Moulaye Niang always has been a good guy to have on Kansas University’s men’s basketball team, his teammates and coaches say, simply because he is a good guy.

“He’s the most likable person there is,” KU junior Christian Moody said of the 6-foot-10, 220-pound junior forward/center from Senegal.

“You never see him without a smile.”

‘”Mou’ is one of the likable, fun-loving guys we have on the team,” KU coach Bill Self said. “The fans all love him. He is so well liked by everybody, and he’s improved as a player, too.”

Indeed, Niang, who did not leave the bench in six of KU’s 19 games this season, has started to show there’s more to him than a pleasant personality. Niang has played meaningful minutes in KU’s last three games — victories over Texas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Niang had one rebound and hit a 10-footer that upped KU’s lead to 28-24 with six minutes left in the first half of Saturday’s KU’s 78-65 road win over the Cornhuskers. He had a rebound in six minutes against Mizzou and three points, plus a rebound and assist in eight minutes versus Texas.

Those certainly aren’t earth-shattering numbers, but Niang is contributing.

“Definitely,” KU senior Wayne Simien said. “Any time you can come in and give guys rest and stay productive out there, you’ll help the team. He’s been doing well. With Alex (Galindo, groin injury) and C.J. (Giles, bruised foot) out, he’s stepped up and helped us.”

Niang, who KU coach Self has praised for his post defense, also has an intangible on his side — experience. Self has been calling on Niang and junior point guard Jeff Hawkins instead of freshmen Darnell Jackson and Russell Robinson.

“I think the emphasis is on experience,” Niang said. “This is the part of the season you need every experience you can get. ‘Hawk’ and I have a little more experience than those other guys, who are real good players, too. I think it’s why we’re getting playing time.”

Kansas University's Wayne Simien, center, goes up for a rebound against Nebraska's John Turek, front, and Jake Muhleisen. The Jayhawks won, 78-65, Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Niang says he tried to embrace what Self wanted him to do.

“He wants me to be solid — not make freshman mistakes,” Niang said. “I’m not saying our freshmen make mistakes, but the little mistakes you don’t want to make when the game is close.

“We’ve played a lot of teams who have mobile four men. Me being able to guard those guys gives me a chance to get out there.”

He’s not out there just because he’s a likable sort.

“Moulaye has tons of skills,” Moody said. “He’s a good athlete. He has good hands. He has an amazing turnaround jumper. He’s a big part of the team.”

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Time for streak talk: KU next will meet Kansas State at 8 p.m. Wednesday at sold-out Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. Streaks involving the series always are talked about the week of the KU-KSU game, so here’s the update: KU has won 28 consecutive games over KSU, including 21 straight in Manhattan. K-State’s last win over KU in Manhattan was a 58-57 decision Jan. 29, 1983, at Ahearn Fieldhouse. KSU’s last victory against KU overall was a 68-64 win Jan. 17, 1994, at Allen Fieldhouse.

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Moody ailing?: Christian Moody, who has had ankle problems since spraining his left ankle Jan. 9 at Kentucky, resprained the ankle late in the victory over Nebraska.

“He hurts it every day. He wouldn’t have been able to come back in the game yesterday,” KU coach Self said Sunday on his weekly TV show. “He has a knack of getting himself ready. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go at least by Tuesday.”

Moody said he “tweaked” the ankle and would be fine.

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League standings: Every team in the Big 12 Conference except KU has at least two league losses. The Jayhawks are 8-0, Oklahoma State 7-2, Oklahoma 6-2 and Texas Tech 6-2.

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Wright skips roundball: KU signee Julian Wright has decided to not play in the Roundball Classic, set for March 22 at Chicago’s United Center. Wright, 6-8 from Homewood-Flossmoor High, instead hopes to play this spring in the McDonald’s All-America game in South Bend, Ind., and the Jordan all-star game in New York. Prep players can play in just two high school all-star games in the offseason.

Weakened by the flu, Wright scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Homewood-Flossmoor’s 50-46 win Friday over Thornwood. H-F is 17-4 overall.