Ever since the loss to Northern Iowa, Sherron Collins has been a ghost.

He spent time working out for the NBA draft in Las Vegas and returned home to Chicago, where he is now. He cut off all contact with almost everybody from the outside of his inner circle.

The winningest player in Kansas basketball history watched Thursday night as his two younger teammates, Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, were picked back-to-back at 11 and 12 in the 2010 NBA draft.

But we won’t know what it was like for Collins to sit through 60 names and not hear his own called.

Coach Bill Self said Collins has not responded to his recent texts, so the chances of Collins talking to the media any time soon is nil.

“I think it’s disappointing,” Self said. “I can’t believe he is not one of the best 60 prospects to come out of this draft.”

Needless to say, Self is a big believer in what Collins is able to bring to a team, mainly toughness and the overall mindset of a winner.

Calling names such as Pape Sy from France – who averaged just over five points per game last season – just doesn’t make sense compared to the 15.5 points per game and 4.5 assists Collins supplied the top team in the country.

“To me there were many guys picked that can’t help a team win like Sherron can,” Self said.

But in a way, Collins does have a benefit from not being drafted. Now, he can basically choose any team he wants to try out for and take his chances on making that squad. His hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, is looking like an early candidate.

Self would not elaborate on reasons he was told for Collins not being drafted by teams. The 5-foot-11, 205 pound guard has been known to put on pounds now and again. But since he has remained low-key in recent weeks, it’s hard to justify that claim.

But since essentially every NBA team passed on him, Collins now has the opportunity to prove them all wrong by making his way onto a roster however he can.

“What I would do to educate Sherron is say don’t be mad at anybody,” Self said. “Just change it.”