For the time being, the Kansas lineup should have a distinct Kansas flavor.

The only two scholarship players on the Jayhawk roster from Kansas — sophomore guards Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar — have earned significant playing time to open the regular season because of their performances in the two exhibition games.

Reed averaged nine and a half points and three assists in the two games, while Morningstar averaged nine points and three assists. Kansas coach Bill Self said both have also improved defensively. They’re both going to be on the floor a lot starting with Sunday’s regular-season opener against UMKC.

“I don’t want to use the words ‘separated themselves,’ but they’ve really done a good job,” Self said. “There’s no way we’re going into the season without them being a big part of our rotation.”

The guaranteed minutes were not handed to the duo of Kansas natives. Reed and Morningstar proved they were worthy of receiving them.

Self primarily uses five guards in his rotation. Self said if a player wasn’t one of the top of the five, he’d probably be unhappy with his minutes.

Even with junior guard and Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Mario Little sidelined because of a stress fracture in his lower left leg, the Jayhawks had seven guards who could fill those spots.

Junior guard Sherron Collins already owned one. So Reed, Morningstar, junior Tyrone Appleton, sophomore Conner Teahan, freshman Tyshawn Taylor and freshman Travis Releford were the six candidates competing for four spots.

With the exhibition games as their audition stage, Reed and Morningstar outperformed the others. Self has suggested their experience in the program might have helped win the minutes.

“Look at Tyrel last year or Brady the year before; they were kind of the odd man out,” Self said. “Unfortunately, that’s the way it is on every team. You’re going to have some guys who — until they crack into the rotation group — aren’t going to play much.”

Morningstar, who was a redshirt last year, has also noticed the advantages of spending two years in the program. Despite not playing in a game last season, Morningstar learned a lot from practicing with the national championship team.

Morningstar said it had already started to pay off before the season.

“Even if you’re not as good as some of the younger players, being older is an advantage,” Morningstar said. “Just because you know what you can get away with on the court.”

Self stressed, however, that nothing was permanent. Reed and Morningstar are just the most ready to contribute right now. That doesn’t mean their minutes are immune to change. Reed and Morningstar know it, too.

It doesn’t bother them, especially after last year. Reed referenced Sasha Kaun, who started for the Jayhawks for two years before becoming the sixth man last season.

“Whether you come off of the bench or are a starter, it really doesn’t matter,” Reed said. “Like last year, we had Sasha come off of the bench and he was one of our main guys.”

Reed and Morningstar were far from “main guys” last season. Reed appeared in 22 games last season and averaged two points. Two years ago, Morningstar played in 16 games and averaged two points.

— — Edited by Kelsey Hayes