Dental work needed

Kansas freshman Sasha Kaun, who is slated for additional dental work today, dressed but did not play Wednesday. He has been suffering from an infection following a recent root-canal surgery.

Kaun earlier this season had his front teeth knocked in after getting clipped in practice by Darnell Jackson.

“When he got his teeth knocked out — he has caps on — it was such a traumatic blow that infection occurred far greater than what they originally had thought into three or four teeth,” KU coach Bill Self said. “They had one drained. There’s infection in the others, and it’s caused his face to swell. I’m not a dentist, but I do know this: He’s messed up right now.”

Miles’ marks

With five assists, Aaron Miles moved into first place on the Big 12 Conference career-assist list in conference games only. With 355, he has passed Doug Gottlieb, who had 354. With 15 points, Miles became the 48th player in KU history to score 1,000. Moulaye Niang grabbed a career high six boards in 11 minutes. He made a career best two field goals.

This, that

KU has won 14 straight conference-opening games dating to an 88-82 loss to Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 1991. Texas A&M has dropped 10 straight league openers. … KU is 10-0 against A&M including a 9-0 mark against the Aggies since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996-97. KU is 5-0 in Allen Fieldhouse. … KU is 10-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season, when KU went 22-0 and finished the season 34-2. … KU has won 16 straight home games.

Schedule talk

It might have been a shock to Texas A&M’s system to play a team like Kansas.

The Aggies entered with a strength of schedule of 325 out of 330 teams. A&M had beaten North Carolina A&T, Trinity, Texas-Permian Basin, Oakland, Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Louisiana-Monroe, Chicago State, Grambling and Houston at home to go with a two-point win at Penn State.

“I would have changed our schedule. It would have been tougher, but I’m glad it’s played out like it has,” A&M coach BIlly Gillispie said, asked what he would have changed about his first season in the Big 12 if he had it all to do over.

“(But) if we didn’t have our schedule the way it was, I think we would have a very difficult time having the confidence and the tenacity to beat Houston at home the other night, because if you blink, if you took one step backward, they’re going to knock you out.

“If we hadn’t won all our games, I think we would have had a very difficult time of getting 17 points down on the road and winning at Penn State. I really believe that. For this particular team, our schedule has played out perfectly. People just want you to get beat because you have been beaten in the past and that makes everyone feel better. I’m worried about the guys in that locker room, that’s who I’m concerned about.”