Kansas City, Mo. ? Kansas University’s basketball players put down their forks, knives and paper plates momentarily, clapping their hands in approval Sunday afternoon after learning via CBS-TV they’d been granted a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

“Everybody was really happy, (but) it was almost expected,” KU senior guard Russell Robinson said, his post-Big 12 championship game meal interrupted by the Selection Sunday report that KU’s victory over Texas assured the Jayhawks the top spot in the Midwest Regional.

“We have an opportunity to play in front of a lot of our fans. Now we have to make the most of it,” Robinson added.

KU will make the short trip to Omaha’s Qwest Center for Thursday’s 11:25 a.m. first-round game against Portland State. The winner will meet either UNLV or Kent State approximately 5:50 p.m. Saturday.

Two victories would propel KU into a Sweet 16 matchup in Detroit against either Clemson, Villanova, Vanderbilt or Siena. Awaiting KU in the Elite Eight could be No. 2 seed Georgetown or the likes of Southern Cal, Wisconsin, Gonzaga or even Kansas State.

“We are happy we’re a 1 seed. I’m not sure it makes much of a difference, to be honest with you,” KU coach Bill Self said. His top-seeded Jayhawks reached the Elite Eight a year ago.

“I told the guys beforehand, ‘You may be a 1 or 2. Don’t be ecstatic, don’t be disappointed either way.’ The process now begins.

“Being a No. 1 seed doesn’t help you win one game in the tournament. What it does is bring notoriety to your program, which is nice in recruiting. And it says we’ve had a great year.

“The one seed was not the goal,” Self stressed. “The goal was to position ourselves to have a favorable path. Though there is no easy path, at least we do get to stay in the Midwest, which I think is positive.”

In a weird twist, KU could play its first two games in Nebraska and next two in Detroit – the same scenario as back in 1988 when KU last won a national title. In ’88, KU beat Vanderbilt and KSU, teams the Jayhawks could run into again.

“I hope we can line it up like ’88,” Robinson said. “We have guys who can do it. It’ll take a lot of effort to focus in. Only way to do it is one game at a time.”

And the first game is against Portland State. The 23-9 Vikings earned the Big Sky Conference’s automatic berth by beating Northern Arizona, 67-51, in the league’s tourney title game on Wednesday. KU beat Northern Arizona, 87-46 on Nov. 21 in Allen Fieldhouse.

“They shoot a lot of threes based on the stats,” Self said. “As far as the others in the bracket, I’ve seen enough of Vegas to know how good they are. Everybody tells me Kent State is terrific. We’re just excited to be playing. Right now, I’m worn out. I know our players are too. This tournament took a lot out of us. I’m ready to go home, get a good night’s rest and get the batteries recharged.”

The Omaha event will have a K-State flavor.

The Wildcats will meet Southern Cal at 6:10 p.m. Thursday. UNLV, which could meet KU, is coached by former K-State player and coach Lon Kruger.

“I think they want all the K-State fans to cheer against us, if we are fortunate enough to play them (UNLV Rebels),” Self said with a smile.

“I was surprised by that (KU and KSU going to same site). I think the story line on that game is not (Michael) Beasley versus O.J. (Mayo), but Bill Walker versus O.J. That will definitely take some of the local distractions away. You guys (in media) will be chasing all those sidebars.”

In all, six Big 12 teams (KU, KSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Baylor) made the Big Dance.

“I’m really happy for our league. I was pleasantly surprised,” Self said. “I was nervous it might not happen that way.”

Self was sad ex-Jayhawk assistant Tim Jankovich’s Illinois State team missed out despite a 24-9 record. The Redbirds are in the NIT.

“I’m really disappointed for coach ‘Jank,'” Self said. “The numbers show he was right there. Maybe Georgia winning today knocked him out.”

¢Practice in Omaha: KU will hold an 40-minute open practice from 1:30 to 2:10 p.m. Wednesday at Qwest Center.

“We’ve got one day to practice before we play them,” Self said. “Because we’ll have to be off tomorrow (today to rest). We practice Tuesday and get ready to play. You can’t go too hard.”

¢This, that: If KU and former KU coach Roy Williams’ North Carolina Tar Heels win four games, the two teams would meet in the Final Four semifinals. They are on the same side of the bracket. … KU was deemed the fourth No. 1 seed by committee members.