**9:45 p.m.**: For the past couple of weeks, one of the biggest mysteries to media circles around the KU hoops team has been the meaning behind the term ‘quads firing.’ Bill Self has used it repeatedly in reference to Sherron Collins not being at full strength.Collins explained what it meant after scoring 18 points in 28 minutes on the floor, starting in place of Mario Chalmers.”Just getting the strength back in the quad,” he said, referring to his left leg. “When I got the cast off, the first time when I made a muscle in it, it felt like rubber, but now it’s just solid.”Fair enough. His 28 minutes played were the most he’s had on the floor since returning six games ago from a stress fracture in his foot.As for Chalmers, Bill Self said it was tweaked yesterday in practice. He said Chalmers could have gone tonight, but there wasn’t much point to it, as KU has games with Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri coming up in a one-week stretch starting Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Lincoln. Self thinks Chalmers could be back to full strength by Thursday.One other topic Self spoke on with some authority was the offensive aggressiveness of Brandon Rush. Rush finished with nine points, scoring a bunch early in the second half after having just one next to his name in the first half.”I did tell Brandon to be more aggressive, but it’s pretty sad that three years into it, that a coach has to tell a really good player to be aggressive playing the game of basketball,” Self said. “So if that sounds like that I’m pleased with him offensively or displeased, you guys can read into taht however you want to, because a coach should never have to tell his leading scorer of the last two years to be aggressive. But we have to do that way too often.”That sounds like a good nugget to leave you on….before a few final numbers….-Darnell Jackson had nine boards for the second straight game. After being outrebounded as a team, 21-20, in the first half, KU finished with a board edge of 47-41.-The Jayhawks forced 20 turnovers and recorded 12 steals. Three of those came from Collins, filling in for Chalmers well in that stat column, as well.-Sasha Kaun was 6-of-8 from the free throw line, as he continues his upswing in that category.-KU blocked 10 shots. Three of those came from the authoritative palm of Darrell Arthur.Talk to you Saturday from Lincoln. Word.**8:52 p.m.**: Human victory cigar in = postgame nuggets to come.KU has outscored Loyola 54-21 since it was 26-22 midway through the first half.**8:37 p.m.**: Feel-good story of the night = Jeremy Case.Not only has he provided a nice spark off the bench by hitting a couple of threes and just now dishing a sweet assist inside while saving a ball from going out of bounds, but he’s doing it with a smile and several fist pumps.Mario Chalmers sitting was a blessing in disguise for Sherron Collins to finally rack up some serious post-injury minutes, and it also looks like it’s done the trick for Case, too. If Chalmers is out for an extended period of time for some reason (which I don’t anticipate since he’s in uniform/warmups), Case really isn’t a bad option. It’d be nice to see Tyrel Reed get some serious run tonight, though, too.**8:15 p.m.**: Some halftime numbers…-Darnell Jackson played just 11 minutes and was 1-2 from the floor. He was limited due to a pair of fouls, and Sasha Kaun started the second half on the floor in his place. Kaun had seven points and four boards in the first stanza. Darrell Arthur had 12 points to go with three rebounds and two blocks.-Loyola hit five three-pointers, which helped the Greyhounds stay somewhat close. They came on 14 attempts, though.-Sherron Collins was two-of-five from three-point range. Inside of three-land, he was two-of-three.-Loyola’s achilles heel proved to be 13 turnovers in the first half. KU had just five giveaways.-A big positive for Loyola – the visitors outrebounded KU 21-20.**7:56 p.m.**: Even though Darrell Arthur put home a bevy of awkward buckets in the first half, Sherron Collins is without question the story so far for KU, showing some definite spark in having played 18 minutes, scoring 11 points, dishing two assists and recording a pair of steals. His most minutes played since returning from his foot injury is 24. I’d guess he surpasses that tonight.Loyola was able to claw enough to stick around until there were about six minutes to go in the half, but KU’s much-needed offensive run finally showed up. The Jayhawks might have been overlooking this one a bit. That’s understandable. This is far from a marquee opponent to be facing in between Boston College and your conference opener.Though I still maintain the offense is a little bit in flux without Mario Chalmers and trying to figure things out. That, too, is understandable.**7:34 p.m.**: I wouldn’t be too alarmed here. Loyola doesn’t look to have the firepower to hang around _too_ long, but KU is certainly struggling to adjust offensively without Mario Chalmers in there. That’s pretty apparent. Darnell Jackson just checked back in, which could restore some normalcy.**7:18 p.m.**: Sherron looks just fine so far, and doesn’t appear too winded as he’s played the entire opening seven minutes so far, including a hard drive to the hole for an old-fashioned three points, then quickly catching up with an errant Rod Stewart outlet pass to feed Sasha Kaun on an impromptu alley-oop. He topped it off with a three from the wing.Even with Mario Chalmers out, the much-needed confidence boost for Sherron Collins is going on as we speak.As for Chalmers’ injury, it seems strange. If forced to venture a guess, which I’m doing to myself, I’d say it happened in practice. Not sure of the severity. it could be next to nothing. But at the end of the BC game and outside of the locker room Saturday afternoon, he appeared to be moving just fine.**6:56 p.m.**: This just in – Mario Chalmers will not be playing tonight. The junior guard is out with a groin injury. Sherron Collins will start his third game of the season in Chalmers’ place.**6:17 p.m.**: Welcome back to Allen Fieldhouse. If KU plays here in 2008 the way it did in 2007, I’m sure there won’t be any complaints. In the calendar year of 2007, the Jayhawks were 17-1 in Allen Fieldhouse, with the lone loss coming in Big 12 play a year ago to Texas A&M.Starting off 2008 right doesn’t look to be too much to ask, or so it looks like on paper. The Jayhawks were absolutely sensational Saturday in throttling Boston College, 85-60. Even if BC did lose last night to Robert Morris, that win was still impressive as hell, in my opinion. You cannot find one thing KU didn’t do well. They shot free throws _and_ rebounded, and this season, those two things have hardly gone hand-in-hand – it’s been one or the other.In the words of a co-worker, if KU loses this one, I’ll eat my shoe.But even with that, there is one thing in particular I’m looking for tonight. I want to see Sherron Collins snap out of it for a full game.Collins, who while playing limited minutes in six games off the bench since returning from a foot injury, just hasn’t looked like himself for extended stretches of times. Granted, I think it’s been harder for him to get into the flow given how well the starting five is clicking right now. But don’t forget, he started the season’s first two games, and in those went absolutely nuts on the offensive end. He’s still averaging 9.1 points per game on the year, but is averaging just 6.8 in six games since his return compared to 16 per game in the two prior to the foot woes. He’s also averaging just 19.2 minutes of action since coming back. Before missing six games, he was playing 27.5 per.Tonight, with a point spread again indicating a blowout (plus statistics and talent), he’ll get a shot at big minutes. The comfort of home could help him put together one big game before conference play starts.Also, I’ve got to say that I nearly welled up reading [Gary Bedore’s story today on Darnell Jackson][1]. I know media are supposed to be un-biased, but how you don’t respect the bejesus out of the guy is beyond me. I don’t think anyone doesn’t, though, so it’s not much of an issue. One thing is for sure: They’d better be having boxes of Kleenex ready at the gates for Senior Night. His speech promises to be a tearjerker.Talk to you after the tip. [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2008/jan/08/jackson_has_clear_mind_big_ideas_senior_season/?mens_basketball
