After listening to Iowa State standout guard Jamaal Tinsley yapping throughout the Cyclones’ 79-71 victory over Kansas University on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum, Ballard yapped back.

“I’m tired of this team getting pushed around,” said Ballard, KU’s walk-on junior guard. “I thought I needed to make a statement. Just because you’re an All-American, don’t get in my face because I’m a walk-on.”

The academic departure of Mario Kinsey and chronic back pain that has sidelined Luke Axtell put Ballard that much closer to the floor. The first guard off the bench, Ballard subbed for foul-plagued Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee.

Ballard played nine minutes against ISU and collected three assists with a turnover.

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

He made his statement with just under five minutes left. After a missed Boschee three-pointer, Ballard hacked ISU forward Paul Shirley on the rebound.

Tinsley had a few words with Ballard, and Ballard responded in kind, prompting ref Steve Welmer to grab Ballard and shove him toward the KU bench.

“(Tinsley) was looking out for his teammate and got in my face,” Ballard said. “The ref yelled at me. I was like, ‘He’s been doing it all game.’ They were acting like we were going to fight, but it wasn’t even close to that. I have a lot of respect for Jamaal. It was nothing personal.”

It also came as no surprise to Boschee, who fouled out with 1:34 left after scoring 19 points.

“This team has a lot of character, and it says a lot that a walk-on would do that,” Boschee said. “Brett’s a tough little competitor. He’s not going to back down. He doesn’t back down in practice.”

Ballard was disappointed in the loss, which all but assured the Cyclones would repeat as Big 12 champions, but pleased with the Jayhawks’ effort.

“As far as competitiveness, we did a good job,” he said. “We turned the ball over too much, and we didn’t execute every time. It’s tough to have a good loss this late in the season, but we learned our lesson at Baylor. Hopefully we’ll come out focused and compete like we did today.”

A dearth of guards means Ballard well could see more minutes in the Jayhawks’ final four regular-season games.

“I just try to go in every game ready to play,” Ballard said. “I just try to help the team. I don’t get to practice as much as the first team, but I can’t use that as an excuse.”

In Boschee’s eyes, Ballard doesn’t need any excuses.

“He’s been thrown into the fire a couple of games,” Boschee said. “He does a good job. He holds his own.”