Brandon Rush, who stood before a judge Thursday afternoon in Lawrence Municipal Court, faced the media 21 hours later in Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University's junior guard blamed only himself for his arrest on two outstanding warrants stemming from his failure to appear in court on traffic violations.

"It was all my fault," Rush said before practice Friday at Allen Fieldhouse. "I wasn't being responsible. Coach (Bill Self) always says take care of our responsibilities. I just got confused on the (court) dates, never showed up on the court date. That's what happens. I went in there too late."

He said he showed at court Thursday, "trying to pay both of them (warrants). It didn't work out that way. I was surprised," he said of getting arrested, then posting $500 bond.

"I'm sorry for causing a distraction for our team so we can't focus on this game ahead of us (1 p.m. today versus DePaul)."

Rush's next court date is Wednesday morning.

"I've got another court date set up. I plan to attend that one," he said.

¢ Last year revisited: A year ago, Rush scored three points off 1-of-7 shooting in the Jayhawks' 64-57 defeat at DePaul.

"I wasn't aggressive. I didn't take many shots. When I did, they didn't go in," Rush said. "After that game, it was in my mind to stay aggressive the whole time."

¢ Collins still out: KU sophomore Sherron Collins likely will not play today. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Chicagoan is not yet 100 percent recovered from Nov. 12 surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

"I can't see it," Self said of Collins taking the court. "I think he's days away. We thought he'd be playing by now based on his X-rays and how everything looks. His foot is not giving him any problems. Physically, his legs are not firing like they should.

"He's lost some conditioning. That's not the major concern. He'll get that back. He doesn't have strength in his lower body that he did before he had surgery."

Collins said he's progressing steadily.

"I'm doing a little bit more every day, still moving into it," he said.

¢ Reed has tender ankle: KU freshman Tyrel Reed, who sprained his left ankle Wednesday against Eastern Washington, is questionable today.

"It's up to the trainers and coach," Reed said. "It's sore now."

He had just returned from a right-ankle sprain when he stepped on somebody's foot against EWU.

"That (right) one is back to normal," Reed said. "I hate when you get injured. You feel like you are letting down the team. It's frustrating any time you get injured, especially right after you have an injury. You want to get back to normal, then another accident happens. That's basketball."

¢ KU killer: DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright not only led the Demons to a 64-57 victory over KU last year in Chicago, but engineered Richmond's 69-68 victory over KU on Jan. 22, 2004, in Allen Fieldhouse.

"Jerry is a great coach. He's beat us the last two times we've played. Hopefully the third time is the charm for us," KU coach Bill Self said.

A reporter said it appeared Wainwright had his "number."

"He does right now. Hopefully we can change it. I like him a lot. We talk often in the off season," Self said.

Wainwright isn't assuming victory today.

"One thing I loved about Allen Fieldhouse : we were fortunate enough to play there one time before this (with Richmond). The people treated us so well after the game," Wainwright said.

"My wife was on that trip. We walked around town, and everybody congratulated us. It's not only a great venue of college basketball, but they do it the right way. They love basketball and pull for their team, but there's not anything negative they do. Coach Self and I are good friends, and I love the tradition, but, no, I am not looking forward to going there."

Last summer while scouting recruits at the Price Chopper AAU Tournament in Kansas City, he cracked: "My wife and I scheduled a trip to Niagara Falls for that date (of KU game). I may try to go over in a barrel."

¢ Mutual respect: Wainwright was head coach of U.S. Under 19 team that won silver last summer in Serbia. KU's Darrell Arthur, who played well at tryouts, couldn't make the trip because of a stress fracture.

"Darrell is a warrior, one of the better players in the country," Wainwright said.

"He's the enemy now, but it will be fun playing against him. He's a good coach, nice guy, knows the game well and coaches it well, too," Arthur said. "Hopefully we can get it done."

¢ Simien not on NBA roster: Former KU forward Wayne Simien, who was traded by the Miami Heat to Minnesota during the preseason and was subsequently released by the Timberwolves, has not yet signed with another team.

He's currently living with his wife and baby daughter in Indianapolis as he continues rehab from offseason knee surgery.

"The rehab training facility up here (in Indy) is one of the tops in the country," said Simien, who also is working out on the court with a personal coach.

"I am focusing on getting my knee strength back. If all goes as planned with no setbacks, I'll be 100 percent in mid-January and be ready to work out for teams in January and February."

Simien, who made $932,760 last season, is making more than $1 million this year in salary paid to him by the Wolves.

The 24-year-old Leavenworth native hopes to sign with an NBA team as a free agent and play next season. He is represented by Leigh Steinberg, considered one of the top agents in sports.