French-fry munching Kansas advances in ugly fashion

No more. They are rank and file. As elegant as Joakim Noah's underarm hair. That's disgusting but wonderful if you care about such things at Kansas' second Elite Eight appearance in four years under Self.

The Jayhawks had to hack through the Salukis jungle of arms and cuts and screens. They were horsed on the offensive boards, 17-6. They had to create despite a season-high tying 19 turnovers and the invention of a new term: Free-throw missing.

Free-throw shooting implies that teams make them every now and then. The Jayhawks clanked nine of 19. They went to the line once in the first half and showed a gag reflex going two of six in the last 83 seconds.

But through that jungle, they were able to convert almost 60 percent of their field goals while limiting their 43rd consecutive opponent to less than 50 percent shooting.

Sophomore Brandon Rush took over in the final minutes, basically because no one else would. Julian Wright disappeared. Chalmers had more turnovers (four) than baskets (two), plus those twisted ankles. Rush followed up a six-for-seven performance from the arc against Kentucky by making all six of his shots on Thursday.

If taking over is 12 points and insurance bucket with 25 seconds left then, yes, he took over.

"This is the type of team we have right now," Rush said. "Everybody can be the leading scorer."

That's another way of saying no one can be counted on consistently in crunch time. Mullins' steal of Rush with 2 1/2 minutes left was going to put the Salukis up by 55-54, change the whole outlook of the game But Mullins blew the left-handed layup and guard Jamaal Tatum barely missed tipping it in.

"I just decided somebody was going to have to step up," Rush said.

Strong words from a player whose team was supposed to be inspired by George Patton. The "Daily Motivation" quote was supplied by director of basketball operations, Ronnie Chalmers (Mario's dad).

Wars may be fought with weapons but they are won by men.

So is it time to call these young Jayhawks men, or at least little George C. Scotts? Surviving SIU is a giant step. No matter what KU does the rest of the season, it won't face a defense as suffocating as SIU's.

"Probably not," KU guard Russell Robinson said. "I see Florida has the potential ... but I don't think anybody is going to have the type of energy they had today."

Besides, Noah needs deodorant.