The season didn't begin the way Kansas wanted it to, with three losses in the first six games. But behind the play of forward Nick Collison and guard Kirk Hinrich, the Jayhawks have a 10-1 Big 12 record and can take command of the conference race with a win Sunday at Oklahoma. Collison took time during a busy week in which he averaged 21.5 points in wins against Iowa State and Colorado to answer five questions from the Enquirer's Dustin Dow.

Q: What do you make of all the national Player of the Year hype?

A: I really haven't noticed it. Coming into this season I knew if I played well, I would get some consideration, and I think I'm having a great year, so it's kind of expected.

Q: Who is the best player you have played against in the Big 12?

A: Probably someone my freshman year like Marcus Fizer or Desmond Mason - because they were really good - but they seemed even better because I felt overmatched as a freshman. I'm a lot better player now than I was then, for sure.

Q: How did practicing with Team USA over the summer improve your game?

A: It helped a lot. I got great playing experience against some NBA vets, which taught me a lot. I also got a lot of confidence holding my own against them.

Q: What do you say to people who say Kansas can't win the big one (a Final Four game or a national championship)?

A: Unless you have played on a national championship team - most fans and sportswriters haven't - you can't win the big one either.

Q: Whom do Iowans dislike more, you or Kirk Hinrich? (Both are native Iowans who left the state to play college basketball.)

A: I don't care. I have a lot of Iowans that are important to me, but I dislike a lot of Iowans myself.

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• Enquirer Tipoff page     • Catching up with Danny Fortson     • Five questions with Nick Collison     • UC-XU Q&A