Bill Self insists it was not a calculated coaching ploy to call out his big men after a lazy effort on the backboards against Colorado on Jan. 27 in Allen Fieldhouse.

“Just being honest,” said Kansas University’s fourth-year basketball coach, who referred to his big men as “soft” after they were outrebounded by six in a 97-74 victory over the Buffs.

“I thought we were playing that way. We’d been getting outrebounded (in three of four games). I never thought we had the chance to be a great team unless we rebound the ball.”

Stung by Self’s declaration – “nobody likes to be called that word,” power forward Darnell Jackson said – the Jayhawks have outrebounded seven straight opponents by a margin of 14.7 boards a game heading into today’s 5 p.m. home battle against Iowa State.

“I think they’ve responded to an emphasis we’ve put on it,” Self said. “Maybe in their minds they are understanding how important it is to steal possessions for our team.”

Since the Colorado game in Lawrence, Julian Wright averages 8.6 boards per game followed by Jackson (6.3), Darrell Arthur (5.7) and Sasha Kaun (3.7). For the year, Wright averages 8.0 boards, Jackson 5.1, Arthur 5.0 and Kaun 3.8. Also, Brandon Rush, who has averaged 5.2 boards since the CU game, averages 5.8 for the season.

“That’s my job, it’s what I’m supposed to be doing,” Jackson said. He had 11 boards at Colorado and 10 in a home win over Kansas State – two games since the first CU clash, in which he had just three boards.

“I just told myself I have to go crash the boards every time.”

Freshman forward Arthur, who had 12 boards Monday at K-State, said Self’s preaching about rebounding definitely had clicked.

“Coach always tells us that if you win the rebounds, then you win the game. So we’re just going in there with the mindset of just every day going in and trying to outrebound the other team,” Arthur said. “That gives us more opportunities to score. If we miss on offense and get a rebound, we can set up another play. So that’s all that is in our head – the opportunity of another possession.”

For the season, the Jayhawks, who outrebounded Iowa State, 52-36, in a 68-64 overtime victory against the Cyclones on Jan. 13 in Ames, are outrebounding opponents 40.3 to 32.4.

KU has won the board war in league play, 41.4 to 32.5. KU actually leads the league in rebounding in league games and is second to Texas in all games.

“I didn’t think we did a great job against K-State after watching tape,” Self said of Monday’s 40-30 rebounding advantage in a 71-62 road win over the Wildcats. “We are blocking out better (last seven games). We have got guys chasing the ball better, pursuing the ball. ‘Shady’ was the best we had the other night.”

Self said he’s been pleased with Arthur’s progress.

“He is averaging about 20 minutes a game. If he didn’t foul so much he’d be averaging about 26,” Self said. “I do think the last two games (one foul) he’s been playing with a more free mind and he’s not worried about screwing up because he’s got fouls to give. He’s being more aggressive.”