Daily Dose: NBA draft update

It isn't serious, but it is another injury for Sherron Collins.

Collins, the sophomore KU guard who is averaging 9.3 points in 21 minutes, as of Thursday hadn't practiced this week because of a bruised knee that will limit him in Saturday's game at Oklahoma State, assuming it doesn't sideline him.

"I wouldn't say (he's doubtful)," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "He won't be 100 percent."

Speaking early Thursday afternoon, Self said he didn't know whether Collins would be able to practice later in the day, saying Collins' condition is day-to-day with an injury sustained Feb. 2 at Colorado and aggravated in practice last week.

"I'm gonna try to go (Thursday)," Collins said. "Right now it's a little painful, a little bruise — big bruise."

Collins went down hard in KU's game in Boulder, Colo., leaving the floor for several minutes before returning to complete a 17-minute performance. He played through the reaggravated injury against the Buffaloes in Lawrence and said he intends to play Saturday at Oklahoma State.

Collins finished last season with tendonitis in his knee that may have been brought on by the 200-plus pounds Collins carries on his 5-foot-11 frame. In November, he underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and missed six games. The time spent in a cast robbed him of some quickness that has been unexpectedly slow in returning.

Whenever Collins is injured, the first question is whether his weight contributed to it. In the case of a bruise, that seems highly unlikely, and Self said Collins weighs 200 pounds, which is about right.

"He's done a good job," Self said. "I wouldn't go as strong as say great, but he's physically the lightest he's been since he's been at Kansas. He hasn't done anything the last five days, so it's probably not quite there now, but he's done a good job with his weight."

The latest setback appears to be rotten luck for a guy that all season hasn't been able to play the role he played last year.

"I would say he's frustrated, but he's handled it well," Self said. "One of the reasons he's handled it better this time is it is a day-to-day deal. It's like he's definitely going to be out 4-6 weeks or whatever. There's hope every day when he goes to treatment that this could be the day he's back."

Collins said he felt better Thursday than he had all week, but that the bruise, like his other injuries, was healing slower than he'd like.

"It's another one I gotta get over," he said.

Stillwater not home

Self said he won't be indulging in any extracurricular activities during this trip to Stillwater, Okla.

"That hasn't been home to me in a long, long time," he said. "It certainly didn't feel like home when (former OSU head coach) Eddie (Sutton) had us down 42 when I was at ORU (Oral Roberts). I only played there when I was at ORU twice. When I was at Tulsa we never played there, and when I was at Illinois we never played there. So there was a big gap before I had a chance to go back. I think I've only played in Gallagher-Iba Arena four times since I left. It's been an unhappy ride home after three of them, so hopefully we will play better this time."

KU enjoys week off

Kansas hasn't played since Saturday, a welcome break for the players late in the grind of the regular season.

"We have had a chance to get back into the gym and work on some things and get a little rest," said forward Darrell Arthur. "I think we've just been getting closer as a team since the last couple of games and we're coming together."

The time off was especially beneficial to Collins, who is recovering from a painful knee bruise.

"It was a good week for me," he said. "I'm just going to go in there (training room) and get treatment like I have been doing. Hopefully, it will turn around pretty quick."

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