“We’re developing a good kind of arrogance,” KU sophomore forward Nick Collison said after the Jayhawks’ 100-70 blowout of Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We are confident right now that we can play with anybody and get big numbers against anybody. It’s something winning teams have,” he added, referring to a winner’s swagger.

Collison’s confidence has never been higher than it is today following a 19-point effort on 9-of-11 shooting.

The 6-foot-9 forward from Iowa Falls, Iowa, has made 47 of 61 shots his last seven games, good for 77 percent. He’s hit 72.2 percent of his shots in conference wins over Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nebraska and A&M.

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

For the year, he’s hitting 65.9 percent of his shots, which is ahead of Mark Randall’s school-record 64.6 percent clip set in 1989.

“I am playing well right now I guess. I am getting some good looks,” Collison said after sparking the Jayhawks to their 15th win in 16 tries and fourth win in as many conference games. A&M fell to 6-11, 0-5.

Collison, it seems, is freeing himself for layups and short jumpers and jump hooks.

“Nick is doing it himself. He is getting great position, making a quick move before the double team can get there,” said point guard Kirk Hinrich, who had 10 assists against three turnovers. He found Collison for some easy hoops, as did Drew Gooden who tossed a perfect lob into Collison for a vicious slam.

“He is playing very well,” KU coach Roy Williams said of Collison. “Nick will tell you he’s shooting from two inches. I like guys who can make ’em from two inches. A lot of guys don’t get it in that close.”

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

Collison was one of five Jayhawks to score in double figures on a day the Jayhawks hit 52.2 percent of their shots to the Aggies’ 33.3 percent.

Gooden canned seven of 11 shots and scored 19 points with 10 rebounds. Jeff Boschee not only played great defense on A&M’s Bernard King (18 points, 5-of-18 shooting), but also hit four of six threes and scored 14 points.

Kenny Gregory scored 12 points with six boards, while Luke Axtell hit six of six free throws and scored 10 points. Center Eric Chenowith had nine points and six boards while Hinrich had seven points and a career-high seven boards to go with his double-figure assist total.

“I’m glad to see Jeff is shooting the ball in the hole again,” Williams said of Boschee, who has hit 10 of his last 18 threes over three games after an extended slump. “Drew is playing very well. Nick is playing very well. Eric is struggling but still trying to fight through it.

“Any time you have 24 assists on 36 baskets, it shows you are playing unselfishly,” he assessed of KU’s offense.

Defensively, it took a heated speech by Williams midway through the first half to get the Jayhawks going against lowly A&M.

Up 26-24 with 8:41 left, the inspired Jayhawks went on a 22-3 run to blow the game open.

“The first 11-12 minutes they were outhustling us for every loose ball,” Williams said. “I got on them during the time out (when KU was up 28-24). I said, ‘If we play like this it’ll go down to the wire. If we show the same kind of effort they are showing, we can stretch it out.”’

That happened as Gregory and Gooden scored six points apiece, while Boschee and Hinrich hit threes. By halftime, KU led, 50-33. KU kept up the pace the second half, hitting 100 points on a late three by Mario Kinsey.

It was KU’s first 100-point game in conference play since a 102-72 victory over Texas in January of 1998.

“Last year we would have panicked in a situation like that,” Gregory said of A&M erasing an early 11-2 deficit and keeping it close after 11 minutes. “This year we keep our poise and build on our leads.”

Chenowith says that’s the definition of “killer instinct.”

Do the Jayhawks have that killer mentality? “We’re getting there,” Gregory said.

“We have better concentration,” Williams noted. “You can call that killer instinct if you want. A lot of it is the experience of being there and knowing what you have to do. I feel like if we have a two-point lead you try to make it four; a four-point lead you try to make it eight. I don’t think it should ever become showtime.”

KU takes its show on the road Monday for an 8:05 p.m. game against Colorado. The game will be shown live on ESPN.