Kansas State's Clent Stewart (5) and KU's Russell Robinson go for a rebound in this January 30, 2008 file photo.

Russell Robinson put his head down and walked briskly toward the team bus, not stopping to talk to reporters after Kansas University’s 84-75 loss to Kansas State on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.

On Thursday, the 6-foot-1 senior was back to his old, talkative ways, explaining he was at a loss for words after the Jayhawks’ first setback in 21 games.

“I didn’t want to talk. I was a little upset. I didn’t want emotions to come out, so I tried to run away from you all (media),” Robinson said.

“I was real shook up. I was stunned more than anything. We usually find ways to win even when we play bad. It was one of those days we couldn’t turn it around. Hopefully it won’t happen again.”

Robinson said he was shocked the Jayhawks appeared rattled at times in playing in the most hostile (loud) environment imaginable.

“We are very mature. We’ve showed our maturity throughout the season. We didn’t play mature yesterday. It was just stunning to go in a game of that magnitude and not perform at the level we’re capable of performing,” Robinson said.

“We’ve got to be able to handle pressure, stay under control in situations like that.”

Robinson said the Jayhawks, who had “a rough ride home, real quiet,” discussed the game rationally Thursday.

“We got the rest out of our system today watching films,” Robinson said.

“It wasn’t good,” he said of KU’s effort Wednesday. “There’s a lot we can learn from. Hopefully we’ll learn from our mistakes.”

Junior Brandon Rush said it was most disappointing the Wildcats outrebounded KU, 34-30, and scored off several offensive rebounds.

“We got punked on the glass, and we just got outrebounded. They wanted it more than we did,” Rush said.

KU coach Bill Self said he watched “plenty of tape” all day Thursday, and it was obvious the Jayhawks were outplayed.

“We could have gone to Manhattan and played well and not won, but I don’t feel we gave our best shot last night,” Self said. “I thought they controlled the game from start to finish except for one very good offensive stretch we had in the first half.

“After watching tape, to be candid, it was surprising we were only down four (points) with 10 minutes left because I felt the feel of the game was such they controlled the game. A four-point game can obviously go either way. We didn’t make plays we had to make.”

He said the Jayhawks, who had just three steals, would have to pressure better on the road.

“Our pressure was nonexistent,” Self said. “Our big guys are not going to be able to pressure (Bill) Walker and (Michael) Beasley as much as we’d like obviously. That negates some of the pressure right there, but I just feel like it starts before the ball is entered into offense. We’ve got to do a better job of not making it easy for entries, denying one pass away.

“When we haven’t played good defense, the ball moves wherever it wants to go whenever it wants to do it. When we play great defense, we take a lot of that away.”

Next up for KU is Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game at Colorado. K-State, which is now the only unbeaten team in the league (5-0 compared to KU’s 5-1 and Baylor’s 4-1), travels to Missouri on Saturday.

“I think the Big 12 race is one in which Kansas State is without question in the driver’s seat,” Self said. “They have beaten us and already played Texas A&M and have Texas coming to their place (KU has to travel to Texas and Texas A&M). They have tough places to go, but in all honesty I think their road with a game lead right now on us and Baylor and whoever else … I’d say their road is easier than the other guys’ road trying to catch up.

“I don’t think the winner (of league) will have a lot of losses. It would not surprise me if the winner had two,” Self said.