Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008

If the Kansas players are laughing -- and it's generally a loose bunch that has no trouble finding the lighter side of life -- there's a good chance Brandon Rush is the guy whose humor and wit got it started.

The KU junior is a self-described funny guy who likes to keep his teammates in stitches.

"I haven't lost that at all," Rush said. "I'm still -- what do I say -- silly. Still very funny."

Yeah, everyone pretty much thinks Rush is hilarious. Except his coach, Bill Self, who at times during Rush's career has deadpanned Rush's antics.

Self is most interested in getting the most out of Rush the Basketball Player. Rush the Comedian isn't his concern.

Three seasons in to his KU career, Rush is finally taking what happens on the court as seriously as how much he can make his teammates crack up.

The two-sided Rush is a pleasure to see because, when he's engaged, Rush can perform on a level with any of the best players in college basketball.

The question with Rush: Does he want it? Not: Can he do it?

"I thought, the first time that I ever saw him during individual workouts, that Brandon could be as good as anybody I've ever coached," Self said. "It's not very often that you have that size, that build. He's got great, great touch. He's competitive. We wondered if he would try to defend and he's become our best defender.

"He has a very high ceiling, one that I don't think he's come close to reaching. But he's a lot closer to it than he was a couple of years ago."

Rush is a study in contrasts. He is, in many ways, having his best season, even if the numbers don't bear it out. But those numbers are skewed because Rush was not close to 100 percent when the season started because of knee surgery.

Lately, he's been playing his best basketball.

Still, for a guy who is thought of as being a scorer, he has reached 20 twice this season and 12 times in his KU career. He is averaging 13 points, which hardly screams dominance.

Rush's enigmatic nature has been a source of frustration for everyone. There are times when he takes games over. And there are times when he appears not to know a game is being played.

Self has been asked about Rush more the past three years than he's been asked about his family. And the questions are all the same -- how do you trip this guy's trigger?

"The only times that I really fault him with his play is when I feel like he defers or is not into it or whatever," Self said. "He's too talented not to put himself into a position to impact possessions. So, yeah, we do talk about that kind of stuff quite often."

As in every day. Sometimes twice.

Self beats home the same message and maybe, just maybe, Rush is starting to get it.

He has been more aggressive offensively lately. He does seem to have that certain something in his demeanor that says, "This is my last shot in college and I want to go out with a national championship."

"I think I'm getting there," Rush said. "When I first came to KU, I wasn't a defensive player at all. I was always worried about offense. (Coach Self) tuned me in to playing defense and locking people down. I'm more focused, more mature and more experienced."

On a team defined by its balance, Rush is the player who can most stand out. He's 6-foot-6 but can play like he's 6-10. He has been reluctant to attack the basket, but when he does the results are usually good. And his perimeter game is NBA-ready.

"Brandon comes to practice with a different look now than he did earlier in the year," teammate Darrell Arthur said. "Coach has been challenging him all year, trying to get him to play better and be more focused. Since our game at Oklahoma State, he's been on an upswing."

Rush is a little different. There's some air in his head, which doesn't mean he's not intelligent. His basketball instincts are as good as any KU player, except when those instincts vanish into thin air and Rush plays like he's not sure the basketball is orange.

If he has any more of those moments in the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks are likely in trouble.

It's important for Rush to respect the abilities of his teammates, but not concede to them. He is KU's best player, whether he wants to believe it or not. That doesn't mean KU doesn't have balance or chemistry or whatever you call a team with seven players averaging 7.1 to 13.1 points.

Fine and dandy. But when Rush has a chance to take over, he needs to take over. Offensively, defensively, on the boards, wherever. His mindset for the rest of the season, starting tonight against Villanova, needs to be just a tad bit more self-centered.

Villanova coach Jay Wright has fought a similar battle with one of his best players, Scottie Reynolds, as he has tried all season to get Reynolds to assert himself more.

"I think sometimes, if you're a real talented player and you're not willing to use all your talents, that's being a little selfish," Wright said.

Wright was talking about Reynolds. But it could have been Self talking about Rush.

It's time to get serious. The laughs can wait.

Eagle sports columnist Bob Lutz co-hosts "Sports Daily" from 9-11 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1240-AM and 98.7-FM. Reach him at 316-268-6597 or blutz@wichitaeagle.com.