Print edition: 
LAWRENCE — Whew. The Kansas Jayhawks can exhale after an 88-80 victory over the Long Beach State 49ers on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse that at times showed just how much fun this season could be — and at others repeatedly tested the patience of their fans.
Bring on the Buckeyes?
That's the message No. 13 KU sent in the first half when it jumped out to a 35-16 lead — the message delivered all night by All-America candidate Thomas Robinson, who had a game-high and career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, and center Jeff Withey, who had 13 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks.
Robinson made his first eight shots, giving Ohio State star big man Jared Sullinger a multitude of video to watch before Saturday's showdown.
"I just had a confidence boost," Robinson said. "It's something I've been working on. The deeper we get in the season, the more comfortable I get.... Sullinger's a good player. I know he's going to be ready."
Bring on the Buckeyes?
Well, they're coming whether the Jayhawks (6-2) are ready or not. There were plenty of signs against Long Beach State that indicated KU hasn't matured enough in the two weeks since losing to Duke in the Maui Invitational championship game to hand No. 2 Ohio State its first loss at Allen.
The Jayhawks had 22 turnovers — 16 in the second half as they failed over and over to put the 49ers away. Long Beach State scored 21 of its last 24 points off KU turnovers and 25 of their 41 total points in the second half.
"That was about as miserable a performance in the last 10 minutes of a game that I've ever seen," KU coach Bill Self said. "We're fortunate we had enough cushion we could overcome such poor passing."
It is already clear that, if Kansas doesn't reach its goals of an eighth straight Big 12 regular-season championship and a deep NCAA Tournament run, carelessness with the basketball will be its undoing. KU's primary ballhandlers, Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson, combined for nine assists and nine turnovers and did not have an assist in the second half.
"Toward the end," Withey said, "we showed how young we are. We made some boneheaded plays. We're learning a lot, and Coach knows that, but he's not going to let up."
This was not a case of Kansas overlooking an opponent with a bigger name on the horizon. The Jayhawks attacked Long Beach State, which had already won at then-No. 9 Pittsburgh 86-76, from the opening tip.
Robinson scored Kansas' first six points, the last two coming on midrange jumpers. After Conner Teahan hit his first of four first-half three-pointers, Robinson caught the ball in transition and fired from 18 feet, which also found the net.
Robinson, projected to be a lottery pick in next June's NBA Draft by many experts, showed off his growing skill set for the first time this season. To get his total to 18 points for the half, Robinson hit another jumper in rhythm, then drove to the basket for a layup and threw in his requisite rim-rocking dunk.
The Jayhawks jumped out to leads of 16-4 and 35-16. In the two prior games since returning from Maui, Kansas had struggled offensively — especially early in games.
The problem was that Kansas played such good offense in the first half that it forgot to play defense on the other end. Long Beach State got 17 points from forward T.J. Robinson and 11 from Casper Ware, who nailed a three at the first-half buzzer to pull the 49ers within 51-39 at halftime.
In the second half, Long Beach State didn't go away — or was it that KU would not stop letting the 49ers back in?
"It's that ADD again," Robinson said. "As much as we don't want to keep turning it over, I'm glad we're doing it right now. Our guards will be ready. Turnovers will not beat us Saturday."
