Kansas basketball player Thomas Robinson, right, and KU basketball coach Bill Self, left, embrace following funeral services for Robinson's mother, Lisa Robinson, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at Antioch Baptist Church in Washington.

Thomas Robinson placed a Kansas University basketball jersey into the casket of his mother, Lisa, before the start of funeral services late Thursday morning at Antioch Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

The KU sophomore power forward’s sister, Jayla Paris, set a stuffed toy Jayhawk next to her much-beloved mom.

Later, during the actual ceremony, Jayla, who is 7, not 9 as earlier reported, read a letter she’d written Lisa — who died of an apparent heart attack last Friday night at the age of 43.

“It was a beautiful service. It was sad, but also very uplifting,” said KU coach Bill Self. His Jayhawks persevered through a D.C. ice and snowstorm Wednesday night just to make it to the funeral. They arrived at their team hotel at 1:45 a.m., Thursday — five hours behind schedule — ultimately making it back to Allen Fieldhouse just before 6 p.m., Thursday.

“It (weather) was bad, but the guys are fine. It was such a good thing we were there for Thomas,” Self said. “I don’t think there would have been too much that would have stopped us from being there. I know our team was very glad and proud we were able to come.”

Self said Robinson — who will fly back to Lawrence today with KU director of basketball operations Barry Hinson and be in uniform for Saturday’s 6 p.m. home game against Kansas State (Jayla will remain in D.C. at least for the time being) — “is doing about as well as he possibly can.

“He’s crushed, which you would expect him to be. The service did bring some laughter to everybody, too, which I think is good,” Self added. “There were so many people (overflow crowd of 200) who showed up. You could tell she was definitely loved and had a lot of friends.”

A lighthearted moment came when Lisa’s age was discussed.

“As a joke, she’s been telling everybody she’s 37 for about the last six years,” Self said.

As far as second-grader Jayla’s state-of-mind, Self, who said the hand-written letter to Lisa was “very moving,” said: “She seems like she’s doing OK. She had a lot of people around her that obviously care about her.”

That includes her brother, Thomas.

“The thing that was very evident being there today … people want what’s best for Jayla without question and we do, too,” Self said.

“She has a father (James) and family (including step-brother, Jamah, mid 20s) back home. Thomas obviously, as the big brother, would love to have her here (in Lawrence). But that’s a family decision. And they’re going to have to decide what’s best for Jayla.”

The Jayhawk players provided much-needed support for Robinson Thursday, and promise to continue to do so, upon his return to Lawrence today.

“Thomas is our brother and he and Jayla are hurting. We’ll do anything we can to make sure they get through this,” senior Tyrel Reed said. “We want what is best for them. We want them to be in the best situation and have the utmost opportunities.”

Reed and his teammates have had a busy week. They’ve flown more than 3,000 miles since Saturday’s home loss to Texas.

The Jayhawks returned from Tuesday’s 82-78 victory at Colorado at 1:30 a.m., Wednesday before embarking on the journey to D.C. KU flew charter to D.C., then traveled by bus over the slippery streets while in town.

“I will say this: The weather in D.C. when we landed yesterday … it was unbelievable,” Self said Thursday after exiting the charter plane at Topeka’s Forbes Field. “It was as bad as I’ve ever seen. I’ve never been in a place where you could go maybe 2 miles an hour because of all the traffic and icy roads. On the bus … we didn’t know if we were going to be able to move.

“There was talk of canceling the service because that area of town lost all electricity. Fortunately everybody worked hard and put it together. Everything went off without a hitch (after service was delayed an hour).”

More tragedy

KU freshman guard Josh Selby returned to KU with his teammates Thursday. Selby had originally planned on heading from D.C. to his hometown of Baltimore on Thursday for today’s funeral of a loved one.

“Maeshon’s (mother of Selby) godson — one of Josh’s best friends — was murdered Saturday,” Self said. “Josh found out as soon as the Texas game was over. Josh went back with the full intention — and our full intention — that he was going to stay and go to the service tomorrow, but with the weather situation and at the request of his family, they thought it was in his best interests not to go and come back with the team, so he’s with us right now.”

Practice

The Jayhawks were scheduled to practice on Thursday night.

“We need to. We’ll have half an hour, 15-minute workout to keep the blood flowing,” Self said Thursday afternoon. “Then hopefully tonight for the first time in a long time we’ll get a good night’s rest. And then hit the ground running tomorrow because we’ve got a lot to do to get ready for a real good K-State team on Saturday.”

Donations

Family has requested that, in lieu of gifts, contributions be made to the Lisa Robinson Scholarship Fund c/o SNR Denton, 1301 K Street NW, Suite 600, East Tower, Washington, DC 20005-3364. The fund will benefit Jayla.

Sunflower Showdown

K-State enters Saturday’s game with a 14-7 record, 2-4 in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks (19-1, 4-1) are 33-2 versus KSU since the inception of the Big 12, including 14 victories in the last 15 meetings in Allen Fieldhouse. K-State has not beaten a top 10 team on the road since knocking off top-ranked KU, 68-64, on Jan. 17, 1994. … The No. 6-rated Jayhawks have won six in a row in the series, including four straight at home. … The contest will serve as the 2011 Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend, in which college basketball coaches nationwide will wear sneakers with their attire to raise cancer awareness. … Wayne Simien will have his jersey No. 23 hung in the rafters at halftime.