Meanwhile, Freeman and Lasme combined for only 15 points and nine rebounds. The two were a combined 3-for-14 from the field and all seven of Freeman's points came in the game's first six minutes. Lasme did block five shots, but he also had four turnovers.
"It was a physical game inside," said Morris. "That's what you have to expect from two teams with post players that are integral parts of the team. That's just what the game will come down to. It's my job to play this way."
Kentucky coach Tubby Smith thought Morris set the tempo early with his aggressive inside play.
"We took the ball inside and we moved the ball better," Smith said. "We've worked hard on our basic motion offense and limiting the things we do. We are getting better spacing now. We are making shots, too. But it all starts with having that inside threat that Randolph gives us. He posted up strong."
UMass coach Travis Ford offered no excuses for his two big men.
"We knew they were going to double-team them. That is something UK always does," Ford said. "We worked so much on it the last couple of days. I think they started thinking too much and started forcing quick shots instead of trying to work for better post positioning.
"They tried to just get the ball and shoot it quickly. We did not get much out of Rashaun or Stephane. If those two are not producing, our chances go way down, especially when they are playing a guy as good as Morris."
Especially since Kentucky (9-3) did once again get solid play from backup center Lukasz Obrzut. He had four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in 13 minutes of play.
"He is really being active," Smith said. "He is understanding that when we give him the freedom of going away from the basket, he has more room to operate. I am very pleased with him. He's knocking down shots and his ability to sprint the floor really helps us. He's our best screener and now that he's playing defense the way he is and staying out of foul trouble, he will get a lot more playing time."
Likes the faster temp
Obrzut says with the season-ending shoulder injury that Jared Carter suffered, he realized he had to do more.
"I recognize this is my senior year. I enjoy the experience of playing basketball here. It's one of the bigger parts of my life and I want to do all I can do for this team," Obrzut said.
Morris seems to be playing with the same type of urgency even though he's not one to show a lot of emotion on the court.
"I don't have any complaints. As long as we win, I think I'm doing my job. I've been playing about the way I expected. I think being better conditioned this year is the key," he said.
Morris did like the faster tempo the Cats used against UMass.
"We still have some periodic lapses that we have to correct, but I think the pace tonight favored us. We controlled the pace and capitalized on it with some easy baskets. That's what we need to do," he said. "Our defense is going to be there."
Sign up for e-mail alerts and updates from Amnews.com
Morris also insisted playing against two more productive big men did not make the win any more satisfying to him than any of UK's other eight wins this season.
"Things like that do not motivate me. You motivate yourself," he said. "We're just trying to take it one game at a time. I think our mindset is exactly where it needs to be, and that's on the next game."
