Lawrence, KS (U-WIRE) -- At first glance, the statistics sheet from last night's basketball game against Nevada indicates that Kansas played exceptionally well defensively.

Kansas' 85-52 victory was impressive, but more impressive was that Nevada scored just nine more points in the entire game than Kansas did in the first half alone. The Jayhawks led 43-21 at the half. The Jayhawk defensive line should get credit for good perimeter pressure and interior defense, but coach Bill Self said the performance was not as good as it looked.

"I don't think it was as good as their stats would indicate," Self said.

But Nevada's offense didn't do much to challenge the Kansas defense. The Wolf Pack shot a meager 28 percent from the field and turned the ball over 18 times. Kansas converted 21 points off of turnovers while Nevada scored only seven points off of turnovers.

Kansas held Nevada's leading scorer, Nick Fazekas, to 5-18 from the field. He ended up with 17 points, which is misleading because he scored eight of those points in the last 1:30 of the game. "We did a good job on their big guys," Self said. "We forced them into some turnovers, which led to some easy baskets."

Kansas forced turnovers throughout the game, but all of its points from turnovers came in the first half. Aggressive defensive play, led by freshman guard Russell Robinson, set the tone early for the Jayhawks.

The Jayhawks went on a 14-0 run early in the first half, holding the Wolf Pack scoreless for more than five minutes. That run was capped off by three consecutive defensive steals that the Jayhawks converted into points.

The first came with 12:46 remaining in the first half, when Mike Lee knocked the ball away inside and took it the length of the court for a layup. On the next possession, Robinson intercepted a pass at the top of the key and converted on the other end, widening the Jayhawk lead to 19-4.

On the next play, Sasha Kaun knocked a pass away from Nevada guard Kyle Shiloh. Robinson picked up the ball and scored again.

To close out the half, the Jayhawks stripped the ball from a double-teamed Fazekas. The Jayhawks got the ball down the court quickly to a wide-open Lee, who drilled a three-point shot.

Robinson continued to cause problems for the Wolf Pack guards in the second half. At one point, with about 14:30 left in the game, he stole the ball right out of Shiloh's hands and drove down the court for a lay-up. As if that wasn't enough, Robinson did the same thing two minutes later. Robinson said he knew that the best way he could contribute was to play good defense - after that, his offensive game would come.

"Playing tough defensive is one of the ways that I work to get my offense going," Robinson said.

That strategy worked last night. Robinson finished with three steals and 13 points.

Robinson has been playing so well in his first few games as a freshman that senior guard Aaron Miles had to think twice about Robinson's biggest strength. At first, Miles said Robinson's defensive play was his best quality.

"He has a lot of savvy as an on-ball defender," Miles said.

But as he thought about it, he decided that Robinson's greatest strength was his confidence.

"His confidence, and his willingness to do whatever he needs to do to help the team," Miles said.

As good as the Jayhawks looked tonight, Self said his team still needed a lot of work on defense if they want to contend late in the season.

"In order to win games in March, you've got to be great defensively," Self said. "I still think that we have a scorer's mentality without sacrificing on the other end."

(C) 2004 University Daily Kansan via U-WIRE