Aldrich seeks big game

Kansas University sophomore center Cole Aldrich hopes to step up his play on the road. He has averaged 13.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in three league road games — KU victories at Colorado, Iowa State and Nebraska.

He had 10 points and four boards at Arizona and 14 points and 11 boards at Michigan State. KU dropped both games.

“The first half at Nebraska was pretty unfortunate,” Aldrich said of his zero-point, zero-rebound, one-shot, 11-minute effort.

Junior guard Sherron Collins knows what needs to be done to help the 6-foot-11 Aldrich excel in enemy gyms.

“Get him the ball more,” Collins said. “And he has to make sure not to rush it. If he gets trapped, he has to try to feel the trap instead of trying to beat it before he gets there.”

Guard Tyrel Reed says the Jayhawks sometimes forget about the big man.

“I think he thinks he can play better away from home. A lot of that depends on us guards getting him the ball at the right time,” Reed said. “Cole gets good position. We have to find the right time to get it in there and not force it. If we get him the ball, he’ll start having better games on the road.”

KU coach Bill Self said he never thinks about home/road discrepancies. For the year, Aldrich averages a healthy 15 points and 9.9 rebounds a game.

“Nebraska … the way they defended the post made it harder for him,” Self said of Aldrich, who finished with eight points and eight boards in 26 minutes in Lincoln.

He had 15 points and 13 boards in 31 minutes in Saturday’s 66-61 home victory over Colorado. He had 15 points and 10 boards at CU.

“Cole will tell you that was not his best game,” Self said of Saturday’s game. “I can’t remember what he did at Colorado. For the most part, the numbers may be down a bit (on road). I don’t think it’s that big a deal. The Arizona game is one he struggled a bit.”

Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood

Self knows Baylor senior forward Kevin Rogers well. Rogers, a 6-foot-9, 250-pounder from Dallas, chose the Bears over KU and others in recruiting.

“He is a fabulous college player,” Self said of Rogers, who averages 12.6 points off 53 percent shooting and 8.0 boards. “He may have a chance to play at the next level. He is big, a good rebounder. He puts up numbers. He’s really a nice player.”

TV talk

BU is playing its first home ESPN Big Monday game since 2001. The Bears on that day beat No. 6 KU, 85-77, at Ferrell Center.