too physical in general.

Whatever it was, Marcus couldn’t believe he fouled out that quickly. It certainly never happened in high school or last season at prep school.

“I think it was kind of humbling to see that it happened exactly the way that we warned it would,” Self said. “I think it’s a great teaching point.”

Although Marcus Morris was the chief offender, he wasn’t the only Jayhawk big man to get into foul trouble. Both Markieff Morris and sophomore center Cole Aldrich recorded two fouls in the first half, which prompted Self to use a small lineup in the final two minutes before halftime.

Markieff and Aldrich finished with three fouls each. Senior center Matt Kleinmann even added two fouls in six minutes.

Self knows his team can’t foul that much if it wants to be successful in the regular season. Aldrich doesn’t think it will be a problem for the Jayhawks.

He attributed the foul trouble to the fact that it was, after all, the first game of the season.

Aldrich said it took a while for young players to get comfortable with playing defense at the collegiate level. It requires making quick decisions such as whether or not to attempt to block a shot, according to Aldrich.

“You’ve got to play smart and say, ‘Well, should I go after that shot or just wall up and play strong?’,” Aldrich said. “It’s kind of tough.”

Self’s relieved the problem appeared in an exhibition game. That way, it can be addressed before the actual season.

His players agree.

“Great thing that one didn’t count,” Marcus said.

Neither does the next one, though. Kansas finishes off its exhibition slate against Emporia State Tuesday night. Self expects Kansas to begin to fix its foul problems in the game against the Hornets.

Marcus Morris, meanwhile, wants to make amends for his forgettable game against Washburn.

“I know it probably doesn’t seem like I played hard just because of my foul trouble,” Marcus said. “I’m going to play a lot harder, keep my hands to myself and play disciplined.”

— — Edited by Ramsey Cox