Kansas University guards Sherron Collins, left, and Russell Robinson suit up for practice in the team locker room at Ford Field before their 2008 Sweet 16 matchup with Villanova. On Monday a Douglas County judge ordered Collins to pay damages in excess of 5,000 to a woman who filed a civil suit against him, accusing him of assault.

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self twice on Monday expressed support for junior guard Sherron Collins.

Self spoke first in a written statement, the second time in person to a handful of reporters outside his basketball camp at Horejsi Center.

“From the information we have, which is somewhat limited, I stand by him without question,” Self said after a Douglas County District Court judge ruled in favor of a 35-year-old woman who filed a civil lawsuit against Collins, alleging an assault in a Jayhawker Towers elevator in May of 2007.

“That’s what I believe anybody would do who believes in one of their family members, so to speak. We will wait and see what happens with the process, but like he (Collins) said in his statement, ‘I’m looking forward to addressing this.”’

Self told reporters he was disappointed Collins failed to file a legal response to the civil suit filed on May 14. Because of Collins’ failure to respond, a judge on Monday granted the woman damages in excess of $75,000.

Collins – on Monday he said he was “100 percent innocent of any inappropriate behavior” and apologized for not responding to the suit – will learn at a July 8 hearing the exact amount of damages to be awarded.

Down the line, the district attorney could conceivably choose to prosecute Collins, who was accused of exposing himself and rubbing against the woman in the elevator.

“I’m not positive how all that works. I’m still trying to gather information, but obviously the ball was dropped,” Self said of Collins not responding to the suit. “I find out about it after the fact today (after reading story on ljworld.com and kusports.com).

“Of course he would have looked forward to addressing it. For whatever reason, being out of town … that’s what they all are, excuses. You have to be responsible, take care of your business. This is certainly a case where that did not occur.”

Collins was back on campus attending summer school classes Monday after traveling to Chicago last weekend to visit his father, who is ill.

“He certainly wouldn’t have shied away from addressing it if he was aware of the ramifications around it. Certainly that is no excuse. There is no excuse. You have to step up to the plate and accept your responsibilities,” Self said.

Self acknowledged Collins faced “a very serious allegation that we have not taken lightly (since learning of it 13 months ago).

“I know he’ll look forward to trying to fight any allegations. I am not going to have any further comment out of I guess you could say respect for the process. I don’t think it’s right for me to comment on it. I don’t think it’s right for him to comment on it. We’ll just see what happens. I know he’s looking forward to addressing it.”

¢Challenge games set: KU’s game at Arizona next Dec. 23 will be part of the Big 12/PAC-10 Hardwood Series.

Other games in the challenge …

Dec. 4: Oklahoma State at Washington; UCLA at Texas; USC at Oklahoma. Dec. 5: Arizona at Texas A&M. Dec. 6: Baylor at Washington State; Oregon State at Iowa State. Dec. 7: Kansas State at Oregon; Nebraska at Arizona State; California at Missouri. Also: Colorado at Stanford, Nov. 29 and Texas Tech at Stanford, Dec. 28.

¢NBA workouts: On Monday, KU’s Sasha Kahn worked out for the Washington Wizards, Russell Robinson for the Charlotte Bobcats and Darrell Arthur for the Memphis Grizzlies.