Marcus Morris felt relief after Kansas’ 85-74 victory at Kansas State Saturday.

Not because he rebounded after being benched for the final 19 minutes of the defeat at Missouri last Monday and not starting for the first time in seven games against Kansas State. And not because he broke out of a slump with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Think simpler.

“Good thing I didn’t shoot an air ball this game,” Morris, a freshman forward, said. “I think I’m on a roll for air balls every game.”

Morris had one air ball in each of Kansas’ last two games before Saturday and numerous others this season. It gnawed at him. The guy hates air balls.

But he tried not to think about it against the Wildcats. He didn’t want to think at all. Morris tried to attack and not worry about anything else.

That’s what Kansas coach Bill Self wanted him to do. That’s why Self said Morris was the difference in the game.

“I think he’s played safe up until this point,” Self said after the game. “He’s played not to screw up, but today he went out and made plays.”

He made a lot of them. Marcus drained a three-point shot from the top of the key to tie the score at 38 in the first half.

By the time the game was in its crucial stages in the second half, Morris was asking teammates for the ball. He scored four points during a 10-2 run in the final minutes that pulled the Jayhawks away from the Wildcats.

Morris got to the free-throw line four times and made six of his eight attempts. Calling his performance “a complete game” would be an understatement.

“That’s the real Marcus,” junior guard Sherron Collins said. “Aggressive, making plays, hitting threes, hitting jumpers, posting, doing it all.”

Self and Collins always believed Morris was capable of contributing at this level, but had personal obstacles to overcome. At the beginning of the season, Self complained that Morris didn’t exert enough effort at practice.

Although Self is pleased with the progression of his practice habits, Morris still thinks he can get better.

“Every day I talk to coach when we’re in practice and he tells me I don’t go hard and I need to make more plays,” Morris said.

Morris still started six of the Jayhawks’ first eight games before Self opted to insert Markieff Morris in the lineup instead. Self said Marcus didn’t understand his role on the team.

At times, he focused too much on getting open shots and not on grabbing rebounds or playing defense. But Morris still showed flashes of improvement, such as in the first Kansas State game when he had seven rebounds. He was inconsistent.

“He kept teasing us a little bit, showing us glimpses of it,” Collins said. “But I think he’s coming around, turning the corner. Look forward to see more of that from him.”

Collins said he thought Saturday’s game could be a turning point in Morris’ season. Morris agreed and said the key would be to play with more motivation on the defensive end.

Of course, it will also help if Morris continues to be aggressive and forgets about potential miscues such as air balls.

“Marcus Morris is a really talented player, but we’ve been waiting for this,” Self said. “Today was almost like, forget it I’m going to go play.”

— — Edited by Sonya English