No laughing matter

By Staff Jan 28, 2007

Bill Self wasn’t smiling after Kansas University’s annual home basketball blowout of Colorado on Saturday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

He was hot and bothered not only by a botched first-half breakaway dunk attempt by Julian Wright, but the overall play of his inside players in a 97-74 victory – the Jayhawks’ 24th in a row over the outmanned Buffs in Lawrence.

“I think it can be summed up in one word, and that’s our big guys play soft,” Self groused after guards Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers combined to outrebound the big-man group of Wright, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur, 13-12. “We’ve got too many finesse guys out there right now.”

Rush, who was outscored by CU’s Richard Roby, 30 points to 21 in the day’s marquee one-on-one matchup, tied CU’s Jeremy Williams for game-high rebounding honors with eight.

Kaun had four boards in 25 minutes, Wright four in 20 minutes, Jackson three in 13 minutes and Arthur one in 18 minutes.

“It’s sad when Brandon has become your best rebounder,” Self said of the 6-foot-6 Rush.

“Our big guys are not rebounding the ball. I am disappointed in our big guys collectively how tough they play. It’s evident all our big guys don’t play nearly as tough and strong as they should.”

The Buffs, whose 30 turnovers tied for the most by a conference foe in KU history (CU also had 30 in 1982), outrebounded the Jayhawks, 36-30.

“We get rebounds, and they tie us up on rebounds. Everybody’s thinking, ‘That’s a good hustle play.’ It’s a pitiful play,” Self said. “We get inside position, and they get a jump ball.”

Self said Jackson, who had eight points and three boards in 13 minutes, could be excused because of his bad back.

Jackson, however, shoulders part of the blame for KU’s lack of aggressiveness on the boards.

“I knew from the beginning I wasn’t going for the rebounds,” Jackson said. “When I was walking to the bench, I said (to Self) I was playing soft. He said, ‘Yeah, we’ve got to change it around.’

“For big guys, it should be our main priority, to rebound the ball. The guards shouldn’t get more rebounds than the bigs. We have to block out and go get it instead of letting the ball just come down.”

Kaun, who hit four of 10 shots and scored eight points, said: “We are not rebounding well. We’re not boxing out or going after balls like we should.”

Self – who celebrated the victory by heading out on a recruiting trip immediately after the game – said a high noon practice today in preparation for Monday’s 8 p.m. battle at Nebraska would not be the solution to KU’s board woes.

“You do not correct that overnight. It’s not a technique thing, just guys that want the ball,” Self said.

Plenty of Jayhawks wanted the ball on offense Saturday.

“Our offense bailed us out today,” said guard Russell Robinson, who scored 12 points with seven assists against two turnovers in 29 minutes.

Rush (21 points off 8-of-13 shooting) and Chalmers (21 off 8-of-12 shooting) combined for 23 of KU’s first 28 points as the Jayhawks blazed to a 28-13 lead midway through the first half. They combined for 27 at halftime as KU led, 47-34.

“I thought our big guys were as bad as our perimeter was good,” Self said.

KU vs Colorado

Chalmers, who had four of KU’s 19 steals, had the biggest play of the game. After KU’s 19-point lead had dipped to nine (63-54), he stepped in front of a pass at midcourt and was fouled intentionally by Xavier Silas.

Chalmers hit two free throws, and Rush cashed a three off the inbounds play, allowing KU to go up 68-54 at 10:51.

“It’s a nine-point game. They had the ball, and 30 seconds later we are up 14, so I’d say that was a pretty key play,” Self said.

Chalmers read the pass like a cat-quick defensive back in football.

“I saw he was going to throw a pass. I deflected it, and he grabbed me,” Chalmers said.

Chalmers hit three of four threes and Rush three of five on a day KU made 11 of 17 to CU’s eight of 19.

“My teammates did a good job setting screens. They were looking for me and Mario early,” Rush said.

Rush insists he was not trying to outscore Roby, who made 10 of 15 shots, including three of five threes.

“No. I was trying to not let him score,” Rush said. “He got the best of my defense tonight.”

KU, which has now won 35 of its last 36 games against CU, improved to 18-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12. The Buffs dropped to 5-12, 1-6.

“Anytime there’s a streak like that against a fellow conference team, it’s surprising,” Self said. “People read a lot into that. But Kansas has also had some pretty good talent during those 36 games, too. I don’t know if I’d ever say that Colorado’s talent level has been as good as Kansas’ talent level in those respective years. But certainly that’s a remarkable streak, considering there’s been that much success away from home.”