Toughness has long been an essential attribute coach Bill Self wants to see in his Kansas teams.

Sometimes, however, the high level playmaking ability possessed by the No. 8 Jayhawks obscures some of those hard-nosed ideals, though they are beginning to show their mettle entering a matchup Tuesday against UTEP in Kansas City, Mo.

Two authoritative differentials of 18 stood out in a 95-75 nonconference victory Friday at St. John's as Kansas (6-1) claimed a 47-29 rebounding advantage and had a 24-6 margin in second-chance points.