“I told our guys after the game that this is what coach Jank (Tim Jankovich) has been saying all along … Forrest Gump. ‘Life is like a box of chocolates,'” Self said. “That’s how our team is. You never know. You never know who is going to be playing well that night.”

It was pretty clear Wednesday though that KU’s well-known walk-on, Moody, was going to have to carry a bigger load. Especially considering that Kansas freshman Brandon Rush, who was coming off his own career-high 24-point performance in KU’s big win over Kentucky, had scored zilch in the first half.

The Jayhawk senior responded with nine first-half points. Kansas reserve Darnell Jackson also picked up the slack in the first 20 minutes by adding eight points.

But it was a Moody three-pointer early in the second half and a layup on KU’s ensuing possession that really fired the Jayhawks (10-4) up, giving them a 7-0 spurt that guided them to their seventh straight victory.

“We’ve been talking the last couple days that this is the biggest game of our second season,” Moody said. “We’ve talked all along that the Big 12 is one of our biggest goals.”

Rush finally got going, tallying all 17 points in the second half and the Jayhawks used a 20-9 run to pull away. Colorado actually got within seven with 2:39 to go, but two free throws from Rush and a layup from Moody close the door on CU for good.

“He can’t be like that,” Self said of Rush’s scoreless first half. “He’s got to be aggressive. After he got his first one to go down, he looked a lot better.”

Moody and Jackson (who finished with 10 points) each grabbed seven rebounds as Kansas owned the glass with a 50-28 rebounding advantage.

“I told him that was the best game he’s played since I coached him,” Self said of Moody. “It’s obviously his best game. He was terrific. He has a look about him right now that’s real positive, aggressive, confident.”

Equally impressive Self said was the play of guards Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers. The two combined for 20 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and five steals — against only three turnovers.

Colorado’s Chris Copeland led all scorers with 22 points, while CU’s leading scorer Richard Roby added 15 points.

Kansas shot 53-percent in the second half, and finished with a field-goal percentage off 44 for the game. Meanwhile, Colorado, which was off to its best start since 1978-79 fired at just a 37-percent clip.

However, the Buffs stayed in the game with nine three-pointers. But hurt themselves by hitting just 12-of-23 free throws.

“Colorado is really talented,” Self said. “We probably didn’t guard them as well as we have been. I feel that we are getting tough and getting better. I was really pleased to get out of there with a ‘W’.

Second Half Action

KU’s C.J. Giles couldn’t hit either free throw to start the second half. But Mario Chalmers came up with a steal and fed Russell Robinson for a lay-in.

Marcus Hall nailed a three from the left wing to cut KU’s lead to 31-30. Chris Copeland couldn’t hit a free throw to tie the game.

But Richard Roby drilled a three from the right side to put CU back ahead 33-31 with a little more than 18 minutes to go.

Christian Moody tied the game on a nice feed from Brandon Rush.

Robinson had his shot blocked, but he kept a ball alive diving on the floor and somehow tipped it to Darnell Jackson for a lay-in.

Mario Chalmers forced a steal and got the ball back from Moody and flew in for a lay-up that bounced in. While the freshman couldn’t complete the three-point play, he gave KU a 37-33 advantage.

Roby has reached his average of 15 points a game when he nailed a midrange jumper.

Rush finally got on the scoreboard when Roby touched his shot in the lane which was rolling around on the rim and looked to be rolling out.

Copeland scored his 13th points on a putback that got Colorado back to within one bucket.

Julius Ashby threw down a big tip dunk which would have tied the game, but he was ruled for offensive goaltending.

Moody drilled a three-pointer to put KU ahead 42-37 with just under 14 minutes to go. The long jumper gave the Jayhawk senior a career-high with 14 points.

The next Kansas possession, the senior got a lay-in to give the Jayhawks their biggest advantage.

Rush missed a three, but got his own rebound and scored on a reverse to put KU ahead 46-37 heading into a timeout with 12:19 to go.

Andy Osborn hit his first field goal of the game, a long three to pull CU to within six.

Jayson Obazuaye hit one free throw to cut the game to 46-41 with 10:22 to go.

Chalmers knocked down a short baseline jumper then handed out a nice assist to Rush, who finished with a soaring finger roll for the 50-41 lead.

Chalmers capped off the 6-0 KU run with a lob on a break to Giles for a big dunk. The freshman guard nailed a three on the Jayhawks ensuing possession.

Osborn hit a three then a long two to keep CU close.

Rush answered with a long jumper.

An airball by Roby allowed KU to get out on a break where CU’s Marcus Hall intentionally fouled Rush. Rush hit both free throws to put KU up 59-46.

KU has had 11 fastbreaks and scored 10 times tonight.

Rush got a big time block and Robinson was fouled the other way. The sophomore hit one free throw to put KU up 60-48 with 5:22 to go.

KU has outrebounded Colorado 44-26.

Copeland, who has 19 points, cut KU’s deficit to single digits with a three. Robinson responded the other way with a tough basket.

Rush responded with an even bigger high-flying dunk, when he soared in from the left side and jammed over Copeland to put KU up by 13 again.

Martane Freeman hit a three, then came up with a steal, basket and was fouled by Jeff Hawksins. Freeman’s free throw gave CU a quick 6-0 run and cut KU’s lead to 64-57 with 2:39 to go.

Rush, who has 14 second-half points, hit a pair of free throws to push Kansas back ahead by nine with two minutes to go.

Freeman missed a pair of free throws.

With the shot clock winding down Robinson fed Moody for a tip in underneath the basket. The KU senior has a career-high 18 points.

Copeland connected on a three to cut KU’s lead to 68-60.

Robinson hit a pair of free throws for a 10-point advantage, then came up with a steal.

A large contigent of Kansas fans cheered on their Jayhawks with a loud rendition of the Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant.

Rush hit a free throw to give him 15 points, all of which came in the second half.

Jeff Hawkins fouled out with 30.5 to go.

Chalmers, who has 11 points and six assists, hit a pair of free throws with 26.8 to go to give KU a 73-62 lead.

Rush added two more charities to give Kansas its final margin in a 75-63 victory in Boulder, Co.

Halftime

Thanks to a turnaround jumper by Julian Wright with a couple seconds remaining before halftime the Jayhawks went into the lockerroom with a 29-27 advantage.

KU senior Christian Moody led the Jayhawks with nine points, while Darnell Jackson added eight.

Colorado’s leading scorer Richard Roby tallied 10 points, while Chris Copeland had 11 points, including both of CU’s two three-pointers.

Kansas shot 36.3-percent from the field, while the Buff hit just 33.3. KU, which was 0-of-8 from three-point range, held a 28-14 rebounding advantage.

Jackson and Moody combined for 7-of-11 field goals, while the rest of the Jayhawks were just 5-of-22.

First Half Action

Kansas, which has won 32 of its last 33 meetings with Colorado and 14 straight Big 12 openers, lost the tip to the Buffs and CU got on the scoreboard first when Jayson Obazuaye scored in the lane.

Christian Moody came right back with a lay-in off a pass from Mario Chalmers to tie the game.

Buff Chris Copeland gave CU the lead again on a short jumper in the lane.

Russell Robinson missed a drive, but C.J. Giles was there for the rebound and putback.

Andy Osborn gave CU a 5-4 advantage on a free throw in the first two minutes.

Chalmers had to leave the contest with an apparent twisted ankle. KU turned the ball over, but so did CU when leading scorer Richard Roby was called for palming th ebasketball. KU has three quick turnovers.

Roby got a quick steal and threw down a slam at the other end of the court to put CU ahead 7-4 with just under 17 minutes left in the first half.

Jeff Hawkins lost the ball again for KU’s fifth turnover. Chalmers re-enters the Kansas lineup.

Julius Ashby hit a free throw with 16:22 on the clock to put Colorado up 8-4. The CU big man then swatted away a Chalmers shot underneath the basket.

Robinson knocked down a long jumper to keep Kansas within one basket.

Chalmers got a steal and was fouled hard on the other end. His two charities tied the game up at eight-all with 15 and a half minutes to go in the half.

Christian Moody gave the Jayhawks their first lead of the night, 10-8, when Robinson threw him a lob on a fast break after a sloppy possession by Colorado at the other end.

Roby quickly tied the game on a hard drive to the hoop.

KU’s Darnell Jackson was fouled down low. The KU sophomore rattled his first free throw home before connecting on his second charity to put KU ahead by two.

The Jayhawk big man had his shot blocked but got the ball back and hit a pretty turnaround.

Roby connected on an even tougher reverse to cut CU’s deficit.

Jackson scored his sixth straight points on a lay-in that was officially ruled goaltending as a CU player hit the ball on its descent.

In the last four and a half minutes KU is on a 12-4 spurt.

Brandon Rush swatted away a Robby shot, but KU couldn’t maintain possession.

An ill-advised shot by Jackson fell short, but Julian Wright gave KU the ball on a tie up and alternate possesion. Rush airballed a shot a possession after getting his own shot blocked.

Roby added another basket on a nifty move around the rim.

Copeland was fouled by Giles, who picked up his second foul. Copeland hit both free throws to tie the contest at 16-all with 8:51 to go in the half.

Sasha Kaun tapped in a lob from Chalmers that could have been called offensive goaltending. But the next time down Kaun threw down a thunderous jam off a lob from Robinson to put KU up by four.

Roby hit a free throw and Chalmers was called for his second foul on an offensive charge the other way.

Copeland tied the game on a three at the 6:03 mark. KU’s Jeremy Case couldn’t hit a triple the other way.

Moody put the Jayhawks back ahead on a hard drive from the left side. On the Jayhawks ensuing possession the KU senior hit a free throw to give KU a 23-20 lead with 5:11 to go.

Colorado has had back-to-back turnovers.

Moody was left unguarded on the outside and hit a long jumper nearly standing on the three-point line.

Another KU big man, Jackson, drilled a long shot to give Kansas its biggest lead at 27-22.

Kansas has outrebounded Colorado on the offensive glass 10-1.

Copeland hit another three to cut the contest to 27-25 with just over three minutes to go. KU is 0-of-7 from beyond the three-point line.

Roby tied the game at 27-all on a free throw with 1:09 to play.

Wright got his shot swatted mightily by Copeland, causing KU coach Bill Self to call a timeout and rip into his players in the huddle.

Rush missed a drive that bounced off the backboard and rim. Colorado, however, proceeded to throw the ball away.

With a couple second left before the buzzer Wright nailed a turnaround jumper on the left baseline to put KU ahead 29-27 heading into halftime.

Kansas started forwards C.J. Giles, Christian Moody, and Brandon Rush, and guards Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson.

Colorado countered with forwards Chris Copeland and Andy Osborn, and guards Richard Roby, Jayson Obazuaye, and Marcus Hall.

Pregame

Tonight Kansas University’s basketball team gets its first true road test of the season when the 9-4 Jayhawks take their six-game winning streak into Boulder, Colo. for an 8 p.m. Big 12 opening showdown against the Colorado Buffaloes (10-2, 0-1 Big 12).

“They’ve only had one bad score, the Texas game,” said KU coach Bill Self of the Buffaloes’ 89-64 loss Saturday at No. 15 Texas, the league’s preseason favorite. “They are quick inside, not physically big but run down the ball. They are a good team.”

While Colorado, whose 10-1 jump out of the gate matched the best start for CU since the 1978-79 season, had its nine game-win streak snapped at UT — the Jayhawks have won by an average of 23.5 points since Dec. 10.

“We knew all along Kansas’ young players were very talented,” Colorado coach Ricardo Patton said. “They played extremely well and got off to a quick start against Kentucky.”

KU leads the nation in field goal percentage defense at 34.6 and the Big 12 in blocked shots at 6.77 per game. Kansas is outscoring its opponents by 17.2 points per game on the season and is a plus-6.5 in rebound margin.

Freshman guard Brandon Rush leads KU and the Big 12 among freshmen scorers with a 12.8 scoring average. Rush also leads the team in three-point field goals made with 19 and was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week Jan. 9 after his career-best 24-point, 12-rebound effort against Kentucky.

Sophomore center Sasha Kaun is next in scoring at 10.7 points per game. He and sophomore center C.J. Giles – averaging 8.5 ppg – are tied for the team high in rebounds at 6.5 per outing – which are tied for 10th in the Big 12 statistics. Freshman guard Mario Chalmers leads KU in assists with 3.1 per game and steals at 2.2.

Colorado is a senior-laden team consisting of 10 seniors and five returning starters from last season’s squad. Colorado has held seven opponents to under 70 points this season. The Buffs are led by sophomore guard Richard Roby who leads the team in points (15.8 ppg), rebounds (5.2 rpg) and steals (2.3 spg). Colorado is averaging 85.7 points per game and giving up 66.4.

“Richard is probably more athletic than people give him credit for,” Patton said. “I have seen him do some very athletic things, make some athletic plays, but that’s not something he hangs his hat on.

“Most of the time, when you see those guys that jump extremely high, they don’t shoot very well, and I think it’s because they spend most of their time working in the backyard on the dunk contest as opposed to working on a skill, shooting the ball. But Richard seems to have worked on just about every phase of his game now. Certainly, his defense has to improve, but he’s working at it.”

Kansas leads the all-time series with Colorado 109-39 — including a 34-26 record in Boulder and 19-7 mark in the Coors Events Conference Center. Kansas has won five straight and 32 of the last 33 meetings with CU dating back to 1991. The last Colorado win in the series was 60-59 on Jan. 22, 2003 in Boulder. The previous before that was 79-71 on Feb. 20, 1991, also in Boulder.

Still Self said no matter Kansas’ past success no road game in the Big 12 can be considered a guarantee.

“We’re (also) dealing with altitude and our guys playing their first true road Big 12 game,” he said.