Hard play of MU’s Volkus frustrates friends, foes

Missouri forward Vaidotas Volkus doesn’t mind contact. In fact, he admits at times he enjoys it during basketball games. Maybe that’s why most of the time, he is the one creating the rough play.

At a Missouri practice last week, Volkus collided with teammate Marcus Watkins on a play. After Watkins caught a pass, Volkus bumped him forcefully, causing Watkins to lose his footing.

The play caused coach Mike Anderson to blow his whistle loudly, stopping practice.

“Come on V, this isn’t the NFL,” Anderson told his junior forward.

A few teammates also were nagging Volkus because they thought his play might have been too physical. Volkus’ style can be frustrating to deal with every day at practice.

“I can take contact,” Volkus said. “If I need to foul, if I need to box out, then I have to make contact.”

During Monday’s scrimmage, Volkus guarded center Kalen Grimes, who was visibly irritated by the way Volkus was trying to defend him. Grimes eventually slapped Volkus’ hands when he would put them on his back. Then Grimes countered with a couple shoves of his own in the low-post.

“It can make you mad,” Grimes said. “You can probably see that out there. But that only makes you play better. It makes you more physical yourself. Away from home, a lot of things don’t go your way and that’s when it helps.”

While Volkus tries to frustrate his opponents with his style, the contact doesn’t seem to affect his offense. On a layup during practice Monday, Volkus was slapped on his shooting arm loud enough for the contact to echo throughout the gym. Despite the foul, Volkus’ arm didn’t flinch and he banked the shot in off the backboard.

“Coach (Anderson) mentioned how we need to finish our shots,” Volkus said. “We need to be stronger and finish shots. We’re missing a lot of easy shots in the games.”

With Anderson refereeing each practice, not a lot of fouls get called during Volkus’ physical play. For the most part, Anderson even encourages it, as long as he does it in a controlled manner.

“I think he gives us some toughness,” Anderson said. “We’ve got to have more toughness.

That’s why I said we’re not tough enough around the basket and the rim and getting loose balls.”

In the past three games, Volkus’ playing time has increased. Then again, any playing time would have been an increase from his previous nine games, in which he totaled only 14 minutes. In two of those games, Volkus was forced to sit out with an injured left leg.

“He’s a guy that can fix a lot of things on defense,” Anderson said. “... So you’ll see even more of him as we continue to play. But I think more than anything, he’s healthy.”

Volkus still wears a protective sleeve on his left leg during games. And after games and practices, Volkus has a bag of ice wrapped around his leg. But he says the injury is no longer a problem.

“I don’t really feel anything. It doesn’t hurt me at all,” Volkus said. “I just wear that for security.

Once the game gets going, I don’t feel anything.”

RECRUITING WATCH: PowerMizzou.com is reporting that Charis (N.C.) Prep forward Justin Safford will commit to Missouri.

A 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward who is an Illinois native, Safford is averaging 17 points, 13 rebounds and almost three blocked shots per game.