Kansas University basketball coach Roy Williams says sophomore point guard Aaron Miles has been criticized more than any player he has ever coached.

That’s saying a lot, considering former Jayhawk centers Eric Chenowith and Greg Ostertag took a lot of heat from Kansas basketball fans and columnists during their four years at KU.

“It’s silly,” KU’s 15th-year coach says of criticism of the 6-foot-1 Miles, whose stats do not appear to warrant a negative outcry.

“I think he’s been good all year,” KU senior guard Kirk Hinrich said. “That (negative talk) is all blown out of proportion.”

Miles, who bounced back from his two-point effort against Missouri with 13 points in Saturday’s 82-64 victory at Kansas State, was first in the Big 12 Conference in assists (160, compared to Texas guard T.J. Ford’s 137) and first in steals (50, versus Oklahoma State guard Victor Williams’ 47) after Saturday’s games.

Miles also ranked fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (he has 76 turnovers to Ford’s 66). The KU sophomore is fifth in the nation in assists.

So what’s the hubbub all about?

It’s about scoring.

Miles averages 8.7 points a game off 38.7 percent shooting. He has hit 15 of 62 three-pointers (24.2 percent), including just four of 22 threes in conference play.

“I feel comfortable in my offense,” Miles said. “I don’t worry about what people say. If people on this team believe in me, it’s all that matters.”

Williams recognizes floor general Miles is playing well for a guy not even halfway through his college career.

Kansas guard Aaron Miles finesses in a shot while Kansas State's Tim Ellis watches. Miles, often criticized for his lack of offense, scored 13 points in the Jayhawks' 82-64 victory Saturday in Manhattan.

“We do not need him to go 0-for-7 (at Colorado) or 1-for-11 (at Oregon). That’s been two bad days for him,” Williams said. “But at the same time, he understands what we are trying to do. He’s really good on the defensive end of the floor. He’s in his sophomore year, and he’s already in the top 10 in Kansas history in assists.”

Miles ranks ninth in career assists with 412 against 188 turnovers.

Expectations might have been out of whack for Miles this season, KU’s coach added.

“His assist-error ratio was sensational last year (154 assists to 72 turnovers),” Williams said, “and I probably set him up for some bad thoughts because I say that the biggest jump is usually during your freshman to sophomore year. But it’s almost impossible to have a better assist-error ratio than he had as a freshman.

“Aaron Miles is going to improve and he is going to be one of those guys people talk about a long time.”

Kansas' Aaron Miles drives past Kansas State's Frank Richards during the Jayhawks' 82-64 victory Saturday. Miles' 160 assists are the fifth-highest total in the nation.

Miles was a major factor Saturday in KU extending its win streak in Manhattan to 20 games. He had 13 points — all in the final half — off 6-of-11 shooting. He missed just three shots the second half, while making six baskets. He also had four of KU’s nine steals and dished six assists against four turnovers.

“We scrapped on defense and ran the floor on offense,” Miles said of a second half in which KU outscored KSU, 47-28. “I think it was defense. I think my defense always helps my offense and helps our team.”

With Nick Collison and Jeff Graves in foul trouble, Williams used a lineup of Miles, Hinrich, Michael Lee, Bryant Nash and Keith Langford during the majority of a 33-9 run that turned a 51-47 deficit into an 80-60 lead. The 6-6 Nash was the tallest of the bunch.

“It’s always fun when you have all guards out there scrapping,” Miles said. “It was not weird at all. We’ve played like that in a couple of games.”

KU next will travel to Baylor for an 8 p.m. tip Tuesday.

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Collison snags top spot: Collison, KU’s 6-9 senior from Iowa Falls, Iowa, is the No. 1 rebounder in Big 12 history. Collison, who had five rebounds Saturday, now has 955 boards, passing former Texas pivot Chris Mihm, who had 945 from 1988 to 1990. Colorado senior Stephane Pelle has 949 rebounds.