Kansas basketball team is ready to be noticed again

Russell Robinson can’t say it felt good Nov. 25 when, during the Arizona game, he looked to the top corner of Allen Fieldhouse and saw hundreds of empty seats where the students normally sit.

But, while it was “a little upsetting,” Robinson kind of understands. The KU football team was having its best season in years and had just lost the night before to rival Missouri. Now that he thinks about it, Robinson can see how it might be a good thing for the 14-0 Jayhawks that they’ve flown a bit more under the radar this season.

“It took a lot of pressure off us,” said Robinson, a senior guard. “We’ve been able to go out and just play our game and let the wins speak for themselves.”

Beginning with tonight’s final tuneup for Big 12 play against Loyola (Md.), it’ll be like old times again for No. 3 KU. The miraculous football season is over, and the Jayhawks are playing their best basketball as the students slowly trickle back onto campus for the spring semester. The microscope will be fully pointed at “the Phog” once more.

“The football team won the Orange Bowl, and that’s great,” KU forward Darnell Jackson said. “We’re happy for them. Now it’s just our turn to go out and play.”

While the players welcome the extra attention, there’s at least one guy who wouldn’t mind lying low for a little longer.

“From a coaching standpoint, I probably like it better,” KU coach Bill Self said. “But for the players, I don’t think they … I don’t think Brandon Rush sits around thinking about that kind of stuff.”

Self must know his guys well. Sure enough, Rush says he hasn’t noticed a lack of attention around campus. What he has noticed, however, is that the Jayhawks have not been talked about nationally as often as last season.

“They talk more about UCLA, Memphis and North Carolina,” Rush said. “I still think we’re one of the top teams in the country, too. We’re just going under the radar. It’s fine that way.”

Thing is, Kansas may have already blown its cover when it dominated Boston College from the opening tip on Saturday in an 85-60 win. The Jayhawks put on a show at just the right time if they were trying to get noticed. Self recalled a conversation with a reporter for a national outlet who said, “Well, now we have to consider you among the better teams.”

“I was going, ‘I thought we were among the better teams before you saw us play,’ ” Self said, laughing. “A lot of it is location, let’s be honest. We go play Boston College, and you’ve got every major East Coast writer at that game.”

The Jayhawks have received a boon in their respect nationally since their win over the Eagles. While Robinson would like the same support KU has come to expect from its students from here on out, he could take or leave the media hype.

“We want to be one of the last teams they’re talking about,” Robinson said. “That’s all that matters.”