But KU freshman Bryant Nash remained humble after his personal victory.

Nash, scoreless in seven of his past eight games, scored three points, hit the only field goal he attempted and forced two steals in seven minutes.

“He played like he was (more comfortable),” Kansas coach Roy Williams said. “I really liked how active he played defensively.”

With 7:26 remaining, Nash helped draw a fourth foul on Richie Terry, who scored six points for the Wildcats. Soon after, Nash made a steal and laid it in against Terry.

“I just saw him not hustle for the ball,” Nash said. “It’s just instinct. You go after the ball when you see it’s loose.”

Hustling was the key for Nash.

“I went out there and was like, ‘Let me hustle my butt off and don’t worry about nothing,'” Nash said. “Plus, I stopped worrying about stuff and I stopped making turnovers and all those other mistakes.”

Nash said the extra minutes helped boost his confidence.

“It’s my first good game in a while,” Nash said. “I was real confident and wasn’t really as nervous as I used to be. You just get out there and hustle you won’t be that nervous.”

Nash admitted he could have played better.

“Today I didn’t get a really good hesitation when I pump-faked. When I tried to drive, my man was still with me. I gotta work on that kind of stuff. Work on my pass, my handles, everything that makes a guard good,” Nash said.

Nash said the faith Williams showed in him, and the advice leaders such as Kenny Gregory gives to him, help him improve.

“He’s a young guy and I’ve been in his same position before,” Gregory said, mentioning Paul Pierce and Billy Thomas as his personal mentors. “I know it’s tough being a freshman, being at a big-time Div. I basketball (school). I just try to make jokes with him and ease his mind at times.”

Nash is looking forward to another KU rivalry Monday when the Jayhawks travel to Missouri.

“Everybody has to hustle. That’s the main thing about basketball,” Nash said. “Without hustle, it wouldn’t really be a game. Everybody would be shooting on each other. They would just be trading baskets kind of like we did early in the second half today.”

Nash’s contributions Saturday didn’t go unnoticed.

“Today he did some big things for us,” Gregory said. “It’s all about confidence, and if your teammates and coaches believe in you, the better you play.”