Not Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum, where the Jayhawks have won 12 consecutive games, but Colorado’s Coors Events Center, where up to 2,000 KU fans annually occupy the top rows of the intimate, 11,076-seat building.

Tipoff is 8:05 p.m. with a live telecast on ESPN.

“It’s going to be fun going to Colorado. We get a lot of fans there and it’s an exciting atmosphere,” Kansas sophomore forward Nick Collison said.

KU has won nine straight games in the Coors center, a tomb-like place on most game nights. Sixth-year CU coach Ricardo Patton laced into a tirade after just 2,906 fans showed for a 91-63 win over Coppin State on Jan. 2.

“People can say what they want to say, but these kids deserve better,” Patton fumed.

The Buffs’ largest crowd of the season 7,288 showed for an 82-76 loss to Missouri. The Buffs drew just 6,879 for rival Colorado State with a good portion of the crowd CSU supporters. CU won that game, 109-86.

“People talk about, ‘There’s so much to do here (in Colorado).’ Are you kidding me? You think there is much more to do in Oakland, Calif.? And San Francisco?” Patton said, noting California-Berkeley drew 9,000 fans for its victory over Coppin State.

“It’s what other schools use against us in recruiting. They (CU fans) want us to get the best players in the country but the best players in the country want to play in front of more people, regardless of who you play.”

The atmosphere will be big-time tonight for ESPN Big Monday.

And the Buffs do have some big-time players, notes KU coach Roy Williams who is wary despite the fact KU has won 22 straight games against the Buffs.

“I just told the guys in the locker room this is the best Colorado team anybody in our locker room has faced,” Williams said after Saturday’s 100-70 home rout of Texas A&M.

“We’d better be ready.”

The Buffs improved to 12-6 overall, 2-3 in the Big 12 by pounding Texas Tech, 88-71, on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. Stephane Pelle scored 18 points, while Jamahl Mosley scored 17, D.J. Harrison 14, Richard Fox 12, Nick Mohr 11 and Justin Harbert 10 for the balanced Buffs, who hit 58.7 percent of their shots.

Pelle, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound sophomore from Burtonsville, Md., hit eight of 14 shots with six rebounds and four steals in his third start of the season.

“It’s probably what we expected going into the year for Stephane to play like. He’s struggled this season,” Patton said of Pelle, who averages 9.7 points and 5.6 boards.

Harrison, a 6-7, 215-pounder who averages 16.7 points per game, hit five of 10 shots at Tech with six rebounds.

Mosley, a 6-8, 245-pound senior, hit seven of 12 shots at Tech. For the year, he averages 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.

“They have some good players, some athletic big men. Mosley is a load down there,” Collison said. “It’s going to be a tough game.”

“Mosley is really strong inside, a big key for them,” KU center Eric Chenowith said.

Of tonight’s game, junior guard Jeff Boschee noted: “Coach told us it’s the best team Colorado has had since any of us have been here. Usually a lot of our fans go to the game so hopefully we’ll play well and get a big win on the road.”

Winston ‘old school’

CU point guard Jose Winston is averaging 6.2 assists per game. The 5-11 junior from Milwaukee, who was recruited by KU his senior year in high school before the Jayhawks set their sights on Boschee, considers himself an “old school” type playmaker.

“Nowadays you have a lot of scoring point guards that think shoot first and pass second. I am one of the point guards that believe get everyone else involved first and then if there is a phase or something lacking, then you have to step up and do it,” Winston said.

He has hit 27 of 63 shots for 42.9 percent.

“I think as a leader, as a point guard, you get more respect from your teammates if they know you will get them the ball where they need the ball,” said Winston, who has 112 assists versus 61 turnovers.

Winston, who averages 28 minutes a game, was dead tired Saturday after playing 35 minutes. “When you are young, you want to play every minute,” Winston said. “I’ll be OK.”

Enjoying the ride

CU coach Patton tried to not think about tonight’s game immediately after Saturday’s big road win.

“What’s been unfair to them (Buffs) and myself is I haven’t enjoyed any of the wins enough,” Patton said. “I have to learn to enjoy this moment, this day. Even if I can’t learn to do it, I should allow the players to do that. I’m happy about today and Monday will take care of itself.”