Padgett realizing he doesn’t have to carry KU

David Padgett gives himself a thumbs-down for his performance in Kansas University’s last two basketball games.

“Obviously, things didn’t go as well as the first few games. It’s frustrating for anybody who wants to play well,” said Padgett, a 6-foot-11, 230-pound freshman from Reno, Nev.

Padgett averaged 14.0 points in KU’s two exhibition games and scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Tennessee Chattanooga in his major-college debut.

But he felt like banging his head against a wall after combining for five points and 10 boards in wins over Michigan State and TCU.

Punishment wasn’t necessary, KU coach Bill Self said.

“Coach and I have talked, that I’ve been a little hard on myself,” Padgett said. “I will not step up and dominate every game. I’ve got to realize that and not put quite as much pressure on myself.

“I can do little things every night that help us win. There are very few exceptions of guys who come in and score 25 every game. I am not freaking out about it now.”

Not after speaking to Self, who emphasized he was happy with the McDonald’s All American’s effort heading into Saturday’s contest against Stanford. Game time is 3 p.m. at The Pond in Anaheim, Calif.

“David works so hard. We remind him we’d have no chance to be where we are without him,” Self said, referring to a 3-0 record and No. 1 national ranking.

<i>” border=”0″/> 6Sports video: J.R. Giddens has steep learning curve</a><a href=</i>” border=”0″/> 6Sports video: Stanford size similar to Kansas</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> <p>“He’s going through what every player in America is going through. You turn on the TV … every night players perform at a certain level, and the next game or game after that it’s not as high. It’s natural.”</p> <p>It’s also natural for a competitor, like Padgett, to be concerned about his daily development.</p> <p>“Padgett is kind of an ornery guy. He has a little nasty in him,” said Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, who watched Padgett play in high school and AAU. “He plays hard.”</p> <p>And he nearly played for Montgomery, but turned down Stanford’s scholarship offer.</p> <p>“It’s obviously one of the best academic institutions in the country. It was tough to say no,” said Padgett, who also rejected Arizona and North Carolina. “They’ve got a great coach and team. I’ve seen them play a lot. It will be a tough test on the road.”</p> <p>Padgett admits he’ll be energized playing in the West.</p> <p>“It’s exciting. I have not been west of Lawrence since August,” said Padgett.</p> <p>The Jayhawks practiced Thursday afternoon, then flew to California. They will practice today, play Saturday and return Sunday.</p> <ul> <li>Stanford undefeated: No. 21-ranked Stanford, 3-0, has defeated Rice, Sacramento State and UC-Irvine without junior guard Josh Childress, who is out until January because of a stress reaction in his left foot.</li> </ul> <p>Nick Robinson, a 6-6 junior from Liberty, Mo., has replaced Childress in the lineup.</p> <p>“The thing Josh brings is intangibles, like good offensive rebounding,” Montgomery said. “Nick is solid. He plays hard and gives you a lot of energy. I wouldn’t say Nick is quite the player Josh is, but he would be valuable whether Josh was with us or not.”</p> <ul> <li>Toughness: Self isn’t convinced the Jayhawks are as tough as advertised.</li> </ul> <p>“We are not a team full of pit bulls, although I think we are gaining,” he said.</p> <p>Montgomery says the Jayhawks are tough enough.</p> <p>“I don’t see (Wayne) Simien and (Jeff) Graves lacking much physically. Simien is a monster, a big guy. We’ll have to use our feet to try to get around him.</p> <p>“I think they are in transition between Roy’s style and Bill’s,” Montgomery added of former KU coach Roy Williams. “I think he (Self) gets frustrated at times they revert back. It may not be some of the stuff Bill teaches. It’s all good stuff. The energy and toughness is the same.”</p> <script type=