Kansas University’s 19 steals tied for its most in a conference game. KU also had 19 versus Baylor in 1998.

“I think guys were focused on getting some steals. We were focused on defense,” said Russell Robinson, who had three steals. Julian Wright tied a career high with six.

Rush says Roby ‘cool’: KU’s Brandon Rush, who guarded, and was guarded by, Richard Roby, chatted with the Buffalo standout during the game.

“I know him from some all-star games. He’s cool,” Rush said.

The two chuckled when Wright lost control on a first-half dunk try. Wright lost the ball out of bounds, went down in a heap and hobbled off the court.

“Me and Rich started laughing,” Rush said. “The windmill, the fall, pretending he got hurt thing, that was pretty funny to me.”

Rush said the players would continue to tease Wright about the missed dunk.

“I never missed a dunk like that, not in a game. Maybe a practice,” Rush said. “I don’t have the guts to try to windmill in front of 10,000 people and then fall. I’d be embarrassed. I wouldn’t even show my face around town tonight.”

Rush on his defense on Roby, who hit 10 of 15 shots and scored 30 points: “I thought I did a pretty good job. He had eight turnovers. I thought I forced some of those. We tried to not let him get easy shots.”

Roby on the atmosphere: “When they score, the crowd erupts, and it seems like the points count for more, like six-pointers or something. That’s just the type of atmosphere that you have to get used to playing in. After you play here, everywhere else will be easier.”

Ouch: KU center Sasha Kaun exited after taking a shot to the groin in the first half. Kaun was able to return after a few minutes. : A hard pass from Rush hit Wright flush in the nose in the second half. Wright didn’t need to leave the game.

Faces in crowd: Ex-KU forward Sean Pearson, who works in the escrow business for a title company in Kansas City, attended. He said he still played pick-up ball occasionally. : Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars sat on press row with a batch of NBA scouts.

Big Monday up next: KU travels to Nebraska on Monday for an 8 p.m. tipoff as part of ESPN Big Monday. KU coach Bill Self pointed out after the game that after this season KU will have played four Big Monday games at home and 11 on the road in his four years at KU.

“It’s a different deal. On the flip side, we’re happy to be playing on Big Monday,” he noted.

Rematch: Ricardo Patton on the rematch against CU on Feb. 14 in Boulder: “I thought they were going to cancel the second game. I think it’s going to snow that day, and we’re just going to tell them not to come in.”

Stats, facts: KU forced 30 turnovers, tying for the most by an opponent against KU in a conference game. CU also had 30 in 1982. The school record is 34 by Marquette and Hawaii-Loa in 1990. The previous high by an opponent this year was 25 by Winston-Salem State. : KU hit a season-high 11 threes. : Roby’s 30 points were most by a KU foe since Missouri’s Thomas Gardner scored 40 on Jan. 16, 2006, in Columbia. Previous high by an opponent in Allen was by Nevada’s Nick Fazekas, who scored 35 on Dec. 1, 2005.