McHale comparisons?

Some analysts have compared Kansas University’s Cole Aldrich to former NBA great Kevin McHale.

“Well, they are both tall, they are both white, and they are both from Minnesota so there’s obviously some similarities, and both have funky shots,” KU coach Bill Self said with a laugh.

“So there are four similarities. He doesn’t quite have the footwork McHale had in his heyday. Cole does have pretty good feet for a guy as young as he is.”

Aldrich said the comparisons are “flattering.”

“(McHale) is a legend back home. He is a big-time player back home for the University of Minnesota,” said Aldrich, a native of Bloomington, Minn. “It is really great to be compared to him in smaller aspects of my game. I aspire every day to be half the player he was. He was unbelievable.”

Aldrich was asked again Thursday if he’s thinking about entering the NBA Draft after this season.

“I don’t think about that at all,” he said. “I’m more worried about Missouri and the pressure (attack) coming in here on Sunday. I’m worried about all sorts of different things, the way we can be successful on Sunday, playing Texas Tech on Wednesday, then finishing with Senior Night against Texas on Saturday.”

Proud Collins

Self congratulated Sherron Collins after his 26-point outburst, which included three late threes Monday at Oklahoma.

“I told Sherron, ‘Down the stretch, that’s as good as I’ve seen you.’ The first thing out of his mouth was, ‘How good was the freshman (Tyshawn Taylor, 26 points)?”’ Self related.

“Sherron is taking great pride in helping (Taylor) along.”

Late in half

KU has scored in the final three seconds of the half 14 times in 28 games.

“Part of it is luck, part of it is doing good things,” Self said. “A lot of it is guys just stepping up and making plays. We’ve been able to score several times twice in the last minute. That can be a four- or five-point swing in 60 seconds. You feel pretty good about yourself going into halftime when that happens.”

Robertson award

KU’s Collins on Thursday was named a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which goes to college basketball’s player of the year. Other finalists: DeJuan Blair, Dante Cunningham, Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansbrough, Luke Harangody, James Harden, Ty Lawson, Jerel McNeal, Jodie Meeks, Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Teague and Evan Turner.