Kansas University coach Bill Self was unhappy with his squad’s defense, to say the least. Louisiana-Monroe hit 51 percent of its shots in becoming the third team in the last 75 games to hit 50 percent or better against the Jayhawks.

“Our transition defense was brutal,” Self said. “Their guards torched us. It was a good thing Hooper (Tony, 19 points) got in foul trouble because he was scoring at will. Our guys did so much running – running downhill on offense and uphill on defense. I never knew the court was tilted that way.”

¢He didn’t call ‘bank’: Darrell Arthur banked in a three-pointer off a pass from Mario Chalmers to close the first half and give KU a 50-35 lead.

“I shot it out of desperation,” Arthur said. “The play was set up for him (Chalmers) to shoot it. He got double teamed so I was open.”

¢Debuts: Freshman guard Tyrel Reed had 11 points in 11 minutes. His three 3-pointers in four tries are most by a KU freshman in a debut since the inception of the 3-point line in the 1986-87 season.

“I was not too nervous tonight,” Burlington native Reed said. “I always dreamed of playing on this court. I had no expectations of how I’d do, how many shots I’d make. That doesn’t matter. All that matters is we won.”

Freshman Cole Aldrich had six points and six boards in 10 minutes.

“Cole asked me this morning, ‘Are you nervous D-Block?”’ Darnell Jackson said. “I said, ‘No.’ I told him, ‘Relax, you’ll be fine.’ He played well.”’

¢Rush update: KU coach Self said Brandon Rush won’t play Sunday against UMKC. However, Rush, who had right ACL surgery on June 1, is practicing full-go, which means he plays in scrimmages every day.

“He’s doing everything,” Self said. “He’s not as active rebounding the ball. When he doesn’t look good, it’s not his knee, but timing. His timing is off. His knee and quickness look good to me.”

¢One extra chest bump: Jackson, who pounds his chest three times after made free throws (one for his mom, one for his grandmother, one for friend Don Davis), pounded his chest four times Friday night.

“I did it an extra time after my last free throw. It was for a friend. I told a friend I was going to do it,” Jackson said.

Jackson wasn’t willing to divulge any further information.

“C’mon,” Jackson said.

¢Notables: Rodrick Stewart had a career-high eight assists. His previous high was five against Washington as a freshman at Southern Cal. : Cody Larson, a 6-7, 190-pound sophomore forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., attended on an unofficial visit. : KU has scored 100 or more points four times in Self’s five years. : KU went on an 12-0 run to up a 58-43 lead to 70-43 after standout Hooper picked up his fourth foul. : A fan displayed a sign that said: ‘Pay Heed, Top Five,’ referring to KU being ranked in the top five in both football and basketball. : Sasha Kaun hit four of six shots and had eight points with five boards, but just two points and one board the first half. “Sasha had a couple of opportunities to help us blow the game open. He fumbled some balls. We’ve got to get Sasha playing better around the basket,” Self said.