Kansas basketball notebook

Jayhawks fine: Kansas University freshman guard Mario Chalmers said he suffered a sprained right big toe after getting knocked into the base of the basketball goal by Nevada’s Chad Bell, who was called for an intentional foul with 13:41 left. Chalmers didn’t return to the game, but said he was fine.

The play seemed to ignite the Jayhawks. Jeff Hawkins, subbing for the injured Chalmers, hit a pair of free throws, then a lefty layup that cut the gap to 43-42.

“It should have lit a fire,” Self said. “I tried to play it off to light a fire. I didn’t think it was a good play. I’d have to see it on tape.”

C.J. Giles’ right foot, which bothered him last year, has been giving him discomfort lately. He wore a boot this week as a precautionary measure. Like Chalmers, he said he was fine. Sasha Kaun was wearing a pad on his left elbow. He said his elbow was bruised.

¢ Downs shines: Freshman Micah Downs, whose three cut the gap to 71-70 with :17 left, finished with eight points in 19 minutes.

“He helped us because Brandon (Rush) didn’t give us any offense the first half,” Self said. “Micah came in and at least got us a couple of baskets. He made the big three to get us in striking range late. That was a big shot that will help his confidence rise, I’m sure.”

¢ Stats, facts: Nevada received $40,000 guarantee money for playing the game. … KU is 0-2 against ranked teams this season and 6-9 under Self. … Rush’s eight boards marked a career high. Kaun’s six offensive boards tied a KU season high, and his 34 minutes were the most by any Jayhawk this season. … It’s KU’s ninth loss in the last 11 years in the fieldhouse. … Fazekas’ 35 points were the most by a KU foe since Arthur Johnson of Missouri hit for 37 on March 7, 2004, in Columbia, Mo. It was most by a KU foe in the fieldhouse since Gerald Brown of Pepperdine scored 35 on Dec. 18, 1997. It marked a career high for Fazekas, his old high 33 points last January at Tulsa.

¢ Faces in crowd: Former major league baseball player Andy Van Slyke was on hand. He’s the father of former KU player A.J. Van Slyke. KU football coach Mark Mangino also attended. In all, 17 NBA scouts worked the game.

¢ Arthur visits Indiana again: Darrell Arthur, a 6-foot-9 senior forward from Dallas’ South Oak Cliff High, attended the Duke-Indiana game Wednesday in Bloomington, Ind.

His mother and AAU coach also were on hand on the unofficial visit.

Arthur, who has made official visits to KU and Indiana, will be back to KU to attend a game on an unofficial visit later this season. It’s believed it will not be the Kentucky game Jan. 7, because his high school has a game that night.

Indiana and KU are Arthur’s leaders, though SMU and Baylor still are in the running.

“This (Indiana) is an incredible atmosphere,” Arthur told the Indianapolis Star before Wednesday’s IU loss to the Devils.

“The thing I’ve always liked most about Indiana has been coach (Mike) Davis and the way the players have made me feel at home, but the atmosphere here was something I had to see for myself.”