OMAHA, Neb. – Joe Darger, UNLV’s tallest starter, stood at 6-7. Really, 6-7?

Darnell Jackson, Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun wouldn’t admit it, but they had to have been drooling. Those guys were nearly 6-7 in middle school.

“We thought we’d play big,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Basketball vs. UNLV

Photo gallery of the second round game against The University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the NCAA men's basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

It just didn’t happen. The Jayhawks beat the University of Nevada Las Vegas 75-56 on Saturday at the Qwest Center, pulling away when they started using a smaller, four-guard lineup in the second half. The victory moved Kansas into the Sweet 16, where it will play either Siena or Villanova on Friday in Detroit.

By the 10:55 mark of the second half, Kaun, Arthur and Jackson all had at least three fouls. They had combined for a measly 18 points. The inside game wasn’t working as planned. Kansas led 50-42 but showed no signs of putting UNLV away. Outside shots weren’t falling. Wink Adams kept getting to the foul line. Something needed to change. It was time for “five-game,” KU’s name for an offense featuring four guards. Kansas coach Bill Self saw that UNLV’s big men didn’t post up much so replacing a post player with a guard wouldn’t hurt the defense. And hey, no offense to the Rebels’ guards, but Sherron Collins knew he and his teammates were much faster.

“Five-game” seemed like a perfect option, and it was. With Collins, Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers on the floor at the same time, Kansas pulled away, outscoring UNLV 15-7 in a seven-minute stretch.

“I thought we’d be able to get the ball inside more than we did,” Robinson said, “but we didn’t. We adjusted. The main thing is we got the win.”

Robinson also got an important boost of confidence. He scored 13 points for the game and scored on a three-pointer and drive to the basket during the stretch Kansas used to pull away. As Robinson walked into the locker room with Collins after the game, he told the sophomore how much he needed a game like this.

Collins wanted a good one, too. He didn’t even practice Friday because of a sore left knee and still wore a brace. The injury limited him slightly, but he finished with 10 points and one killer crossover.

“Midway through the second half,” Self said about Collins and Robinson, “it was those two’s game.”