Kansas forward Thomas Robinson pulls back for a dunk during warmups prior to tipoff against Texas on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse. Robinson is dealing with the loss of his mother, Lisa, who died Friday according to Kansas University officials.

Editor’s note: Since this story’s publication, Kansas coach Bill Self called the Journal-World on Monday morning to note that plans had changed, as now KU sophomore forward Thomas Robinson will not make the trip with the team to Colorado.

The story below was based off information from Sunday night.

Kansas University sophomore basketball forward Thomas Robinson plans to make today’s trip to Colorado with his teammates and play in Tuesday’s 7 p.m., game against the Buffs, coach Bill Self said Sunday night.

Robinson’s mother, Lisa, died of an apparent heart attack late Friday night in Washington, D.C.

“The plan now is to go to Colorado, yes, then go to D.C. on Wednesday,” Self said, noting Lisa’s funeral may be held Thursday. “It’s difficult to get everything set up over the weekend, and things could change.”

KU fans on Internet message boards have asked if a fund could be set up, perhaps to go toward the college education of Robinson’s younger sister, Jayla Paris.

“I would say, don’t do anything like that until you’ve been told it’s OK (by KU officials sometime in future),” Self said. “We’ve had so many people reach out with sympathy and offering assistance. It makes you proud to be at a place where so many people care. But anything more than thoughts, prayers and well-wishes should be held up until the NCAA would let us know exactly if and what could be done.”

Early indications are it likely would be against the rules for fans to provide funds in such a situation. That likely would be deemed an extra benefit for the student-athlete, even in such a tragic situation.

Self earlier Sunday on his weekly TV show indicated a member of the staff likely would fly to D.C. with Robinson to help support him this week.

“Being the man of the house, he has to get a lot of things straight,” Self said. “We need to have some people work with him on educating him how to do it and probably have a coach go home with him to help him through that. Then, whenever the services are, if it’s all possible, I’m sure several of us will be able to attend.

“It’s a tough time for our whole team. One thing I was proud of, you can kind of see how we feel about each other through tragedy. Those guys (teammates) were pillars for him. Some of the parents in the area of the other players were unbelievable. They see all the boys as their own.”

Colorado enters Tuesday’s game with a 14-6 record, 3-2 in league play.

“Colorado is good. I am concerned about Colorado. I’m more concerned about the psyche of our team,” said Self, whose Jayhawks fell to Texas, 74-63, Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. “We’ve got to talk through some things in the next 48 hours to give us the best chance to go prepare and win because that’s what Thomas wants us to do. He was very adamant about that yesterday when he spoke to the team (before Texas game). It was a great team moment. Hopefully we’ll rally around the situation, not because of basketball, but it’s something he’d want us to do for him.”

•••

KU basketball video coordinator Kyle Keller will travel to Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday to attend a banquet held to honor the memory of the 10 individuals from the Oklahoma State basketball program who were killed in a plane crash on Jan. 27, 2001, near Byers, Colo.

Keller was an assistant coach at Oklahoma State at the time.

“There will be a lot of hugs, kisses, tears, unique feelings. Hopefully it is a joyous time,” Keller said Sunday night. “It is a celebration of the lives of 10 incredible men. These are people who helped shape my life and their family members who helped shape my life.”

Keller’s e-mail box was flooded Sunday from well-wishers who watched an episode of ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” focusing on the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the plane crash.

Ten years ago, three OSU planes were to carry the Cowboy traveling party back from a game at Colorado.

Keller initially was to have returned to Stillwater on the plane that crashed. However, coach Eddie Sutton had Keller switch with Keller’s cousin, OSU guard Nate Fleming, at the last minute.

“I flew up on that plane, and Nate came back on it,” Keller said. “Coach wanted me to grade the film of the Colorado game when we got back. The jet was faster, and we’d be back 40, 45 minutes earlier (than other planes). Coach said, ‘I want you to the grade the film,’ so we made the switch.

“It was obviously a dramatic deal in my life,” Keller added. “To not only lose 10 fantastic men, to lose not only a member of the basketball team, but a family member (Fleming) … Something like that will change you forever. I’m fortunate in that my family never blamed me. My relationship with the Fleming family only became stronger.

“God has a plan for all of us,” Keller continued. “My cousin Nate was 20. I was 33. Do I think it was fair I get to live longer? No, but it’s not my choice.

“I can’t go a day without thinking about it. I think about those 10 great men and their unbelievable character. If I don’t take the things they taught me, the lessons those individuals taught me and apply it to my life, then I have failed.”

Keller and his wife, Chaunsea, named their son in honor of Nate Fleming.

“My son’s name is Kemper Nathan (Keller),” Keller said. “I would be proud a father as can be if my son is half the person Nate was. Nate was an incredible person. I’d be proud if I could be half the father Zane (Nate’s dad) is. He’s the best father there could be.”