If the guards utilize their options, make smart passes and occasionally drain a jump shot, the forwards can have a big night.

Such was the case Monday.

KU claimed win No. 6 on Monday, pounding the ball inside and coming away with an 81-68 victory over Hampton at Allen Fieldhouse.

More impressive than already surpassing last year’s win total were the remarkable statistics put up by the young Jayhawks.

Such as:

• Three forwards — all freshman — recording double-doubles.
• One of them, Tamara Ransburg, having 17 points and 17 rebounds despite playing just 17 minutes.
• Kansas having 31 offensive rebounds on the night, compared to 29 total rebounds by the Pirates.

“Our goal was to crash the boards,” Jayhawks coach Marian Washington said. “We were very successful.”

KU was so successful, in fact, that Ransburg was joined by Crystal Kemp (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Nichelle Roberts (14 points, 10 rebounds) in becoming the first KU trio to record double-doubles in one game since 1996.

Ask any of the three who made it possible, and each would point to the KU guards, who made crisp passes inside all night. The five guards finished with 18 assists and just eight turnovers.

“It wasn’t just to one of us,” Kemp said. “It was to all of us.”

Despite a remarkable showing by several newcomers, KU’s youth showed at times.

A 28-15 lead in the first half was cut to 29-25 in a flash.

The Jayhawks held a 28-point lead at one point in the second half, but only won by 14.

“We broke down,” Washington said. “We lost that momentum. It was definitely a sign of youth.”

But Kansas (6-4) just had too many scoring spurts to allow Hampton (3-6) to get close. Most notably was a 17-3 run midway through the second half, which was fueled by Stacey Becker — another newcomer.

In just her third game since becoming eligible due to transfer rules, Becker lit up from the perimeter, scoring 13 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range, in just nine minutes.

Her range forced Hampton’s defense to extend, clearing the way for the huge night for the forwards.

“It’s been something I’ve been holding in for a year now,” said Becker, who transferred from Wichita State in the spring. “It was all just right there.”

The Jayhawks will travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday to play the first game of the Feist Shootout against Georgia State. Big 12 Conference play starts next week, making Saturday’s game the last tuneup before No. 4 Kansas State comes to Lawrence on Jan. 8.

“We’ve got to stay focused and improve on our strengths,” Washington said. “If they get caught up with other teams, I think it will be too much for them.”