The best defender junior guard Sade Morris faced this season resided in the depths of her own mind.

Morris is Kansas’ second best scorer — a player that possesses speed, impressive wingspan for a guard (she’s 5-foot-11) and the ability to be a lockdown defender. But, at times, Morris’ thoughts subtly betrayed when she was on offense with the ball in her hands.

“I don’t understand it because if I was De, I’d be puffed up, walking around here like I owned everything,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

Morris’ struggles with self-confidence have always been present, but her tale is one that’s familiar to many athletes playing Division I sports.

The competition for playing time and the high-caliber level of athletes leave many questioning their own abilities.

“Every player goes through ‘maybe I’m not good enough to be at this level,’” Morris said. “But then you figure out that you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t good enough.”

There’s no doubt that Morris is talented enough to compete in the Big 12. But in games this season Morris did not appear confident, often deferring instead of attacking.

Sometimes, she simply lacked the aggressive, take-it-to-the-basket style that serves as her greatest strength.

“I never want to be the person that wants to be selfish,” Morris said. “There will be times when I say ‘De, you’re doing way too much.’”

In return, Henrickson’s pleas with Morris have been relentless and seemingly neverending. The goal, the purpose behind the constant prodding for more hinges on Morris’ natural ability and noticeable importance to Kansas’ success.

When Morris missed two games and the second half of another earlier in the year, Kansas went 0-3.

But when she’s healthy and at her best, as was the case when she scored 24 points against Nebraska in the Big 12 tournament, Kansas’ offense changes from two-dimensional (junior forward Danielle McCray and everyone else) to a three-dimensional offense capable of competing with any team in the Big 12.

“Sade is a great player, and I always tell her that to booster her confidence. I tell her that she can take anyone to the basket,” McCray said. “She’s a good player like that. And once she’s aggressive, you can’t stop her.”

Indeed, Morris has been difficult to stop, let alone slow down, in Kansas’ past three games. In that stretch, she’s averaged 20 points per game and made 54 percent of her attempts.

Morris’ statistical improvement is drastic — she scored just 10 points combined in Kansas’ final two games of the regular season. But more startling is her recent resolve to continue attacking the basket throughout the game’s entirety.

“With Danielle bringing to the table her outside shot, we definitely need a slasher – somebody who draws defense and then she can kick it out and create easier shots,” senior guard Ivana Catic said.

Attribute at least a portion of Morris’ recent improvement to McCray, Kansas’ leading scorer this season. In watching how McCray continually looked for shots on offense, Morris adopted a similar mindset.

“I realized that if I have a girl beat and she’s on my shoulder, I can still shoot it because she’s not going to stop me,” Morris said. “And I took that from Danielle. She does that all the time.”

Yet, beyond that, Morris’ key to success has been simple: Continue being the aggressor. In Kansas’ last three games, that’s what she’s done.

“I don’t even know how to describe it. I guess I’m in a better rhythm, a better flow,” Morris said. “I’m looking for things I didn’t look for in the beginning.”

— Edited by Susan Melgren