Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters

Kansas' Sherron Collins, right, and Brady Morningstar celebrate after the Jayhawks beat Texas for the Big 12 title Sunday.

Kansas loves to bang the ball inside to Kaun to begin every game. That opens up the perimeter game and the guard rotation of Rush, Chalmers, Collins and Russell Robinson has developed into a lethal weapon – especially when Rush is playing with aggression and looking for points as he did Sunday against Texas. When games are close, Self knows he can count Chalmers to flip his switch and go into “takeover mode.”

If there has been any weakness the last month, it was free throw shooting. But Kansas hit 20 of 23 (87 percent) in a grueling, physical OT game Sunday.

The Jayhawks are 17-2 with the starting lineup of Robinson, Chalmers, Kaun, Rush and Wright. But Collins, Arthur and Darnell Jackson all come off the bench to play 15 minutes or more. And while Rush or Wright might be capable of scoring 25 points a game, a balanced attack has worked best for the Jayhawks. Only North Carolina ranks higher nationally in scoring margin.

“With us, it’s been a different guy most every game that steps up,” Self said. “We’ve got to have five guys play well out of eight. We don’t have scoring punch like Texas has, but we do have a bunch of guys who can get the ball in the basket. And if it’s their night, they’re all very, very effective.”

What makes this Kansas team different than the Jayhawks of the past two seasons? After all, the Jayhawks entered the NCAA Tournament last year having won 15 of their last 16, then played uninspired basketball and lost to Bradley 77-73.

The players say the difference is confidence and maturity. Robinson praises Self for stroking the ego of each player and making everyone happy. Rush calls it a feeling of “family.”

“The main thing that we want to do is win,” Wright told The Lawrence Journal-World last week. “And it’s not how we win and it’s not who scores. Basically coach just wants someone to step up and make plays when needed. . .. I think the reason we’re doing so well this year is because everyone bought into that concept last year and it’s all starting to come to service this year.”

The last time Kansas was a No. 1 seed was 2002 when the Jayhawks, coached by Roy Williams, advanced to the Final Four in Atlanta and lost to Maryland in the semifinals. Under Self, Kansas has been a No. 4 seed twice and a No. 3 once. The starting lineup for the loss to Bradley is the same one Self will use in this tournament. But he was starting three freshmen and two sophomores that day in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The kids have grown up.

“Last year’s team wasn’t ready,” Self said. “Last year’s team had not been in enough pressure situations and the atmosphere that day was a different atmosphere than they had every felt. Hopefully this year’s team is better. This year, every time we lose, the sky is falling. I think it’s a different feel, which is probably better for our guys.”

Self’s guys remember watching a Florida team that won it all last season with a starting lineup that included four sophomores. Earlier this season, Rush called that very encouraging.

Kansas, now starting three sophomore and two juniors, is almost as young as that Florida team. In the eyes of the KU players, this is their turn. Their dream is to stand on that championship podium on April 2.

And it’s certainly not a reach to think that dream could come true.

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