“Hopefully he was saying until Saturday (at Kansas State). He told me a little bit longer, but not that much longer. That tells me he’s still not really comfortable,” Self said Thursday.

In four games played since breaking his nose Jan. 28 at Nebraska, masked-man Aldrich has averaged 11.0 points a game off 47.4 percent shooting. In 20 mask-free games, Aldrich has averaged 15.0 points off 63.9 percent marksmanship.

“The mask has affected his play offensively, especially him being able to see two defenders coming at him and being able to pick people off on the weak side quickly because he has to refocus,” Self said.

“There are blind spots. We hope to have a new mask for him today so he can get out of that one and have a little bit better vision.”

The new mask, which Aldrich said is identical to the one worn by NBA player Richard Hamilton, “is tighter to the face,” Self said. “If this one works well, he may wear it little longer. If it doesn’t, I don’t think he’ll wear it much longer.”

Aldrich is confident the new mask will provide him with clearer vision.

“There are a few times I can’t quite see for a stretch. That can be with any mask,” Aldrich said. “Until my nose is fully healed and I don’t have to wear a mask anymore, I think there will be limitations. I’m going to get as comfortable with it as I can by putting myself in game situations (at practice).”

Game situations as in hard-to-read double teams.

“I need to get the feel of where guys are coming from … knowing that even if I can’t quite see them,” Aldrich said.

His teammates can help out a bunch by making crisper passes and keeping him involved throughout the game.

“If Sherron (Collins) and I say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get it inside,’ then others will follow,” Aldrich said. “I can get vocal saying, ‘Hey, know that when things are tough let’s throw inside and get an easy bucket.’

“If we do not get an easy bucket, most times I get fouled. In the past when we go through a little slump, we just throw it to the big fellas and we’ll go to work down there.”

Aldrich, who has scored in double figures in two of four games since donning the mask, was held to single digits in just one game without a mask. As significant a stat as that is, coach Self said he “will not tell him to (not wear mask).”

The decision of when to go mask-free will fully be up to Cole.

“There’s a point in time that even I feel that way sometimes,” Aldrich said of throwing the mask in the trash. “It’s just kind of like, ‘Gosh you know, let’s just play without it.’ Because you’re not used to it. When you bump your knee in the morning, you’re kind of, ‘Wow, I wish I didn’t bump my knee.’ Well, I wish I didn’t break my nose. You’ve got to roll with it.”

He is amazed his schnoz has gotten so much attention in a season in which he’s also lost a tooth after taking an errant elbow in KU’s 87-71 win over Kansas State on Jan. 13 in Allen Fieldhouse.

“I can do it all,” the tall Minnesotan cracked. “I can blow my nose. It’s fine.”

Tipoff for the rematch versus K-State is 2:30 p.m., Saturday, in Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.